Earlier Technology Thread

Stephen

Banned
Athough they are fascinating I wouldnt say "any of Leonardos inventions". Many are drawings of thing that already existed, obsolete, or impractical, that helicoptor is not getting of the ground even with a modern engine, and giant catapults are not necesary when the canon has already been invented.

Leonardos scetches with the most potential are the hanglider, the parachute, the bycycle, and the hollow based pointed bullet.
 
possibilities on steam and flight

My first thought on seeing this thread was Heron's steam engine, but I hadn't thought about the metallurgical needs. Could a high quality ceramic be feasible for something smaller than a locomotive? Maybe a mobile cement mixer? How would cement roads have changed Rome's expansion?

da Vinci's hang glider would seem to be another good POD, mostly I think in terms of observational data collection (war, geology, exploration, etc.). I don't see much other use for it since weight carrying capacity is limited. But knowing where the enemy has amassed troops could be very useful. And seeing the 'buckling' of mountainous terrain a few centuries earlier could have had tremendous effect on the development of tectonic and the young earth theories.

I just discovered this site a few days ago, so forgive me if I am being naive in tossing in my two cents.:)
 
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