Survey 4: Steam and the Speed of Light

1750-1850

Technology: the Watt engine-new and improved steam engine!

Watt said it’s time for the steam engine 1.1 update.

The invention of the steam engine was no doubt a revolutionary leap towards a thriving industrialized society. James Watt, a mathematical-instrument maker, was the one who made the Watt engine, a revised version of the original prototype——the Newcomen atmospheric steam engine. While Watt attempted to fix a Newcomen engine, He was not impressed with the waste of resources that Newcomen atmospheric steam engine causes and realized that all the luscious energy and heat being lost in the process needed compensation. Watt added another compressor, reducing the steam consumption and upgrading efficiency. He partnered up with a British inventor, John Roebuck, and successfully launched the Watt engine in 1777-1778. Pumping water from mines has never been easier for them!

Watt’s version of the steam engine greatly improved efficiency and reduced energy consumption.

Architecture: Neoclassical Architecture-going back to Ancient Greece and Rome

Have you ever wondered why the White House and many other important buildings look like this?

Greatly inspired by Ancient Greek and Roman architecture, the neoclassical style emerges in the mid-18th century. The consistent designs of these buildings have many common themes: grand simplicity, geometrical harmony, usage of columns, and classical nobleness. This style is believed to be a reaction to the Rococo and Baroque period, which focused more on ornamental elements and sophisticated designs. Learning from the old masters of architecture was definitely a trend back in the days. Neoclassical architecture spread through Europe quickly, and today we can see these elements being used commonly in governmental buildings, theatres, museums, and other buildings that require a visually grand scale. This is why the Neoclassical form is often associated with power, seriousness, and grandness.