Assignment Task:
Some of the ancient developments that have been most directly influential on our modern western civilization--the invention of the alphabet (we use the Roman version, which was indirectly adapted from the Greek version, which the Greeks seem to have adapted from the Phoenician alphabet, the first known alphabet and the one that most modern alphabets ultimately derive from); and the development of the Roman calendar, which we use with one very slight adaptation. Don't worry if you find the materials below on "Timekeeping" more complex and conceptual than the other assignments have been. Timekeeping is an extremely complex topic (and endeavor). which new Greek, Hellenistic, or Roman technology from the materials do you find most interesting or most important, and why? What is the historical context of this technology's invention, according to the course materials-when and where was it invented, if that's known (be sure to cite exactly where you got this information in the course materials-what page of what reading, what moment of what video, etc*.)? Search online to find a surviving example of it (or a reconstruction of it if surviving examples don't exist). Include the image of the ancient technology in your post, along with a link to the website where you found the image. Look around you for a modern technology or device we use to perform the same function or accomplish the same task as the ancient technology or device you found the image of.
Article: Humphrey, Chapter 6-Recordkeeping and Timekeeping
Video: Ancient Mechanical Clocks