ENGINEERING IN ANCIENT TIMES 1. The term engineering appeared only in the 13th century. In ancient times people had a general idea of engineering. Early civilizations would be impossible without the use of technical knowledge and skills. Even at that time, people built large cities. Since ancient times, people have built bridges, canals, harbors, roads, etc. People who were involved in building those structures were called engineers. They constructed, designed and supervised large drainage systems, buildings, and military machines. They used intuition and personal experience. The history of engineering dates back to the beginning of civilizations and covers three of the oldest cultures in the world – the Egyptian culture, the Greek culture and the Roman Empire. 2. The Ancient Egyptians were famous for their construction skills. The Egyptian pyramids prove that the Ancient Egyptians were the best builders of the time. The Egyptians are also famous for building magnificent statues and temples. One of the best-preserved ancient Egyptian monuments is the Ptolemaic temple. It would be impossible to construct such buildings without deep knowledge and skills. Even with primitive tools, the Ancient Egyptians could build their great monuments. The Ancient Egyptians taught people to build and construct houses and monuments; hence they laid the basis for a future civilization. 3. The Ancient Greeks' inventions have changed and improved our lives a lot. The 5th century was the period of the flourishing technologies in Ancient Greece. Many everyday objects are based on the scientific principles that were first explained by Greek scientists as the principles of the pulley and the lever. 4. The Ancient Romans are mainly known for enhancing earlier engineering developments. They improved the roads and transportation systems. A large number of ancient roads still exist and function. Moreover, Ancient Rome was famous around the world for its engineering achievements. The arch is the best example of the Roman engineers'success. They used the arch shape in the construction of the bridges and aqueducts to supply people with water. The Romans were also famous for constructing large buildings and bridges from concrete. Some of those structures were used up to the last century. Several world-famous Ancient Rome monuments, for instance, Coliseum, are well preserved to this day. Choose the statement which best expresses the main idea of the passage: Вопрос 15Ответ a. Ancient scientists knew nothing about engineering. b. Egyptians laid the basis for the future civilization. c. Engineering achievements of modern society result from the effort of previous generations. d. The achievements of the Roman Civilization.