“The reasons why this sort of ancient tech is surprising today is that most of the knowledge of it was destroyed in with the burning of the Library of Alexandra by Mark Antony in his siege of Alexandra of 30 BC; of what survived that, was later burned during the muslim conquests of 647-720 AD; what remained after that was burned by Girolamo Savonarola, 1452-1498 AD during his rise to power in the Church. It is also possible that a few works survived in monasteries until the Kosovo War 1998-1999 AD when rampaging Albanian muslims burned dozens of Christian monasteries known to have had many unexamined ancient scrolls.”
I have always maintained that mankind’s technological growth was forever “stunted” by the loss of these vast reservoirs of knowledge.
Adjusting my tinfoil.... this destruction, by all outward appearances, was intentional.
Gives one pause as to the why.
Gives one pause as to the why.
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Accident of war: 30 BC
Various religious teachings: 647-1999
I had read in Durant’s “Caesar and Christ” that the Emperor Nero had a steam-powered barge. What became of this technology and why didn’t it proliferate and evolve?