History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c13.s5: Conclusions
History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c13.s5
- Language
- English
Conclusions
v1.c13.s5.1
Tylecote(1984) has rightly mentioned that India’s ‘History of Science and technology’ is yet to be written and the available date is in no way complete to expose its full potential. In this context the description of the ancient metals and the technology presented in this Chapter is only the tip of the iceberg of the knowledge and skill of the ancient Indian craftsmen.
v1.c13.s5.2
It can be said beyond doubt that the discovery of metals and the techniques of their use in day-to-day life has been of Indian origin and not borrowed from abroad as mentioned by many noted Archaeologists of the Western World.
v1.c13.s5.3
Based on the caste system the technology of smelting and working of specific metals was being practiced by a particular group of the tribals who were maintaining the details of the knowledge in their family, from generation to generation. The technological practices were considered to be a highly guarded family secret and a religious pursuit of very high order. These stringent beliefs and rituals of the society are also responsible for the perishing of many ancient art and craft.
v1.c13.s5.4
Some of the highlights of the ancient Indian craftsmen are :
v1.c13.s5.5
(1) The smelters and metal smiths had gained a very high degree of knowledge regarding, furnace design, combustion of fuel, refractories and skill in operating the furnaces under a predetermined condition and at desired temperature.
v1.c13.s5.6
(2) The Indian Black-smiths had gained very detailed knowledge about Fe-C alloys and Wootz steel and they had mastered the skill of thermo-mechanical treatment to produce excellent swords with typical watering treatment, Serian’s had come to know the Indian source of the steel ingots and learnt the technology of working it to produce “Damascus swords” in their country.
v1.c13.s5.7
(3) Indians were also first to introduce Zinc to the human civilization and also develop Cu-Zn alloys.
v1.c13.s5.8
(4) The alloy technology of the country was very refined and alloys of controlled composition could be produced repeatedly.
v1.c13.s5.9
(5) The skill of designing of a variety of objects of art, their molding by various methods such as the die casting molds and lost
v1.c13.s5.10
wax process and casting of small as well as large objects was highly developed in the country much ahead of the world.