Nanotechnology in ancient history

There is evidence that nanotechnology is not wholly new. For instance, the Lycurgus cup, a magnificent decorative Roman artifact from around the year 400 AD, is composed of glass that changes color as light is shone through it. Gold-silver alloyed nanoparticles are present in the glass. Also Damascus swords made of steel were renowned for their incredible toughness, resistance to breaking, and razor-sharp cutting edges. Oriented nanoscale wire-and-tube-like patterns was found in the steel blades, which very probably improved the material's characteristics.

#nanotech #nanotechnology

[litneyloxan]

I wonder what all was in the burned down library concerning ancient knowledge of this sort

[LupinKing]

Considering mfs actually mastered their crafts back in the day, developing new improved techniques and all dat - I wouldn’t be surprised

[DifferentCloth]

Gosh, to live in a world where people didn't stumble across things and every thing is done intentionally as opposed to the reality that in today's world 70-80% of innovation and invention are intentional as a result of deliberate research and experimentation.
However it is more likely that in ancient Roman times many discoveries were accidental. During that period, scientific inquiry and experimentation were not as systematic or organized as they are today. Many discoveries were made through observation, trial and error, and serendipity.

Ancient Romans were skilled engineers, architects, and craftsmen, and their innovations often arose from practical problems they sought to solve. They developed new technologies and materials, like concrete, waterwheels, and aqueducts, through experimentation and iteration.

Some examples of accidental discoveries in ancient Roman times include:

1. Concrete: The Romans discovered that mixing lime, water, and volcanic ash created a durable building material.
2. Waterwheels: The Romans developed waterwheels to power mills and other machines, likely by observing the natural flow of water.
3. Aqueducts: The Romans built extensive aqueduct systems, which led to discoveries about water pressure, flow, and engineering.
4. Medicines: Ancient Romans discovered medicinal properties of plants and minerals through observation and experimentation.
5. Metallurgy: Roman metalworkers discovered new alloys and techniques through trial and error.

While some discoveries were intentional, many were likely accidental, resulting from the Romans' hands-on approach to problem-solving and their willingness to experiment and adapt.

Religion also stifled curiosity and the advancement of science.

Finally the remains of intentional invention are more prevalent whereas accidental ones are rare because the international invention was desired and therefore had a deman or need and so was produce a lot more in comparison to the accidental invention which was not desired because it was not even expected or anticipated so was not produced enmas.