1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910793495003321

Autore

Olshin Benjamin B.

Titolo

Lost knowledge : the concept of vanished technologies and other human histories / / by Benjamin B. Olshin

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Leiden ; ; Boston : , : Brill, , [2019]

ISBN

90-04-35272-4

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (474 pages)

Collana

Technology and change in history, , 1385-920X ; ; volume 16

Disciplina

303.483

Soggetti

Technology and civilization - History - To 1500

Technology - History - To 1500

Communication of technical information - History - To 1500

Knowledge, Theory of - History - To 1500

Civilization, Ancient

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Front Matter -- Frontispiece -- Copyright page -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Figures -- Speculations and Fantasies -- Ancient Tales of Flying Machines -- Magic Mirrors and Early Televisions -- The Missing Land of Atlantis -- Rings and Dangerous Powers -- The Nature, Encoding, and Transmission of Knowledge -- Conclusions — What Did They Mean? -- Back Matter -- Bibliography -- Index.

Sommario/riassunto

Lost Knowledge: The Concept of Vanished Technologies and Other Human Histories examines the idea of lost knowledge, reaching back to a period between myth and history. It investigates a peculiar idea found in a number of early texts: that there were civilizations with knowledge of sophisticated technologies, and that this knowledge was obscured or destroyed over time along with the civilization that had created it. This book presents critical studies of a series of early Chinese, South Asian, and other texts that look at the idea of specific “lost” technologies, such as mechanical flight and the transmission of images. There is also an examination of why concepts of a vanished “golden age” were prevalent in so many cultures. Offering an engaging and investigative look at the propagation of history and myth in technology and culture, this book is sure to interest historians and readers from many



backgrounds.