That Was Genius Lost Knowledge and Incredible Inventions from History

Discover the unbelievable inventions and innovations of ancient people from across the world.  
 
This technological treasury of hidden histories uncovers gadgets and gizmos from the ancient and recent past to change the way you think about history and science.  
 
See inside steam-powered robots from ancient Greece, learn the secrets of medieval alchemy, and marvel at an earthquake detector from ancient China. Forget your dusty history books—this is a book of marvels that are stranger than fiction! 
 
Spanning five continents and thousands of years, That Was Genius includes: 

• Incredible innovations from the ancient world, including razor-sharp obsidian tools, a mystical Viking compass, and Aboriginal Australian songlines. 
• Enormous libraries that once housed knowledge now lost to time, such as those of Alexandria and Baghdad. 
• Spotlight inventors whose wildest dreams went unrealised—ranging from the original Renaissance Man, Leonardo da Vinci, to computing pioneer Ada Lovelace. 

Each spread is packed with fascinating details on the science behind each invention, as well as puzzlebox illustrations which invite you to solve the mysteries of the distant past yourself...
 
Perfect for curious minds and budding inventors, That Was Genius invites you to rethink what ancient people knew, built, and imagined—and to see the modern world with fresh eyes.

Emily Dodd loves science and wildlife. She is the author of picture books and non-fiction science books, a screenwriter for CBeebies, a singer-songwriter, and a BBC radio playwright. Emily travels widely, taking her interactive science events to schools, libraries, and festivals. Her books for children include DKFindOut! Energy (DK, 2018), the Tell Me About series (Templar) and The Book of Lost Knowledge (Wide Eyed Editions, 2025).

Christian Gralingen was born in Essen, Germany and now lives and works as an Art Director and Illustrator, as well as teaching Illustration and Communication Design, in Berlin. His client list includes design agencies, publishing houses, magazines, academic institutions, and foundations. His aesthetics have many influences but are particularly inspired by the imagery of scientific publications, construction plans, and technical drawings.

4               Introduction

6               Songlines

8               Mammoth Tusk Map

10            Lascaux Cave

12            Trepanning

14            Obsidian Toolmaking

16            Lyre

18            Inventor: Tapputi-Belatekalim

20            Mummification

22            Wheelchairs

24            Mechane

26            Yakhchal Ice House

28            Hygiene

30            Automated Pigeon

32            Inventor: Democritus

34            Camera Obscurer

36            Plato's Alarm Clock

38            Rosetta Stone

40            Puzzles and Games

42            Antikythera Mechanism

44            Inventor: Archimedes

46            Circus Maximus

48            Roman Concrete

50            Lycurgus Cup

52            Odometer

54            Robot Bar

56            Sunstones and lenses

58            Inventor: Heron of Alexandria

60            Houfeng Didong Yi

62            Baghdad Battery

64            Musical Instruments

66            Alchemy

68            Venetian Arsenal

70            Inventor: Leonardo da Vinci

72            Quipus

74            Aztec Sun Stone

76            Taqi al-Din

78            Rai Stones

80            Greek Fire

82            Submarines

84            Inventor: Ada Lovelace

86            Lost Libraries

88            Timeline

90            Timeline

92            Glossary

94            Index

96            Imprint

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