Connoisseurs of history argue that the development of European culture would have been impossible without Ancient Greece. Indeed, the modern world owes a lot to Hellas.
Military mechanics and equipment
Studying the discoveries and inventions of ancient Greece, it should immediately be said that the representatives of this ancient civilization placed great emphasis on the development of military equipment and related disciplines. In particular, it was the Greeks who were among the first to learn how to create wall-beating devices - catapults and ballistas. Many new siege devices appeared during the Peloponnesian War. At the same time, battering rams appeared to break through walls and turtle sheds, designed to protect against arrows and spears.
It is interesting to know that siege weapons were used not only during the siege of cities, but also in naval battles. This, in turn, led to changes in ship design. Instead of old ships, multi-oared and multi-tiered structures began to be used. The number of tiers on the ship could reach five, eight or more!
The inventions of Ancient Greece were not accidentally connected with the war, because at that turbulent time, enemies surrounded from all sides. One of the mostpowerful siege engines was considered a nine-story helepole. To move this colossus, 3,500 people were needed, who were engaged in laying roads and arranging ditches, in addition, they cleared the territory for the gun.
Defensive devices were used against enemy siege equipment. So, during the siege of Syracuse (213 AD), the inhabitants of the besieged city used mechanical devices developed by Archimedes to hook Roman ships with strong hooks and sink them.
Production machinery
Simultaneously with the military, other types of equipment also developed. In particular, considering the inventions of Ancient Greece, it is worth noting the creation of the Archimedean screw, which was a turning point. On its basis, the so-called Egyptian snail was designed - a water-drawing wheel with buckets, which was set in motion by animal power and a water mill. This device began to be actively introduced into the flour-grinding and mining industries - the main branches of Hellenic production.
Other inventions of Ancient Greece also deserve attention: a water mill, a horizontal loom, an improvement in blacksmith hammers and forges.
A large number of advances have been made in the areas of dye making, leather tanning and glassblowing.
Science of Ancient Greece
Let's talk about those scientists and inventors who have made the greatest contribution to the development of science not only in Hellas itself, butand the whole world. And there were not so few of them. But, of course, we will focus on the most famous.
Astronomy
The first remarkable personality is, no doubt, Thales of Miletus. It is believed that this man was the first to study the movement of the Sun across the sky. He also put forward the theory that the Moon only reflects light, and eclipses of the Sun occur at those moments when a satellite passes between the Earth and the heavenly body. In addition, Thales suggested using an Egyptian-style calendar, in which the year consisted of 365 days, divided into 12 months of 30 days each (5 days fell out).
It is worth talking separately about Aristarchus, who is often called the Copernicus of Antiquity. The most famous and only surviving work of this pundit is the book “On the Sizes of the Sun and Moon and the Distances to Them”. The inventions of Ancient Greece, which are attributed to him, are proof of the movement of the Earth around its axis and around the Sun. In addition, he is considered the founder of trigonometry and optics.
Hipparchus is another famous ancient Greek scientist who introduced a coordinate network of parallels and meridians to determine the longitude and latitude of a place on Earth. He also compiled the first trigonometric table on the planet, and also learned how to predict solar eclipses to the nearest hour.
And another philosopher, astronomer and mathematician, Anaxagoras of Klazomen, was accused of godlessness and expelled in disgrace forhis assumption that the Sun is a giant hot mass.
Geography
What else did Ancient Greece become famous for? The inventions of this civilization are still alive today. For example, Crates of Mallus (Pergamon) is considered the creator of the first model of the globe.
Math
One of the most revered sciences in Hellas is mathematics. Archimedes, whom we have already discussed above, made a huge number of discoveries in the field of geometry, and also laid the foundations of hydrostatics and mechanics. Thales of Miletus also worked in this area. In particular, it was he who managed to prove several theorems (the equality of vertical angles, the division of a circle in half along the diameter line, and others). From school, we all remember the Pythagorean theorem, which was also proved at that time.
Other discoveries of the Greeks
What else did Ancient Greece become famous for? Even we use the achievements and inventions of this country. For example, the talented inventor Geron invented a sacred water vending machine, a prototype of modern coffee machines.
The Greeks' favorite pastime was the mechanical puppet theater, where all the puppets moved automatically.
Well, if you need to highlight the most ambitious inventions of Ancient Greece, then here, first of all, it is worth remembering the "aeolipil of Heron" - the first prototype of steam turbines, which appeared 2000 years after the appearance of the toy.
