Ancient Greece

Chorography

16,500 BCE

Chorography is the art of mapping or describing a distant region or place on a map and is a very important development in architecture technology. It was highly relied on in designing instructions by ancient architects.
Today....
It has been replaced by the more accurate, Cartography which makes use of drafting skills and survey data. Still used for property development

Showers

1250 BCE

Ancient Greeks were the first people to have showers. Their aqueducts and sewage systems and sophisticated drainage systems made of lead pipes allowed water to be pumped into and out of large communal shower rooms.
Today....
Showers are in every home and have valves for adjusting water flow and temperature.

Central Heating

1202 BCE

Ancient greek central heating was flues planted on the floor. They circulated warm air through a fire providing a comfortable temperature throughout the floor. An example of this ancient greek central heating was the use of it in the Temple of Ephesus.
today...
central heating is forced heat from a furnace that is distributed through heat ducts and registers that distributes heat evenly through a structure. modern day furnaces are very cost effective and better for the environment.

The First Crane

520 BCE

The earliest form of the crane was powered by animals and/or people.
Today....
Cranes can be enormous and are powered mechanically.

The Wheelbarrow (one-wheeler)

407 BCE

The Wheelbarrow was invented by the ancient Greeks to transport equipment that can be held and pushed by people. It was used for transporting inventory from the building of many temples such as The Temple of Eluises.
Today.......
The wheelbarrow has a deeper bed/tray that allows a bigger load and most people tend to use them for construction and landscaping.

Plumbing

400 BCE

Athens began development on an extensive plumbing system for baths and fountains as well as personal home use, where structures were equipped with closets that drained into a sewer beneath the street.
Today....
Plumbing hasn't changed too much, but it has become more efficient and is used by almost every person on the planet, unlike the ancient times.

The Chorobates

350 BCE

The Chorobates was an ancient tool that was made from a wooden framed beam with a water level and 2 supports on each end, and was used as a sight line to determine a parallel line to the water level. This tool was considered to have been very important in the construction of the Aqueducts.
Today....
The Chorobates is now called a spirit level. It is used for carpentry and construction.

The Drill

350 BCE

The drill was a tool for boring holes. It consisted of a cylindrical wooden spindle which, at its bottom end, had an iron point and a wooden handle to allow free rotation. Without the point, it was used as a lighter to light fire.
Today...
There are many types of drills,
A cordless drill is an electric drill which uses rechargeable batteries.
A Drill Press is a fixed style of drill that may be mounted on a stand or bolted to the floor or workbench.
Most drills these days are electric.

The Dioptra

200 BCE

The Dioptra is a classical Greek tool originally for astronomy, but was adapted for use in surveying and featured a rod with a sight on each end, that was fitted with protractors to measure angles. It is thought that this tool was used in the constructions of tunnels and bridges.
Today's Theodolite is a modern electronic version of the dioptra.

Cement

100 BCE

Cement was made as a binder substance that sets and hardens independently and can bind materials together. It was made of limestone, clay, water and sand.
Today...
Cement is used for just about everything, including roads, sidewalks and paths, structures, etc.