ABSTRACT
According to the Oxford English Dictionary (1989), one of the ‰rst uses of the word engineering in the English language dates back to 1681; in 1729, Bernard Fores de Belidor published one of the ‰rst books with the word engineering in the title: La Science de Ingenieures. These are two literary indications that engineering began to solidify as a distinct profession during the Industrial Revolution. There have been continuing discussions among experts about the differences and the de‰nitions of science, technology, and engineering. The numerous sources presented in this section might help the readers interested in these types of academic analyses, but the focus of this chapter is far from presenting a critical review of their de‰nitions and relationships. Nevertheless, it is important to raise some of the basic concepts related to the history of engineering. It is appropriate to bring up the connection between applied sciences and engineering, to make a distinction about the meaning of technology and engineering, and to present a brief chronology of engineering in modern times.
