Hydrologic and hydraulic science and technology in ancient Greece

Koutsoyiannis, D; Angelakis, AN

dc.contributor.author	Koutsoyiannis, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Angelakis, AN	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T02:54:17Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T02:54:17Z
dc.date.issued	2003	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/36794
dc.title	Hydrologic and hydraulic science and technology in ancient Greece	en
heal.type	conferenceItem	en
heal.publicationDate	2003	en
heal.abstract	The approach typically followed in problem solving today is represented by the sequence Understanding - Data - Application, in this order. However, the historical evolution in the development of water science and technology (and other scientific and technological fields) followed the reverse order: application preceded understanding. Thus, technological application in water resources has started in Greece as early as in ca. 2000 BC. Specifically, in the Minoan civilization (see the entry on Urban Water Engineering and Management in Ancient Greek Times) and later in the Mycenaean civilization several remarkably advanced technologies have been applied for water resources exploitation. Much later, around 600 BC, Greek philosophers developed the first in history scientific views of natural phenomena. In these, hydrological and meteorological had a major role, given that water was considered by the Ionic school of philosophy as the primary substance from which all things were derived. Even later, during the Hellenistic period, significant developments were done in hydraulics, which along with progress in mathematics allowed the invention of advanced instruments and devices, like the Archimedes's water screw pump.	en