Archimedes Contributions

The Greeks were possibly the strongest military power of their time when the Trojan horse was built. The Greeks were always known for thinking outside the box when it came to fighting and planning

It was at this point in the debates that Sparta's King Archidamus revealed his wisdom in both politics and war fighting. Noting Athens' naval

Archimedes was a Greek Mathematician from Syracuse, Italy. He was an astronomer, physicist, inventor, and an engineer. Minimal details of his life are yet to be discovered, but his achievement of being the leader of scientists in the classical antiquity. Over the years of his life, Archimedes obtained as much knowledge as he could from his teachers and then decided to travel an extremity to Egypt and there began his study of Alexandria. In a lapse of time Archimedes earned a scholarship and he was known for having a great reputation. When he was done with studying and traveling he returned home to continue in the path of invention and thought. Many legends compare to how Archimedes was a replica of King Hero II. Archimedes was also

Current militaries have benefitted from the principles of ancient Greek and Roman warfare by studying the ancient battles, tactics, and use of supplies to develop effective military plans. Current militaries study and debate historical turning points of the ancient battles to understand how the leaders planned and executed battles. The empires’ growth was due in part to the might and successes of their military. The strength of their militaries came from many factors including their use of armor, weapons, and military tactics. The empires’ leaders used these three advantages to create the superior armies of their time.

Have you ever wondered how gunpowder was invented? Or how gunpowder has been a huge turning point in warfare for everyone? Gunpowder has a very interesting history, many uses, and most importantly has changed warfare drastically.

This paper examines more closely the key features of the strategy including the technical superiority, leadership, prowess, planning, and strategy that the Greeks and Persians brought to bear as they prepared for battle. It is important to recognize that the battle of Thermopylae involved two great nations fighting against each other. The battle was an expression of nationhood, pride, power, authority, resourcefulness, with

Logically, it makes sense that the army with the most advanced technology would win battles against a less equipped one. However, in his paper titled “Weapons, Technology Determination and Ancient Warfare,” Fernando Echeverria Rey brings to light the paradox of this idea in ancient warfare, as well as undermine the modern idea of ‘technological determinism’ by claiming that it does not have an ancient equivalent. His argument approaches the study of ancient warfare from different perspectives as he “[offers] alternative ways to explain technological and tactical change in warfare” (Echeverria 2010: 24). Echeverria Rey makes strong points for his arguments and supports his ideas clearly. While

Another interesting effect of the catapult was the importance of specialized people. Before the catapult was invented, soldiers only had to be trained in fighting. After the invention however, mathematical and engineering skills became important to be able to build and operate a catapult. The catapult moved the social status of an engineer from “dirty, ugly, and lame,” to an important member of society who was in high demand (Foley and Soedel 8). The creation of the engineer also changed the structure of labor and how innoventions were developed. Catapults represent some of the first examples of modern engineering. Dionysius, ruler of Syracuse, was the first to create these devices, and created them by using modern engineering practices. These included using large specialized teams, splitting work to be done into feasible sizes, and giving financial compensation (1). All this change in status and importance of the engineer brought down likeness in Greek society. Because warfare was based around only soldiers fighting before the invention of the catapult, soldier conformity was important. One

Both the Ancient Greek and the Byzantine Empires have a long and familiar history with warfare, acclimated to crushing losses and sweeping victories. In Greece, military action has fended off the Persian invaders and brought warring city-states deep-set rivalries. Within the Byzantine Empire, conquest has brought Rome back into the Roman Empire. Despite both civilizations’ high esteem in military conquest and glory, they had contrasting views of warfare and how their respective armies went to work. The Greek Classical Terracotta volute-krater, attributed to the Painter of the Woolly Satyr, illustrates two messy front line battles in separate registers. Meanwhile, from the Early Byzantine period, the silver Plate with the Battle of David and Goliath depicts not so much a battle between two armies, but rather a dramatic yet organized duel, over the course of 3 registers. From these two pieces, one could all but assume one statement: of the artists and commissioners of the terracotta volute-krater and the Plate with the Battle of David and Goliath, only those of the former have seen battle.

The patriotic Roman Consul knew if they were to win the First Punic war, they would need to assemble their own navy, one that could rival the Carthaginians (Morey 1901). Taking their blueprint from a of a wrecked Carthaginian ship, the Romans assembled their warships. In need of an edge, they decided to find a way to for their soldiers to board the enemies’ ship. Once aboard the Carthaginians wouldn’t stand a chance (Morey 1901). So, they constructed ships with drawbridges called a corvus. The corvus was essentially a large drawbridge with a spike on the end of it. When the Romans got close enough they would lower the bridge (corvus), slamming the spike into the deck of the opposing ship. The only drawback to this contraption was that it couldn’t be used during rough weather, because if they did the connection would put both ships in danger during inclement weather (Rickard 2001). It was during the Battle of Mylae that we get to see their plan come together, Carthage’s navy had tasted her first defeat, losing over fifty ships at sea (Morey 1901).

Archimedes invented devices that contributed to Syracuse’s defense system, which allowed it to protect itself from Roman attack during the Punic wars. The Punic Wars were three wars fought between Romans and Carthaginians over foreign territory, including the island of Sicily and particularly Syracuse (Hasan, 12). During the first Punic War, 264-241 BCE, Rome signed a treaty with Syracuse and obliged to protect the colony from Carthaginian attack (Hasan, 75). At the end of the first war, Heiro II, king of Syracuse and a close friend of Archimedes, asked Archimedes to build a defense system for Syracuse out of concern for a second battle between Rome and Carthage (Ball, 64). In response to Hiero’s wish, Archimedes invented catapults which were

Archimedes was one of the greatest inventors and mathematicians in history. He lived in ancient Greece during the third century B.C. He enjoyed physics, engineering, and mechanics. At times Archimedes would be so focused on his work, he would absolutely forget to eat and sleep.

In the ancient greek world, warfare was seen as a necessary evil of the human condition. The vast reward of war could outweigh the cost in materials and lives. In the early stages of greek warfare in the Archaic period. Training was Haphazard and even weapons could be makeshift. War is the father of all and king of all.

Archimedes was born in Syracuse on the Island of Sicily in 287 BC. His father’s name was Phidias and was believed to be somewhat related to the king of Syracuse, Heiro II. Archimedes is famously known as multiple things including a mathematician, inventor, engineer, and astronomer. Moving to Alexandria in his later life, he studied at a school established by Euclid. Afterwards he returned to Syracuse, spending the majority of his life solving mathematical problems and making new inventions for the king. In 212 BC, Syracuse was overtaken by one of Archimedes enemies. When a soldier came to Archimedes demanding that he go with him, Archimedes refused, saying that he needed to first finish his mathematical equation. Upon hearing this, the soldier

The year is 287 B.C.E, Alexander the Great Has been dead for fifty years and the kingdom he left to his generals has begun to fracture. Around 300 B.C.E the Punic Wars began, throwing Greece into disarray. The Hellenistic Age is coming to a close. However, at least one good thing came of this year. One of the greatest engineers in history is born. His name is Archimedes and he will change the world. Archimedes life, achievements, and effect on the modern world of engineering make him one of the most prominent and important figures in the ancient world.