Heron's steam engine

Heron's steam engine, developed in the 1st century AD, was an early device that used steam pressure to create motion. It consisted of a sealed vessel partially filled with water, which when heated produced steam. The steam's pressure would force water or a piston to move, creating a simple power source. Heron's machine was primarily a demonstration of principles of physics and thermodynamics, and while not practical for widespread use, it laid foundational ideas for later steam engines. Essentially, it was an ancient experiment showing how expanding steam could generate mechanical movement.