From the Technology through the Ages series , this information-packed volume focuses on machines that improved the lives of people living in specific places and times throughout world history. Chapters focus on engineering advances achieved by civilizations in ancient Greece, Rome, China, Japan, the Middle East, and the Americas. The authors discuss certain worthwhile inventions from ancient times, noting that some, including the ancient Chinese wheelbarrow, are very close in design to modern versions, though made from different materials. The book also mentions some of the technological advances made during the Industrial Revolution. Each double-page spread includes at least one illustration, usually in color, such as a photo of an ancient artifact or a painting on an ancient Greek vase. A smoothly written, historical overview of machines.