Historical Evolutions of Infrastructure: 15,000 Years of History - Hardcover

Fertis, Demeter G.; Fertis, Anna

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0533124956 ISBN 13: 9780533124954

Publisher: Vantage Pr, 1998

Synopsis

In "Historical Evolutions of Infrastructure: 15,000 Years of History," Demeter and Anna Fertis explore the history of infrastructure and its evolutions over a course of 15,000 years by concentrating on seven major eras: the Aegean Era, the Era of Wise Men, the Golden Era, the Greco-Roman Era, the Renaissance, the Early Modern European Era, and the Modern Era.

The infrastructure is defined in a rather broad sense based on the definition given by the Greek philosopher Socrates, stating that "in order to function at all, a person needs the facilities and arrangements available from community, security, institutions, and economic goods, and that these can only be available when individuals support the concept of community and the responsibilities that it entails. Chief among these responsibilities is the provision of infrastructure and the services it provides."

Using this definition of infrastructure, the authors take the readers through the course of a tryly epic voyage across the sea of time to explore the origin and genesis of infrastructure and the many evolutionary changes that followed. They examine the effects on the human race as time progresses, and the indelible marks left by each period's leading minds in the fields of architecture, literature, mathematics, science, engineering, space travel and exploration, technology, and all the arts that influenced the evolution of infrastructure in the various societies that existed over the years.

The book is not technical but it addresses technical and non-technical subjects in a simple and enjoyable way so that it can be understood and enjoyed by both casual and serious readers. It provides true history based on the research work of the many male and female researchers in the various fields, and also examines specific topics dealing with urban planning, business and commerse, immigration and migration, anthropological aspects, the fine arts, and other topics that have influenced the evolutiion of our past and present infrastructure. Based on such historical evolutionaly changes the authors theorize about the infrastructure of the future.

Today, more than ever before, it is necessary to learn our history and prepare ourselves for the challenges that lie ahead in the twenty-first century. Not having some fair assessment of historical developments may be thought of as having a building without an appropriate foundation to stand it on, or travelling on a ship or an airplane without appropriate navigation. In a not very lengthy way, "Historical Evolutions of Infrastructure" provides the right compass to navigate the reader through the many challenges of the twenty-first century.

About this title

About the Author:

DEMETER G. FERTIS is a professor emeritus at the University of Akron, a member of several national and international committees and the author of more than ten books and innumerable articles for professional and scientific journals. He has consulted for NASA, Ford, General Motors, Boeing, and others.

ANNA FERTIS is a marketing consultant, co-author of two books, and member of New York Academy of Sciences and American Association of University Women.

Review:

...I have gone through the book and found it interesting and exciting..., the authors have drawn from a rich variety of sources to cover substantially the topic and particular the period starting from the early Hellenic Antiquity. This is a useful addition to the existing literature on the subject and would form an accession to public and personal library alike. -- Dr. A. N. Kounadis, Professor, National Technical University of Athens, Member of Academia Europaea, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Fellow of New York Academy of Sciences. Letter to the publisher, May 21, 1999

...The authors examine each period's leaders in literature, mathematics, architecture and science and the way they influenced the surrounding infrastructure. Using the past as a template, the authors theorize about the infrastructure of the future based on the current evolutions of thought. -- Civil Engineering Magazine of American Society of Civil Engineers, January, 1999

...The book is an inspiring novel on science and technology that is catered to a rather general audience in the fields of Western culture, urban planning, architecture, engineering, business, economics, and political science. It is a nontechnical work that addresses a technical subject and should be enjoyed by both casual and serious readers. -- Journal of Structural Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, May 1999. Book Review, by Professor Eric M. Lui, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-1190

...a very important and well-documented work. I have really admired the scientific clarity, Dorian simplicity, historical accuracy, and the philosophical depth of your intellectual thoughts..., a classical work of our era. -- Major General Kostas X. Konstandinidis, Author-Journalist, Member of ex-NATO General for peace. Letter to the authors dated Oct. 24, 1998

About this edition

• Publisher: Vantage Pr
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0533124956
• ISBN 13: 9780533124954
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 200