Ancient Engineering - Who's Who

I just saw a fascinating show about ancient engineering that inspired me to do some additional research.

The show focused mainly on one individual, Al-Jazari. Considered to be one of the greatest and most influential Mechanical Engineers of his time, Al-Jazari lived in the 12th century (CE) in a village currently found in Turkey.

In 1206 Al-Jazari compiled a book on Mechanical Engineering called Al-Jami Bain al-Ilm Wal-Amal Al-Nafi Fi Sinat'at Al-Hiyal (in Arabic).

In his book, Al-Jazari describes fifty different mechanical devices in six different categories including water-raising devices, water clocks, mechanical washing machines, the use of a crank shaft mechanism in a machine, casting of metal in sand, and much more.

The book is considered to be one of the earliest examples of a text book in Mechanical Engineering. Al-Jazari provided assembly and construction details of all fifty of his devices so that future generations would be able to easily recreate his designs.

Several of his designs for water lifting mechanisms are still applicable today and can be used by a homesteader with a pond or water access for irrigation and above ground water storage.

It is interesting to note that his drawings of gears used to couple vertical and horizontal spin is identical to gearing used in today's Wind Power technology.

Brett