For an overview of early medieval watermills from 500 to 1000 AD, see List of early medieval watermills.
The Barbegal mill, located on a steep slope in southern France, is considered the biggest ancient mill complex. Its capacity was sufficient to feed the whole nearby city of Arles.[1]Scheme of a water-driven Roman sawmill at Hierapolis, Asia Minor. The 3rd century mill is the earliest known machine to incorporate a crank and connecting rod mechanism.[2]
This list of ancient watermills presents an overview of water-powered grain-mills and industrial mills in classical antiquity from their Hellenistic beginnings through the Roman imperial period.
The watermill is the earliest instance of a machine harnessing natural forces to replace human muscular labour (apart from the sail).[3] As such, it holds a special place in the history of technology and also in economic studies where it is associated with growth.[4]
The initial invention of the watermill appears to have occurred in the hellenized eastern Mediterranean in the wake of the conquests of Alexander the Great and the rise of Hellenistic science and technology.[5] In the subsequent Roman era, the use of water-power was diversified and different types of watermills were introduced. These include all three variants of the vertical water wheel as well as the horizontal water wheel.[6] Apart from its main use in grinding flour, water-power was also applied to pounding grain,[7] crushing ore,[8] sawing stones[9] and possibly fulling and bellows for iron furnaces.[10]
An increased research interest has greatly improved our knowledge of Roman watermill sites in recent years. Numerous archaeological finds in the western half of the empire now complement the surviving documentary material from the eastern provinces; they demonstrate that the breakthrough of watermill technology occurred as early as the 1st century AD and was not delayed until the onset of the Middle Ages as previously thought.[11] The data shows a wide spread of grain-mills over most parts of the empire, with industrial mills also being in evidence in both halves.[12] Although the prevalence of grain-mills naturally meant that watermilling remained a typically rural phenomenon, it also rose in importance in the urban environment.[13]
The data below spans the period until ca. 500 AD. The vast majority dates to Roman times.
^Greene 2000, p. 39
^Cite error: The named reference Ritti, Grewe, Kessener 2000, 161 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Wilson 2002, p. 9
^Wikander 2000a, p. 371
^Cite error: The named reference invention was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Wikander 2000a, pp. 373–378; Donners, Waelkens & Deckers 2002, pp. 12–15
^Cite error: The named reference Trip hammer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Wikander 2000b, 407 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Sawmill was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Wikander 2000b, pp. 406f.
^Wikander 1985, pp. 151–154; Wikander 2000a, pp. 370–373; Wilson 2002, pp. 9–17; Brun 2006, pp. 7–9
^Wikander 2000a, pp. 397–400
^Wikander 2000a, p. 379
and 28 Related for: List of ancient watermills information
This listofancientwatermills presents an overview of water-powered grain-mills and industrial mills in classical antiquity from their Hellenistic beginnings...
The Listofwatermills is a link page for any watermill. ListofancientwatermillsListof early medieval watermills Barbegal aqueduct and mill Hierapolis...
watermills in England alone. By the early 7th century, watermills were well established in Ireland, and began to spread from the former territory of the...
Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Spain (see Listofancientwatermills). The industrial uses ofwatermills in the Islamic world date back to the 7th century...
Frontinus Listofancientwatermills Roman engineering Roman technology Boon, G. C. and Williams, C. The Dolaucothi Drainage Wheel, Journal of Roman Studies...
Listof windmills in the United Kingdom Listofwatermills in the Crown Dependencies Windmill Windpump Tide Mill Medway watermills Medway watermills (lower...
Industrial Revolution, in the fourth of his ten-part Connections, called "Faith in Numbers". Listof Roman watermills Roman technology Roman engineering...
wheel placed against the rim of the mine shaft. Museum ofAncient Greek Technology Roman technology Medieval technology Listof Byzantine inventions Wilson...
in watermills and water-raising machines, and pioneered the use of dams as a source of water power, used to provide additional power to watermills and...
gearing (in water mills and clocks) — were known in Roman times. Listof Roman watermills Barbegal aqueduct and mill Ritti, Grewe & Kessener 2007, p. 161;...
power of water. They built some of the first watermills outside of Greece for grinding flour and spread the technology for constructing watermills throughout...
Ancient Roman architecture adopted the external language of classical ancient Greek architecture for the purposes of the ancient Romans, but was different...
to nearly 40,000 people. The earliest evidence of water wheels and watermills date back to the ancient Near East in the 4th century BC, specifically in...
Watermill". Cant Post (2). Kent: Kent Mills Society: 29–30. Francis Frith's Windmills and Watermills p82 Fuller, M J; Spain, R J (1986). Watermills (Kent...
concept of engineering has existed since ancient times as humans devised fundamental inventions such as the pulley, lever, and wheel. Each of these inventions...
Gargar Bridge-Dam was built on the watermills and waterfalls. Bolayti canal is situated on the eastern side of the water mills and water falls and functions...
continued use of traditional windmills and watermills. Ken Major carried out much work on its behalf. An annual award honours the memory of church enthusiast...
Ancient Roman technology is the collection of techniques, skills, methods, processes, and engineering practices which supported Roman civilization and...
development. Since ancient times, hydropower from watermills has been used as a renewable energy source for irrigation and the operation of mechanical devices...
coordinates) The city of Rome harbours thirteen ancient obelisks, the most in the world. There are eight ancient Egyptian and five ancient Roman obelisks in...
from watermills, by either mounting them to piers of bridges to take advantage of the increased flow or by using a shipmill, a type ofwatermill powered...
Mill — Stotfold Watermill and Nature Reserve". Stotfoldmill.com. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013. "The Four Stotfold Watermills - by local historian...
plot the motions of the planets and to predict eclipses. The earliest evidence of water wheels and watermills date back to the ancient Near East in the...
This listof civil engineers is a listof notable people who have been trained in or have practiced civil engineering. Contents A B C D E F G H I J K L...
This listof the oldest companies in the world includes brands and companies, excluding associations and educational, government, or religious organizations...
Improved horse harnesses and the whippletree further improved cultivation. Watermills were introduced by the Romans, but were improved throughout the Middle...
Global Information
