Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Civil engineering
(775 words)

In contrast to structural engineering, various types of construction involving excavation are considered aspects of civil engineering, including hydraulic engineering, the construction of dykes and tunnelsroad construction, and in the 19th century the laying of railways (Rail). In the early modern period, there was especially broad activity in hydraulic engineering, with the construction of canals and irrigation systems, wells and fountains, and water supply along with associated conduits for waste disposal (Sanitation). The construction of harbor facilit…

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Reith, Reinhold, “Civil engineering”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_028893>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160907



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