Year 8 Computing • Computer Systems • Lesson 1 • Activity 1

Was the Antikythera mechanism an early computer?

Explore one of history's most surprising machines, then build an argument about whether it should count as a computer.

Antikythera mechanism, photographed at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

What was it?

Recovered in 1900 from a Roman shipwreck near Antikythera.
Greek in origin and built around the end of the 2nd century BC.
Used gears, dials, and indicators to model the sky.
Could show dates, moon phases, planet positions, and eclipses.

Story

How it worked

1

Set a date

The user turned a crank to choose a date.

2

Gears processed the movement

Interlocking gears transformed one movement into several linked calculations.

3

Dials displayed results

The mechanism showed moon phases, planet positions, and predicted eclipses.

Question 1

Would you call it a computer?

Choose a position, then explain it with evidence.

Explain your answer

No position selected yet.

Question 2

Similarities and differences

Drag each idea into the best column, or tap a card and then tap a column on smaller screens.

Similarities

How is it like a modern computer?

Differences

How is it unlike a modern computer?

Correct cards: 0 / 8

Helpful prompts

Use these questions to deepen your answer

Planning notes