Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preliminary Material / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Fourteen Attitudes to Manufacture / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Fifteen Agriculture / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Sixteen Ancient and Medieval Mining / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Seventeen Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern Mining / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Eighteen Ancient and Medieval Metal Working / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Nineteen Renaissance and Early Modern Metal Working / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Twenty Textile Manufacture / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Twenty-One Warfare / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Twenty-Two Ancient and Classical Warfare and Weapons / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Twenty-Three Medieval and Early Modern Warfare and Weapons / Bryan Lawton -- Chapter Twenty-Four Weapons Technology / Bryan Lawton -- Bibliography / Bryan Lawton -- Subject Index / Bryan Lawton -- Name Index / Bryan Lawton -- Technology and Change in History / Bryan Lawton.

This two-volume work describes the early history of mechanical engineering from prehistory, when mining and agriculture first appear, to the beginnings of industrialisation. The old definition that if it moves it’s mechanical is used and consequently the books are divided into four major sections: power generation and transport in the first volume; manufacturing technology and weapons technology in the second volume. Background chapters to each section broadens the text and depth is added by analytical appendices describing the principles of operation, optimum operating conditions, and the limits of performance of historically important machinery; all presented in easily understood graphical format. The text is profusely illustrated by over 800 figures and should be of value to historians, industrial archaeologists, and engineers.

English

Description based on print version record.