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From Aqueducts to Oil Rigs

Josh Klein explores the origins of automated control systems, like the one used on the Perdidothe world's deepest offshore oil rig. He starts out in ancient Rome, where local volcanic ash was once used to create superstrong concrete, which the Romans utilized in creating their famous aqueducts. Readily available water resulted in the Romans developing the hand pump, which in turn was modified by the Greeks to make a flamethrower, enabling them to defend Constantinople.