Hero of Alexandria, Greeks and Mystery of the Missing Revolution

Hero of Alexandria invented the first steam engine ever. The year was something like A.D. 50 if the historians of technology have not been drinking again. Hero's Alexandrian contemporaries found his invention fascinating like a Smithsonian display of static electricity inside a glass ball that can make your hair stick straight out in all directions. They treated it as a mere museum- piece, a notable something symbolizing to them "man's greatness" (or at least Greek greatness) and a portent of great things to come.

But those times would have to wait. And wait they did for a thousand years, and then another eight hundred. Finally, one Robert Fulton -- when the steam engine had been "re-discovered," and quite a bit improved -- fitted it onto a fairly large boat to travel the waterways of the United States in about A.D. 1807. Arguably, what was then called the "Watt Steam Engine" [after James Watt] formed the singularly most important feature to propel the industrialization of the West forward.

This monstrous gap in time, between the invention of the steam engine, and its first notable use for the purpose of helping to transport large numbers of people and goods (to build a nation), offers a historical quirk of biblical proportions. Why the huge gap in time?

The ancients had fairly advanced ships, and they (from about the time of the writing of 1st Corinthians) also had steam powered machines. They also had carts one might power with steam also (making an early version of the automobile). This was entirely possible by A.D. 100 at the latest. But there would be no model T's for almost 2 millenia. Again, how comes this?

The industrial revolution in England and the United States came on with extraordinary vigor , such that times ever since then (1760-1830) have been filled with people complaining about the rapid pace of cultural change, dislocation of workers in some industries (changing markets), and the like. Another way of asking our question is this: Why didn't the Industrial Revolution take place in the Roman empire at or before A.D. 350? The Wikipedia article on the topic says "Technological innovation was the heart of the industrial revolution and the key enabling technology was the invention and improvement of the steam engine."

Economic historians assure us that four preconditions must obtain -- called the 'economic take-off' point in the jargon of socio-economic development -- before a society displays the characteristics requisite for an industrial revolution.

The wikipedia entry for the industrial revolution explains that:

"The Industrial Revolution was a major shift of technological, socioeconomic, and cultural conditions that occurred in the late 18th century and early 19th century in some Western countries. It began in Britain and spread throughout the world, a process that continues as industrialisation. The onset of the Industrial Revolution marked a major turning point in human social history, comparable to the invention of farming, or the rise of the first city-states; almost every aspect of daily life and human society was eventually influenced in some way.

In the latter half of the 1700s the manual labour based economy of the Kingdom of Great Britain began to be replaced by one dominated by industry and the manufacture of machinery. It started with the mechanisation of the textile industries, the development of iron-making techniques and the increased use of refined coal.

Once [it was underway], Trade expansion was enabled by the introduction of canals, [and] improved roads and railways. The introduction of steam power (fuelled primarily by coal) and powered machinery (mainly in textile manufacturing) underpinned the dramatic increases in production capacity. The development of all-metal machine tools in the first two decades of the 19th century facilitated the manufacture of more production machines, for manufacturing in other industries. The effects spread throughout Western Europe and North America during the 19th century, eventually affecting most of the world."

The four critical socio-economic components include (to reach the industrial take-off point):

1. Sufficient labor capital (one must have many workers to specialize in this or that work)
2. An adequate market economy (potentially flourishing trade)
3. Sufficient Natural resources
4. Intellectual capital (a sufficient number of gifted thinkers and a certain level of cultural achievement)
5. Transportation networks help (but this feature sometimes does or does not appear on the take-off lists, since you can build one; nevertheless, it is noteworthy).

As early as the 5th century, B.C. the Greeks began to distinguish themselves as among the greatest thinkers (aside from Solomon, and previously Egypt). But by the 3rd century B.C. Alexandria, both Egptian (geographically) and Greek (culturally) showed all the 4 major take-off preconditions. For this and other reasons, economic historians have often pondered the question we are posing: why no industrial revolution in classical antiquity?

I will not bother to dispute many of the reasons they have offered, since they are busily doing this themselves, as each critiques another. The primary difference, between England-America and the world of Classical antiquity is called "Calvinism."

In short, the intellectual capital responsible for the development of the early stock markets (composed of commonstock companies and tradeable securities) and the value system which drove the dominion impulse behind the western migration across the U.S. (and its consequent development) bears the name "biblical Christianity." This is why, even though all the characteristics -- noted above -- were present in the ancient world (more or less), the industrial revolution had to await the Reformation, and its most refined confessional formulation in England. This is why we find such a revolution, not only absent from classical antiquity, but also from all other cultures, even ones with brilliant thinkers like the Chinese, who had gunpowder long before anyone else.

It is the Word of God, taken as a unit, or the "Christian worldview," which provided the social and economic preconditions and wisdom necessary for the development of the industrial and technical West. No one else had this. Thus, only the wisdom of the word of Christ enabled the sharpest rise in the general standard of living the world has ever seen. For in Him "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

I guess we know who the real "Hero" is. For all the Law and the Prophets speak of Him. And yet much, very much, remains to be recovered, newly-understood and systematized from the Bible. The next Reformation will doubtless dwarf anything ever seen (or probably imagined) as the intellectual capital of the Bible once again takes center stage in western thought as the educational foundation for the arts and sciences.

Be assured of this: righteousness exalts a nation, but sin disgraces any people (Proverbs 14:34) You have God's word on it. And the historical record concurs. Intellectual righteousness is called "sound doctrine," and social righteousness "mercy and justice." Each of these presupposes necessarily an infallible and absolute standard the Enlightenment project has been unable to deliver upon. In the end, there can be only one Hero. And no one but the Christians has such a perfect standard; for the law of the Lord is perfect.

So long as they diligently and wisely cling to this standard, studying and applying its teaches to every area of life, cultural and economic victory is inevitable. Progress is sure. And true enlightenment is just around the corner. This does not mean the ride won't be bumpy. History shows that it is. But there are clear, covenantal patterns, and fixed connections between obedience to God's word and national and international prosperity - the Wealth of Nations. It is only a matter of obedience, and a matter of time.

There are presently 100 million Evangelicals in America (people who self-identify that way). This means 50 million and 1 more and we have the majority, or at least our children will. Obviously, this trend is subject to everything from immigration patterns, to conversions to the Christian faith.

We hold the key to the next Reformation, because, as Paul said it, "We have the mind of Christ" (in writing). And the next Reformation -- like the previous -- will form the basis of the next (probably a capital) revolution -- the reformation of economic practices. We must be ready to provide a comprehensive alternative for those wishing to abandon ship when more people begin noticing that the postmodern "elightenment" ship is taking on water fast. Both the Repubicans and Democrats are running out of answers quickly. And this is becoming increasingly obvious. Theonomy -- the biblical political paradigm -- will eventually win the Christian mindset over by default if by nothing else. They cannot beat something with nothing. And Dagon is falling.

We must develop the alternative. A self-conscious Christian world-view forms the only logically possible answer to problems raised over the last 200 years -- with no success whatever from the secular establishment. So teach on Christian parents. Full steam ahead.

The Bible has the answers.