Technology used in Early Societies

The Greeks, Romans and Early Chinese societies

all used geared Waterwheels to grind grain into flour.
A Chinese engineer named Su Song also used this
technology to create an astronomical clock.
The Romans
help lift heavy loads
multi-story buildings.
combination of
treadmills (like a
pulley systems.
The machane was a
theatre to lift actors
as though they were flying.

developed cranes to
in the construction of
These used a
human powered
hamster wheel) and
crane used in Greek
in the air, so it looked

The Greeks and Vikings used pulley systems on the masts of

their ships to make it easier to lift the heavy sails.

Evidence of the
important tool
including

earliest Fishing Reels was found in China. This

uses a pulley system (with later models also
geared mechanisms).

The Counterweight Trebuchet was used in warfare during

Medieval times in Europe and China. A pulley system was
used to lift the heavy counterweight that would set the
trebuchet or catapult in motion.

Drawbridges were used during Medieval times to protect

inhabitants. A pulley system was used to control the gate.

Oil lamps were used to

early societies. The
later from different
they were also
Different kinds of oil
sometimes making light very

bring light into the homes of people in many

lamps were first made from clay, and
metals. In some societies (like Rome),
adapted to be used as street lights.
were used in different parts of the world,
expensive, as well as dangerous.

The Greeks and Romans made use of sunlight in their

Burning lenses. This fire might be used for special
purposes, such as for lighting sacred torches, or for
warfare.

The
and

Lighthouse of Alexandria used reflected light to help ships find their way
safely to shore. It is considered one of the wonders of the ancient world,
influenced the way that lighthouses are built, even to this day. It was built
in Alexandria, Egypt at the request of Egypts first Greek ruler,
Ptolemy.

The Camera
Medieval
(and in later
This
the cameras

Obscura was invented during

times (around 1000 CE) and used light
models, reflection) to project images.
technology led to the development of
we use today.

The Egyptians used light from the sun to tell time using
Sun Clocks (and later sun dials). This helped priests
conduct rituals and prayers for different gods at the correct
time of day.

Instruments and music played an important role in all

early societies. String and wind instruments use
properties of sound differently.

The Viking Sunstone or Iceland Spar was used by the Vikings

to tell the direction of the sun on cloudy days. This natural
material split light and was used to help them navigate their
ships.

Many early societies, including the Greeks, Romans,

Egyptians, Chinese, Mayans and Aztecs developed different
kinds of sundials. They learned how to use the natural light from
the sun to tell the time of day.

The Maya made use

of a gear system to
keep track of time,
called The Calendar
Round. This gear
system was not a
working machine like
the gears of a clock,
but was turned by
hand to track a very sophisticated time measurement
system. The Calendar Round had 18, 980 days, and each
day had its own name!