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One of the most impressive of the early works in technology to come from Renaissance printers was the De Re Metallica of Georgius Agricola (German: Georg Bauer). This comprehensive treatise on mining, metalworking, and assaying was richly illustrated, and thus gives us one of the earliest extensive looks at the tools and techniques of a major technology. The work was translated from the Latin and prepared for publication by Herbert Hoover -- a president of the United States, to be sure, but also a civil engineer of considerable erudition. Take a look at this on-line version of Hoover's publication, and read the descriptions of machines on pages 160-168 (note page numbers in the right margin). Pay particular attention to the splendid illustrations (you can enlarge these by clicking on them), and choose one of these from the assigned pages to discuss in your portfolio.
When you come to section, expect to discuss
further some of the issues raised by the Renaissance for our understanding of
technology. Discuss in a short paragraph what we can learn from the machine illustration you have selected from Agricola/Hoover. In another paragraph highlight another area of life that was quickly affected by the revolution in print technology.