Do you want to read more about early scientists and technology, or find more do-it-yourself (DIY) projects that are based on ancient to medieval history? These books are excellent places to start:

The Ancient Engineers, by L. Sprague de Camp (Doubleday, 1963)

Although his name might not be so well known now, L. Sprague de Camp was one of the best-known science fiction writers of the 1930s and 1940s. But it’s this 1963 work of science fact that I highly recommend. As Isaac Asimov said of it, “it’s the history (of science) as it should be told.”

A Splintered History of Wood, by Spike Carlsen (Harper, 2008)

So, so many DIY projects use wood as the primary building material. There are a lot of books out there about how to cut it, nail it, glue it, and so on. But this book explores the science and history of the stuff in a very entertaining manner. Maybe it’s because it’s so common and familiar that we don’t really think much about it, but wood, in and of itself, is incredibly interesting.

The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch, by Lewis Dartnell (Penguin, 2014)

This strange and interesting thought experiment is, in a sense, the ultimate DIY book. The premise: if most of the modern industrial world were to suddenly disappear due to, say, an asteroid hit, an ultra-virulent disease, or nuclear war, then society would need a reboot manual to get things going again. In a nutshell, that manual is The Knowledge, at least sort of.

Made by Dad: 67 Blueprints for Making Cool Stuff, by Scott Bedford (Workman, 2013)

Actually, this book is good for any dad or mom with little kids. Most of the projects here are clever and fun and are a great introduction to the world of DIY. Really, why buy toys when it’s so much more fun to make them?

Defending Your Castle: Build Catapults, Crossbows, Moats, Bulletproof Shields, and More Defensive Devices to Fend Off the Invading Hordes, by William Gurstelle (Chicago Review Press, 2014)

What better way to combine science, history, and DIY than to fortify your home against attacks by Huns, Mongols, or Vikings? This book covers everything from the art and science of moat building to the construction of watchtowers and catapults. It also explores the long and colorful history of how ancient peoples defended themselves from the (really, really) bad guys.

Ancient Inventions, by Peter James and Nick Thorpe (Ballantine, 1995)

As we’ve seen in this ReMaking History book, our modern era has no monopoly on clever and important inventions. Cranes, compasses, and clocks were invented long ago, and although most of the names of the inventors of these items are lost in the mists of history, their importance continues. This book sheds light on a great many more.