MACHINES THROUGH THE AGES

A history of the six simple machines and some of the structures and tools built with them in ancient and early-modern times.

In this revised and refurbished edition of their Ancient Machine Technology, first published in 2011 (and itself an update of 2000’s Ancient Machines), the Woods explain how each of the simple machines work and examine signs of their early uses in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The scope covers Mesopotamian potter’s wheels and Chinese wheelbarrows to Egyptian pyramids, Roman waterwheels, and (in several cultures) iron tools. Readers who believe the authors’ claim that wrought iron is “weaker” than cast iron will come away misinformed, and anyone looking for actual pictures of a lathe, a block and tackle, or the different types of waterwheels rather than just textual descriptions will need to keep looking. Still, there are several wonders on display here, notably the Antikythera mechanism and an ancient tool for brain surgery found in Peru. In closing, the authors explain that many ancient types of machine are still in use today, often in little-altered forms. Short, simple declarative sentences make the text accessible and easy to comprehend.

Buffed up but still inessential.