That Was Genius

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 That Was Genius (Wide Eyed Editions, 2026).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               Introduction6               Songlines8               Mammoth Tusk Map10            Lascaux Cave12            Trepanning14            Obsidian Toolmaking16            Lyre18            Inventor: Tapputi-Belatekalim20            Mummification22            Wheelchairs24            Mechane26            Yakhchal Ice House28            Hygiene30            Automated Pigeon32            Inventor: Democritus34            Camera Obscurer36            Plato's Alarm Clock38            Rosetta Stone40            Puzzles and Games42            Antikythera Mechanism44            Inventor: Archimedes46            Circus Maximus48            Roman Concrete50            Lycurgus Cup52            Odometer54            Robot Bar56            Sunstones and lenses58            Inventor: Heron of Alexandria60            Houfeng Didong Yi62            Baghdad Battery64            Musical Instruments66            Alchemy68            Venetian Arsenal70            Inventor: Leonardo da Vinci72            Quipus74            Aztec Sun Stone76            Taqi al-Din78            Rai Stones80            Greek Fire82            Submarines84            Inventor: Ada Lovelace86            Lost Libraries88            Timeline90            Timeline92            Glossary94            Index96            Imprint