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Author: Jerry KrausJerry Kraus Date: Jun 16, 2008 07:46
It is well known and accepted that simple steam engines -- mostly used
for toys to amuse the wealthy -- existed under the Roman Empire from
the early centuries of the Christian era.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_of_Alexandria
Nevertheless, fifteen hundred years were to pass before the steam
engine became the force that propelled England and the rest of Europe
into the Industrial Revolution. Why the enormous lapse of time before
the full potential of steam power was exploited? While a number of
critical inventions were made that proved useful in the development of
steam power -- in particular, cast iron, itself derived from the coke
produced in blast furnaces -- in the intervening millenium and a half,
were these really beyond the power and conception of the Roman mind?
What if the Romans had seen the full potential of steam power? Would
their empire still have fallen? What affects would such technological
developments have had on the form and extent of the empire? On
government. On the economy. On the military. On religion. On
Christianity.
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Author: JohnJohn Date: Jun 16, 2008 07:51
Jerry Kraus wrote:
> In particular, why didn't the Romans develop steam power? What,
> exactly was the obstacle, or obstacles? Were they technological,
> social, economic, religious?
There was no economic rationalization, no need for it. Yes, it would
have made building large things easier, but labor was perfectly synched
into the economy (which is tightly coupled with the social rationale).
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Author: EconotronEconotron Date: Jun 16, 2008 07:54
> It is well known and accepted that simple steam engines -- mostly used
> for toys to amuse the wealthy -- existed under the Roman Empire from
> the early centuries of the Christian era.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_of_Alexandria
>
> Nevertheless, fifteen hundred years were to pass before the steam
> engine became the force that propelled England and the rest of Europe
> into the Industrial Revolution. Why the enormous lapse of time before
> the full potential of steam power was exploited? While a number of
> critical inventions were made that proved useful in the development of
> steam power -- in particular, cast iron, itself derived from the coke
> produced in blast furnaces -- in the intervening millenium and a half,
> were these really beyond the power and conception of the Roman mind?
>
> What if the Romans had seen the full potential of steam power? Would
> their empire still have fallen? What affects would such technological
> developments have had on the form and extent of the empire? On ...
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Author: Jerry KrausJerry Kraus Date: Jun 16, 2008 08:00
On Jun 16, 9:54Â am, "Econotron" hotmail.com> wrote:> "Jerry Kraus" yahoo.com> wrote in message>> In particular, why didn't the Romans develop steam power? What,
>> exactly was the obstacle, or obstacles? Were they technological,
>> social, economic, religious?
>
> The had enough slaves.
> e.
Just to draw a parallel. Any chance that the reason we have failed so
miserably to develop controlled nuclear fusion is that we still have
enough oil?
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Author: Uncle AlUncle Al Date: Jun 16, 2008 08:11
Jerry Kraus wrote:
>
> It is well known and accepted that simple steam engines -- mostly used
> for toys to amuse the wealthy -- existed under the Roman Empire from
> the early centuries of the Christian era.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_of_Alexandria
>
> Nevertheless, fifteen hundred years were to pass before the steam
> engine became the force that propelled England and the rest of Europe
> into the Industrial Revolution. Why the enormous lapse of time before
> the full potential of steam power was exploited?
Absence of capitalism, presence Christianity.
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Author: Sir FrederickSir Frederick Date: Jun 16, 2008 08:16
On Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:46:43 -0700 (PDT), Jerry Kraus yahoo.com> wrote:
>It is well known and accepted that simple steam engines -- mostly used
>for toys to amuse the wealthy -- existed under the Roman Empire from
>the early centuries of the Christian era.
>
> http://en.wikipedia...
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Date: Jun 16, 2008 08:22
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Author: Jerry KrausJerry Kraus Date: Jun 16, 2008 08:52
On Jun 16, 10:22Â am, Steve Hix NOSPAMspeakeasy.netINVALID>
wrote:>> On Jun 16, 9:54Â am, "Econotron" hotmail.com> wrote:>>> "Jerry Kraus" yahoo.com> wrote in message>
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Author: Dimensional TravelerDimensional Traveler Date: Jun 16, 2008 09:06
Jerry Kraus wrote:
> On Jun 16, 10:22 am, Steve Hix NOSPAMspeakeasy.netINVALID>
> wrote:>>> On Jun 16, 9:54 am, "Econotron" hotmail.com> wrote:>>>> "Jerry Kraus" yahoo.com> wrote in message>>
>
>>>>> In particular, why didn't the Romans develop steam power? What,
>>>>> exactly was the obstacle, or obstacles? Were they technological,
>>>>> social, economic, religious?
>>
>>>> The had enough slaves.
>>>> e.
>>
>>> Just to draw a parallel. Any chance that the reason we have failed
>>> so miserably to develop controlled nuclear fusion is that we still ...
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Author: Andrew Robert BreenAndrew Robert Breen Date: Jun 16, 2008 09:13
In article <7sSdnUV-PIB34MvVnZ2dnUVZ_uednZ2d@ supernews.com>,
John wrote:>Jerry Kraus wrote:
>
>> In particular, why didn't the Romans develop steam power? What,
>> exactly was the obstacle, or obstacles? Were they technological,
>> social, economic, religious?
>
>There was no economic rationalization, no need for it. Yes, it would
>have made building large things easier, but labor was perfectly synched
>into the economy (which is tightly coupled with the social rationale).
Wasn't it Vespasian who rejected a proposal to use improved machines to
hoist stones into position during building because it'd prevent the
roman poor earning money and lead to instability?
--
Andy Breen ~ Not speaking on behalf of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Feng Shui: an ancient oriental art for extracting
money from the gullible (Martin Sinclair)
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