Introduction – The Lifeblood of Industry Hydraulic systems are a fundamental part of modern machinery. They power equipment in construction, aerospace, manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and transportation. But these systems didn’t appear overnight. The journey of hydraulics stretches back thousands of years—from water-powered machines in ancient times to today’s high-precision, computer-controlled systems. This article explores how hydraulics evolved and became one of the most essential technologies in industrial history. The Ancient Origins of Hydraulics The roots of hydraulics go back to ancient civilizations: Egyptians used simple irrigation systems with water channels and shadoofs. Greeks and Romans developed aqueducts, water wheels, and pressure-based fountains. The Greek engineer Hero of Alexandria created early hydraulic-powered devices. Though primitive, these systems proved that water and pressure could move heavy objects and perform useful work . The ...