Why Could The Ancient Greek Steam Engine Not Power an Industrial Revolution?

Around 10–70 CE, Greek-Egyptian mathematician and engineer Hero of Alexandria invented the Aeolipile, a primitive form of steam engine. Many believe that with improvement this could have powered an ancient industrial revolution.

The James Watt Steam Engine

We all love alternative histories about what could have been. Many people, when they first learn about the primitive steam engine, the Aeolipile, invented by the ancient Greeks, think that an industrial revolution did not happen because the Greeks failed to see its potential. But did they?

No, there is simply no way the Aeolipile could have served as a starting point for a industrial revolution in the classical era. In this story I will delve into the details of why, and in doing so give an insight into the nature of technological innovation.

Model recreation of the Aeolipile. Steam exits from the small brass arms causing the ball to spin around.

The Aeoliphile was extremely inefficient and offered far too little power to be used as something to drive industrial machinery.