World History
There were many brilliant people in the ancient world. As such, it is not usually surprising to learn about ancient inventions. Many so called modern inventions have ancient pasts.
However, I will still a bit taken aback to learn that the ancient Greeks had invented a computer. In 1901, divers working off the isle of Antikythera found the remains of a clocklike mechanism 2,000 years old. The mechanism now appears to have been a device for calculating the motions of stars and planets. This device is now known as the Antikythera Mechanism and it is recognized as being a mechanical analog computer.
In the June 1959 issue of Scientific American, Derek J. de Solla Price wrote about this in his article An Ancient Greek Computer. Price wrote, "From the evidence of the fragments one can get a good idea of the appearance of the original object. Consisting of a box with dials on the outside and a very complex assembly of gear wheels mounted within, it must have resembled a well- made 18th-century clock. Doors hinged to the box served to protect the dials, and on all available surfaces of box, doors and dials there were long Greek inscriptions describing the operation and construction of the instrument. At least 20 gear wheels of the mechanism have been preserved, including a very sophisticated assembly of gears that were mounted eccentrically on a turntable and probably functioned as a sort of epicyclic or differential, gear-system. " (p. 60).
The computer has continued to be studied since then. It has been in the news recently as scientists have managed to decipher most of the text on the device. The Times of India reported, "After deciphering most of the text they found the device was indeed made to calculate the position of certain stars, the known planets, the Sun and Moon, and to predict astronomical phenomena."
What does this mean? Not only do we have proof of an ancient computer but it also shows that the Greeks understood that the Earth and the Sun were not the center of the Universe. The Times of India article noted this, "Because if the investigators are correct it would mean that at least some Greeks had already adopted the heliocentric view of the solar system as opposed to the prevailing Aristotelian doctrine which put Earth and humanity at the centre of the cosmos."
This computer makes me wonder what other advanced devices the Greeks and other ancient civilizations may have made but which are now lost. The Dark Ages in Europe resulted in the loss of a lot of knowledge and scientific know how. If the Dark Ages had not occurred, would the world be more scientifically advanced now? I know I am speculating in alternate history here but before I heard about the Antikythera Mechanism, I though an ancient Greek computer was alternate history too...
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World History
Antikythera Mechanism - An Ancient Greek Computer
There were many brilliant people in the ancient world. As such, it is not usually surprising to learn about ancient inventions. Many so called modern inventions have ancient pasts.However, I will still a bit taken aback to learn that the ancient Greeks had invented a computer. In 1901, divers working off the isle of Antikythera found the remains of a clocklike mechanism 2,000 years old. The mechanism now appears to have been a device for calculating the motions of stars and planets. This device is now known as the Antikythera Mechanism and it is recognized as being a mechanical analog computer.
In the June 1959 issue of Scientific American, Derek J. de Solla Price wrote about this in his article An Ancient Greek Computer. Price wrote, "From the evidence of the fragments one can get a good idea of the appearance of the original object. Consisting of a box with dials on the outside and a very complex assembly of gear wheels mounted within, it must have resembled a well- made 18th-century clock. Doors hinged to the box served to protect the dials, and on all available surfaces of box, doors and dials there were long Greek inscriptions describing the operation and construction of the instrument. At least 20 gear wheels of the mechanism have been preserved, including a very sophisticated assembly of gears that were mounted eccentrically on a turntable and probably functioned as a sort of epicyclic or differential, gear-system. " (p. 60).
The computer has continued to be studied since then. It has been in the news recently as scientists have managed to decipher most of the text on the device. The Times of India reported, "After deciphering most of the text they found the device was indeed made to calculate the position of certain stars, the known planets, the Sun and Moon, and to predict astronomical phenomena."
What does this mean? Not only do we have proof of an ancient computer but it also shows that the Greeks understood that the Earth and the Sun were not the center of the Universe. The Times of India article noted this, "Because if the investigators are correct it would mean that at least some Greeks had already adopted the heliocentric view of the solar system as opposed to the prevailing Aristotelian doctrine which put Earth and humanity at the centre of the cosmos."
This computer makes me wonder what other advanced devices the Greeks and other ancient civilizations may have made but which are now lost. The Dark Ages in Europe resulted in the loss of a lot of knowledge and scientific know how. If the Dark Ages had not occurred, would the world be more scientifically advanced now? I know I am speculating in alternate history here but before I heard about the Antikythera Mechanism, I though an ancient Greek computer was alternate history too...
- The Origin Of The Greek Constellations
The Origin of the Greek Constellations. This is an article up at the new issue of Scientific American. It is by Bradley E. Schaefer. The full-text of the article is not here unless you are a subscriber. There is only an abstract. Was the Great Bear constellation...
- The Real Story Of The Ancient Olympic Games
The Real Story of the Ancient Olympic Games - Were the ancient games better than ours? More fair and square? More about sports and less about money? Are modern games more sexist? More political? Have we strayed from the ancient Olympic ideal? From...
- Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Museum of Unnatural Mystery provides a virtual tour of the structures that inspired awe in ancient Greeks and Romans. Illustrated history and descriptions, with reconstructions by Lee Krystek. From the site: The...
- Android App: Mightytext, Text From Your Computer Synced With Phone
I love MightyText! It allows you to text messages from your computer. Download the software to both your computer and android device. Type your text message on your computer and click send. The message goes to your android phone...
- Printing From I Pad And Android
Printing from your phone or I Pad is not easy, and often not possible. You need Google Cloud Print or Airprint. Not any more! New software for Android and IOS devices allows you to print on any printer or copier to which your computer is...