Engineering as i’ve learned it it the building and construction of structures within societies. It can be irrigation cannals with the Tono O’ohan society of the southern states or the grand dome of Hagia Sopheia in Turkey. Engineering is not just about building houses and it can be as profound as centralizing structure from which a society is developed for example with the Incans.  I think engineering is often over looked with history but the way buildings and structures are built, the materials used and thier appearance are incredibly powerful clues to the past of societies. And by observing this we can also learn how to preserve these historical pieces and improve or own structures. When researches studied Hagia Sophea for structural integrity they found the the materials and composition was extremely well suited for the earthquake frequented area which has allowed for it to endure thousands of years.  After testing a model of structure in simulations they found that the largest recorded earthquake in man kind would have to be tripled to destroy the structure. I think this kind of discovery is incredibly insightful not only in the countries history but how valuable knowledge of the past can be in the present.

As soon as humans advanced past the nomadic phase of evolution, they have built permanent structures that still withstand the test of time. Ancient engineering marvels, created by cultures around the world, have withstood the test of time because of their careful planning, hard work and craftsmanship. From the irrigation systems designed by American Indians to bring water to their dry desert home, to the massive palace known as Machu Picchu built high up in the Andes Mountains, Ancient civilizations have built some engineering masterpieces even by today’s standards. Although we might not know exactly how the Incas got those huge, perfectly cut rocks up to the top of a mountain or how much planning went into the Taj Mahal or even how much tradition goes into the upkeep of the Ise Grand Shrine in Japan or the Djenne Mosque in Mali, we can closely analyze clues left at these sights and research techniques used to accomplish these tasks. There is a lot to be learned about each and every one of these engineering feats and the ancient technology used then are still being used now and will continue to be for the rest of our foreseeable future. Engineering from a cultural perspective can be defined as a way of building structures, and using technology to develop new and innovative ways to further the advancement of all cultures all around the world.

I am taking engineering 101 this semester so I know that the definition of engineering encompasses many different sections like chemical, structural and electrical, applying science to actual use. From this course specifically we have been discussing civil engineering, applying science and math to buildings and waterways and or systems. It has been really interesting to see the structures and systems from the past, and discussing how sophisticated some of them were, still people question how, without modern day tools, these structures were built and still standing. Civil engineering has obviously been the theme for the majority of our modules so far. Really the only module that did not involve engineering was the module on Thanksgiving. Discussing the significance of the size and design of the bridges especially for the era that they were built in. The same goes for the module on the Aztecs and the incredible structures they were capable of building with no present day architectural tools. Now moving to talking about the sophisticated irrigation systems that the Hohokam built, still encompassing civil engineering.