this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2026
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The principle of steam power was known, but the ancient steam engines could only move stuff against little resistance once, while releasing all steam.
It wasn't possible to build a steam engine that could build up pressure and do actual work, until metallurgy and precision machining were developed.
I think the first major application for a steam engine that could do real work was way into the 18th century or something, with the steam pump, to access coal seams deeper in the ground by pumping water out. Not sure entirely though.