Brill’s New Pauly Supplements II - Volume 10 : History and Culture of Byzantium
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Subject: Classical Studies
This compendium examines the history and culture of the Byzantine world from the foundation of Constantinople (324) to the Ottoman conquest of the city, which brought the final downfall of the Byzantine Empire (1453). A detailed 100-page introduction is followed by discussion of 15 key topics, including politics and government, people and society, legislation and legal practice, the army and navy, church and religion, nature and the environment, art and architecture, languages, literature, education and culture, medicine and music. Because the work forms part of Brill's New Pauly, particular attention is paid to aspects of continuity with the ancient world, and of innovation.
10.4. Use of energy sources
(921 words)
A. Water powerSeveral energy sources were known in the Byzantine Empire and were used for obtaining heat, light and propulsion, as well as for producing military weapons (‘Greek fire’; 6.3. Strategy A.; 6.4. The navy B.) [3]. Hydraulic power was harnessed using water wheels, most commonly to operate a pair of millstones, but also to run stone saws (10.6. Stone working and processing E.) and, as written sources attest, hammer mills, bellows (10.8. Ironworking) and fulling mills. Archaeological evidence shows that horizontal and vertical water wheels were in us…
Date:
2019-10-14