That Was Genius

Discover the unbelievable inventions and innovations of ancient people from across the world.

This technological treasury of hidden histories uncovers gadgets and gizmos from the ancient and recent past to change the way you think about history and science.

See inside steam-powered robots from ancient Greece, learn the secrets of medieval alchemy and marvel at an earthquake detector from ancient China. Forget your dusty history books - this is a book of marvels that are stranger than fiction!

Spanning five continents and thousands of years, That Was Genius includes:



Incredible innovations from the ancient world, including razor-sharp obsidian tools, a mystical Viking compass and Aboriginal Australian songlines.
Enormous libraries that once housed knowledge now lost to time, such as those of Alexandria and Baghdad.
Spotlight inventors whose wildest dreams went unrealised - ranging from the original Renaissance Man, Leonardo da Vinci, to computing pioneer Ada Lovelace.


Each spread is packed with fascinating details on the science behind each invention, as well as puzzlebox illustrations which invite you to solve the mysteries of the distant past yourself . . .

Perfect for curious minds and budding inventors, That Was Genius invites you to rethink what ancient people knew, built and imagined - and to see the modern world with fresh eyes.