Ancient History

Historical Investigation
Archimedes

Outline the key events in the life of your chosen

personality
Archimedes was born in 287 B.C. in the city of Syracuse on the island of Sicily. His birth was
celebrated by two family festivals. The first was when Archimedes was five days old; the
nurse wrapped him in her arms and ran around areas of the house with family and slaves
following. This was to forever give him the blessing and care of the family gods. The second
was when he turned ten days old. That was when Archimedes was given his name.

Throughout his life Archimedes created some of the founding theories and principles that
modern day mathematicians and scientists use in everyday life. His contributions to
mathematics included solutions to a variety of problems. He was the first to prove that the
surface area and volume of a sphere were exactly 2/3rds that of a cylinder of a similar height.
He worked with mathematics limits and series in a manner that is similar to calculus, and in a
treatise on 'counting grains of sand', he made innovative use of the manner of calculating
very large numbers before the decimal system was established.

He began the science of hydrostatics, which deals with the pressure of liquids. He discovered
the laws of pulleys and levers. He discovered the principle of buoyancy, which explains why
some things can sink, and float, and why some things rise into the air. He also discovered the
principle of specific gravity, which is one of the basic scientific tests of all the elements.

There are several inventions attached to Archimedes name as well. Among these are the
Archimedean screw, a device used to drain or irrigate fields, load grain and run high-speed
machines. He invented something relevant to an astronomical machine; it is a machine that
shows eclipses of the sun and moon. Using this machine he estimated the length of a year,
and the distances to the five planets that was known to the ancient world. However, although
he was a great inventor, he considered inventing only an amusement; he considered his only
real work to be mathematics.

Along with his remarkable mathematic theories and miraculous inventions, there are several
anecdotes also attached to his name. The most notable is the occasion between the King of
Syacruse and a goldsmith. Archimedes determined whether the king had been cheated in the
making of his gold crown. Archimedes determined that the amount of gold required to
displace the same amount of water as the king's crown should precisely equal the weight of
the gold used by the goldsmith to make the crown, and if there was a discrepancy it would
mean that the king had been cheated. This law of buoyancy is still known as Archimedes
Principle.

Ironically, his dedication to his work would bring his end. As Romans were invading his
home during a siege of Syracuse, a soldier of the Roman army came to take Archimedes to his
leader, however Archimedes would not leave, instead continuing to work on his latest
problem. Outraged at this the soldier ran Archimedes through with his sword as he bent over
to his problem once more.

Throughout his whole life Archimedes considered his greatest achievement to be the
discovery of how to calculate the volume of a sphere by comparing it with a similar-sized
cylinder. And therefore this is why a symbol representing this was inscribed on his
tombstone.
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Evaluate the impact your chosen personality had on the

ancient world and their legacy today
The impact that Archimedes had on the ancient world helped open their eyes to new
possibilities. It opened doors for modern mathematicians and scientists who use the
Archimedes’s theories as a basis for their theories and hypothesis’s. His inventions have
shaped the modern day world and have allowed modern day inventors and scientists to
build on his ideas and use modern technology to enhance them.

From the time he was born, Archimedes’s family knew that he would be special, during his
naming ceremony he was given just one name, no first name no last name. A name that was
almost certainly given to him with great care and chosen to bring him good luck.
Archimedes’ parents care, reverence and affection did not falter there. At the age of eight,
Archimedes would have a slave attending to his every needs and who taught him etiquette
and mannerisms that would serve him in the outside world. As he grew older he spent more
and more time studying and learning. Often he had to be fed because he forgot to eat, he
forgot to bathe and sometimes he would forget to wear clothing if he was in the middle of a
problem. He was so committed to his study of mathematics and science that it dominated his
life. In fact, Plutarch, a historian from Greece stated that, "He placed his whole affection and
ambition in those purer speculations where there can be no reference to the vulgar needs of
life." (Plutarch: http://www.crystalinks.com/archimedes.html - Mathematics)

Archimedes’ life experiences and travels brought him to Alexandria. It was there that he met
two others, Euclid and Conon, who, along with him, would be considered the three greatest
mathematicians of the ancient world. Together they studied, learned and observed,
continually trying to improve or solve the problems of the ancient world.

Archimedes was the stepping stone of the ancient world. He was highly regarded by all,
including the King of Syracuse, King Hiero. In fact, when King Hiero was not sure whether
the crown he had commissioned to a goldsmith was pure gold, he called upon his friend
Archimedes to confirm it for him. Getting the idea from stepping into his bathtub and
watching it overflow, he determined that the amount of gold required to displace the same
amount of water as the king's crown should precisely equal the weight of the gold used by
the goldsmith to make the crown. If it was not, then it would be clear that the King had been
cheated. This became known as the Archimedes principle. The King trusted Archimedes and
his ideas so much that he entrusted the defences of Syracuse to Archimedes inventions.

Archimedes can also be considered the founding father of modern day technology. His
studies also brought him to the the study of the science of hydrostatics, the laws of lever and
pulleys, the principle of buoyancy and the principle of specific gravity among others. All of
these principles and laws were the starting points for modern day scientists and
mathematicians. Without him, we would not, could not even begin to comprehend what a
chain reaction is or what a nuclear explosion was. Many of our most basic formulas,
especially those involving arithmetic, one of, if not the most important foundations of
mathematics would be a complete mystery without Archimedes. Many jobs in the modern
world, such as construction, considered quite simple thanks to modern day machinery and
technology would not be possible without the basis theories, all of which were invented by
Archimedes. One such example is what is known as the Archimedes Screw.

It was a wooden screw, like a long corkscrew, was fitted and placed in the water, and the top
rested over land. As Archimedes turned the handle, as long as the screw was placed in the
water at the right angle, the crew turned and raised the water from one spiral to the next. The
people of Egypt marvelled at this new invention and even today they still use the Archimedes
screw to irrigate their fields. The crew has been modernised and adapted in the modern
world. An example of this is the screw pump. A modern day adaptation from the
Archimedes Screw, this type of pump is mainly used to move sludge and other sorts of
sewerage waste through sewerage treatment plants. But the main adaptation of the screw is
the propeller, used to power boats and planes by using the spinning rotating blade to push
either water or air behind to object to push the object forward. This was used before motors
or engines were invented.

In fact, it is highly probable that the concept of machines would not exist without
Archimedes. While working with his inventions, Archimedes decided to add some additional
force to his inventions to make using them a bit easier. The impact of his discovery became
apparent when he started moving ships with just one hand. The machine was defined as
anything object that could allow people to do work more easily. One of the most
unrecognised machines still to this day is the staircase. It was made so that it would be easier
to carry sand up hills more easily and efficiently. As time and technology progressed,
machines became more and more diverse, given different names for different purposes. This
is how the terms engines and motors came about.

Without Archimedes, many of the things we take for granted today would not be present in
our modern world. Technology could not have progressed as far as it has without him. Most
of our knowledge, particularly our mathematic and scientific knowledge, would not exist
without him. His legacy and impact today is just as strong as it was during the ancient world.

Words: 957

Bibliography:

Websites:
Rit Nosotro 2000 – 2007, Archimedes Approx. 287 B.C.-212 B.C. Mathematician, Inventor,
Astronomer (online) http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b2archimedes_p1ab.htm

How Stuff Works, 1998 – 2009, Archimedes (online)

http://history.howstuffworks.com/ancient-greece/archimedes.htm

D & T Roth, 2007 – 2009, Archimedes (online) http://www.heritage-

history.com/www/heritage.php?R_menu=OFF&Dir=characters&FileName=archimedes.php

Ellie Crystal, 1995, Archimedes (online) http://www.crystalinks.com/archimedes.html

Encyclopedia:
1988 Edition, Archimedes, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Page 604, World Book
Inc. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60654

Books:
Bendick J. (1962) Archimedes and the Door to Science. Franklin Watts, Inc. 575 Lexington
Avenue, New York 22