| The first watermill was seen in the eastern part of the | | | | that could grind flour at a high speed. The Greeks |
| Mediterranean, which was controlled by the Greeks | | | | invented the water wheel and the toothed gear for the |
| after Alexander the Great conquered the region. And | | | | wheel, while the Romans were the first ones to make |
| once Macedonia fell, the next power that took control | | | | use of overshot waterwheel mills and breastshots. |
| the Mediterranean region decided to use all the power | | | | The Romans were also responsible for making floating |
| of the water by making real watermills. This power | | | | as well as fixed water wheels and this helped them to |
| was the Romans and they managed to harness the | | | | spread the watermill throughout the Roman Empire. |
| power of the water and use it effectively. | | | | Several other ancient civilizations made used of |
| It goes without saying that these ancient people knew | | | | watermills. Some of them were Egypt, India and China. |
| how to use the power of water and they also knew | | | | However, the watermill invented by the Romans was |
| that they could use this power to ease the work in | | | | deemed a mechanical wonder. The Romans also built |
| mills. Prior to water being used as a source of power | | | | the largest watermill at Baregal. This had around |
| to keep the mills running, Romans used to slaves. | | | | sixteen overshot watermills and could generate more |
| These mills were primarily built to grind grain so that the | | | | power compared to sixteen individual watermills. This |
| resultant flour could be used to make bread. | | | | mill has the ability to grind 4.5 tons of flour everyday |
| Although the Greeks get the credit for inventing 2 main | | | | and could supply a town of 12,500 people with bread |
| components of the watermill, it was the Romans who | | | | on a daily basis. Truly a mechanical wonder. |
| were responsible for using a more complex design | | | | |