About this episode
Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the potential industrial revolutions in history, particularly in the Roman Empire and Song Dynasty China, their technological advancements, economic factors, and the reasons these revolutions didn't reach full fruition.
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—LINKS:Las Medulas in Spain: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/803/ Monte Testaccio in Rome: https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/ancient-history/monte-testaccio/?srsltid=AfmBOoonzF0CVGKjzUFs46kkI9fZ-FVcBTDOMAVs8vtFcxH4iKcNx09f
Bismarck Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
—X / TWITTER:@samoburja@eriktorenberg@turpentinemedia
—HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:
Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss "failed industrial revolutions" throughout history that aren't as widely recognized as the modern Industrial Revolution.
Contrary to the common belief of constant economic progress, human history has shown societies getting richer and then poorer in cycles.
The Roman Empire experienced an industrial revolution different from our modern understanding.
Roman slavery wasn't the reason they didn't industrialize further, as slaves became expensive in later periods.
Water power was extensively utilized by Romans for milling flour, ironworks, sawing wood, and cutting marble at industrial scales.
Romans employed sophisticated engineering, using aqueducts to transport water for power generation in various mechanical applications.
Archaeological evidence reveals hundreds of sites where Romans harnessed water power through complex waterwheel systems.
Romans understood the concept of using heat to generate motion, as demonstrated by Heron of Alexandria's steam engine experiment.
The scale of Roman metal production was so vast it left detectable lead pollution signatures in Greenland ice cores.
Monte Testaccio in Rome, an artificial hill composed entirely of broken pottery fragments, represents industrial-scale production of approximately 53 million amphoras.
Romans mass-produced standardized items including pottery, glassware, statues, and military e
