Woods, Michael

Teaches how ancient societies around the world used tools and techniques of computing. Covers ancient Middle East, Egypt, India, China, Americas, Greece, and Rome and discusses how computing plays into today's modern technology.

Discusses how ways to communicate have changed throughout history from cave paintings to rock pictures to clay tablets to paper. Includes information on how ancient communication forms helped to create modern communication technology.

Discusses the history of agricultural technology including how the ancient Chinese created irrigation procedures to grow more rice, how the ancient Middle Easterners learned about breeding sheep for different colors of wool, and how the ancient Greeks invented machines for crushing grapes and olives.

Examines six medical discoveries and inventions that have changed the ways in which people live and how diseases are treated including handwashing and antiseptics, vaccines and antibiotics, anesthetics, X-rays, and artificial limbs.

Describes the devastating impact of floods, discussing what causes a flood to occur, why they are so destructive, and what can be done to stop them; and includes first-hand survivor stories and photographs of flood disasters.

Presents a brief study of droughts, how they are caused, various areas around the world that have been affected by drought conditions, and efforts to help people in drought areas.

Discusses the methods of computation developed in various civilizations around the world, from prehistoric times up until the end of the Roman Empire.

Describes buildings and structures and examines methods and tools of construction in various civilizations around the world, from prehistoric times up until the end of the Roman Empire.

Examines ancient methods of communication in the Middle East, India, China, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Mesoamerica.

Discusses agricultural technology in various cultures from the Stone Age to 476 A.D., including China, Egypt, Mesoamerica, and Greece.