Engineering flourished in Egypt and Mesopotamia between 4000 and 2000 BC. As cities grew, people with special aptitudes in certain areas were identified and assigned to ever more specialized tasked. A scientific breakthrough! Why? The new social classifications by occupation created an atmosphere in which, for the first time, innovation grew rapidly. As a result, during this time period, they developed stone tools to help in the search and processing of food. Smelting lead to copper and bronze tools (guaranteed to look prettier as well as work much better than stone. Ever tried to cut a tree, scrape pelts, and plow the ground with a stone. Trust me, it's back breaking not to mention time consuming.) Smelting was an outstanding engineering breakthrough because copper and bronze allowed man to become farmers as the smelting could be used to make plows.
Specifically, Mesopotamia gave birth to the wheel, sailboats, and methods of writing. In Egypt during the construction of the Pyramids (2700-2500BC) a HUGE number of engineers were needed. They were required to make sure that everything fit together correctly. If you haven't tried to put a puzzle together lately give it whirl and then imagine putting a puzzle the size of Danville together. They also had to make sure that the stones were properly transported long distances (we are talking MILES), and the tombs had to be secure against robbery, not to mention that the ceiling of the tomb would have held up the enormous amount of stone above it. I imagine those dead dudes wouldn't appreciate a falling ceiling. Imhotep (chief engineer for King Zoser) was one of the first recognized engineers and was responsible for building the stepped pyramid at Sakkara. Other great feats of early engineers include the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Parthenon in Athens, Roman Road and Aqueducts, and the Great Wall of China.
What is an Engineer?
If you read about the beginning of engineering it doesn't seem that complicated. Wouldn't anyone eventually think of a wheel . . . .Could anyone be an engineer? According to Oakes author of Engineering Your Future, the official definition of engineering is "the profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied with judgement to develop ways to use, economically, the materials and the forces of nature for the benefit of mankind. Um. . . an engineer is anyone (officially educated or not) who develops thrifty ways to improve the quality of life.Well that doesn't sound so bad!
Famous Engineers
1455, Johannes Gutenberg developed the most history-altering inventions of all time--the printing press. His first printed book was The Holy Bible. With the printing press all of man was able to use, appreciate, and disseminate information.Information become available even to the common man.
Leanardo da Vinci is the lost engineer. So famous for his artistic ability often times people aren't aware of his uncanny ability to engineer mechanized innovations. Although his inventions weren't popular during his lifetime they did become common especially in weaponry (helicopters, tanks, artillery). One of the most interesting facts I read was his resume. His resume for his first commission as an engineer read "construct movable bridges; remove water from the moats of fortresses under siege, destroy an fortification not built of stone; make mortars, dart-throwers, flame-throwers and cannon capable of firing stones and making smoke; design ships and weapons for war at sea; dig tunnels without making any noise; make armored wagons to break up the enemy in advance of the infantry; design buildings, sculpt in any medium; and paint." Now, I'd hire him!