Skip to main content

Measuring Distance and Slope

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Ancient Engineers' Inventions

Part of the book series: History of Mechanism and Machine Science ((HMMS,volume 33))

Abstract

In this chapter the ancient device to measure slopes and distances are presented. Most of them belong to the Greek-Roman era. These devices, despite their simplicity, were surprisingly accurate; in fact, they permitted to realize the surprising roads, bridges, tunnels, aqueducts, buildings etc. of the antiquity. Then the astrolabe is also briefly described. Some examples of how did these devices work are also presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rossi, C., Russo, F. (2017). Measuring Distance and Slope. In: Ancient Engineers' Inventions. History of Mechanism and Machine Science, vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44476-5_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44476-5_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-44475-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-44476-5

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics