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The earliest evidence of pulleys date back to Mesopotamia in the early 2nd millennium BC. The lever was also used in the shadoof water-lifting device, the first crane machine, which appeared in Mesopotamia circa 3000 BC.
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The lever mechanism first appeared around 5,000 years ago in the Near East, where it was used in a simple balance scale, and to move large objects in ancient Egyptian technology.
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The wheel, along with the wheel and axle mechanism, was invented in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) during the 5th millennium BC. The wedge and the inclined plane (ramp) were known since prehistoric times. The six classic simple machines were known in the ancient Near East. The application of mechanical engineering can be seen in the archives of various ancient and medieval societies. Main article: History of mechanical engineering Mechanical engineers may also work in the field of biomedical engineering, specifically with biomechanics, transport phenomena, biomechatronics, bionanotechnology, and modelling of biological systems. It also overlaps with aerospace engineering, metallurgical engineering, civil engineering, structural engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and other engineering disciplines to varying amounts. The field has continually evolved to incorporate advancements today mechanical engineers are pursuing developments in such areas as composites, mechatronics, and nanotechnology. In the 19th century, developments in physics led to the development of mechanical engineering science. Mechanical engineering emerged as a field during the Industrial Revolution in Europe in the 18th century however, its development can be traced back several thousand years around the world. In addition to these core principles, mechanical engineers use tools such as computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, transport systems, aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices, weapons, and others. Mechanical engineering requires an understanding of core areas including mechanics, dynamics, thermodynamics, materials science, design, structural analysis, and electricity. It is one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering branches. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems. Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement.
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