The History of Engineering. The Most Important Technical Achievements from Ancient Times to the 20th Century

This book presents a fascinating overview of the development of engineering art in the history of Western civilization from its origins to the twentieth century. The authors emphasize the achievements that they believe are the most important and have had... the greatest influence on the development of human civilization, providing magnificent examples of masterpieces of creative engineering thought. These include the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; the construction of Egyptian pyramids and temples; ingenious mechanisms of Archimedes; complex structures of pipelines and bridges; tunnels drilled through mountains and underwater; canals; steamships; locomotives — in short, everything that requires extensive technical knowledge, experience, and courage.
The authors explain the purpose of inventions, provide detailed descriptions of their components and how they interact, report key dimensions, and offer insights into the technology of construction or assembly. 
The overview concludes with an essay on the influence of engineering on society, asserting that technology should promote the enhancement of ethical and aesthetic values.
The book is richly illustrated and written in a simple accessible language, free from excessive technical terms and details.