Lift and Transports

The development of a transport system is another important step towards modernity. The concept of transport may mean both vertical and horizontal movement of things and people; in this chapter both aspects will be presented.

As for vertical transport, we must remember that wherever there is construction there is a need to lift items to the top of the structures being built, like water from a well. But in naval shipyards, often an entire ship had to be lifted. This led to the invention of huge cranes for port use, the largest cranes still used today. Another example of vertical transport is represented by counterweight operated lifters like elevators and other devices that were employed in large theaters to lift scenery and curtains, e.g., in the Coliseum.