How about the use of steam engines to pump out mines?
That doesn't seem like something easily doable even with vast, cheap #s of slaves.
That doesn't seem like something easily doable even with vast, cheap #s of slaves.
How about the use of steam engines to pump out mines?
That doesn't seem like something easily doable even with vast, cheap #s of slaves.
[Stalin]There is nothing you cannot do with enough slaves![/Stalin]
More seriously, the Roman mines weren't as tapped-out as the European mines were by 1700. It's not really as much of an issue.
Also, look at the mines they were first used for. Coal mines, with steam engines powered by coal. Ain't gonna power a steam engine with lead or gold.
What about internal demand?
You could also spur on industrialization with the early spread and dissemination of technologies that would improve crop yields and therefore support larger populations and reduce the demand for agricultural labor.
The horse collar, wheel barrow, mouldboard plow, crop rotation and windmills could have all been conceivably adopted with roman technology.
Wood might work. Wood was used before coal, but the forests were largely destroyed, so coal was used instead.
Traditional methods of manufacture are sufficient to meet internal demand,
now the question is how do we get someone to write a story/timeline about this
o and links to two similar discussions
Industrial revolution in Song China
Aeolipile: A Roman Steam Engine?
I'd like to suggest that in order for these civilizations to truly capitalize on industry the way the West has, it might helpful to have someone come up with a native version of the scientific method. Otherwise, there's a pretty good chance that advances will only appear sporadically, and the new technologies and methods will mostly remain stagnant.