From the beginning of organized cities, engineers have been hired to solve the basic problems caused by having a bunch of people living together. Fortunately, instead of solving problems through politics, engineers like to take a more hands-on approach.
In ancient Egypt, while the structural engineers were building massive paperweights and getting all the press, civil engineers were focusing on problems like feeding people.
By digging canals, then opening gates that allowed the Nile to flood their fields, the Egyptians could both water and fertilize their crops with ease.
Below is a picture of the Scorpion King ceremonially opening a ditch to start the flooding. (That's a hoe he is holding.)
Herodotus wrote that the Egyptians "get their harvests with less labor than anyone else in the world."
Because of the efforts of the civil engineers in Egypt, the kingdom had enough wealth to leave their mark on history.
More to come: Civil Engineering and waste-water management through history.
Pictured: Solid-waste management during the dark ages. (Or, what happens when castles are built with no bathrooms.)
No comments:
Post a Comment