History of Engineering - Renaissance Era

Renaissance Era

The first electrical engineer is considered to be William Gilbert, with his 1600 publication of De Magnete, who was the originator of the term "electricity".

The first steam engine was built in 1698 by mechanical engineer Thomas Savery. The development of this device gave rise to the industrial revolution in the coming decades, allowing for the beginnings of mass production.

With the rise of engineering as a profession in the 18th century, the term became more narrowly applied to fields in which mathematics and science were applied to these ends. Similarly, in addition to military and civil engineering the fields then known as the mechanic arts became incorporated into engineering.

The following images are samples from a deck of cards illustrating engineering instruments in England in 1702. They illustrate a range of engineering specializations, that would eventually become known as civil engineering, mechanical engineering, geodesy and geomatics, and so on.

Each card includes a caption explaining the purpose of the instrument:

  • Four of hearts: Sea quadrant

  • Nine of diamonds: Dyals (dials)

  • Six of diamonds: Circumferentor

  • Eight of diamonds: the Compass

  • King of spades: Spheres

  • Knave of hears: Surveying wheel and chains

  • Knave of spades: Leavell

  • One of diamonds: Mathematical instruments

  • Queen of diamonds: Projections of the sphere

  • Queen of spades: Astronomical quadrant

  • Three of diamonds: Guager (guages)

  • Two of clubs: Theodolet and semi-circle

Read more about this topic:  History Of Engineering

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