The idea of “robots”, in the meaning of artificial beings that could
substitute real individuals, mainly to carry out heavy and
repetitive tasks, dates back to ancient times. Indeed, almost every
civilization speculated about such artificial beings, and several
legends flourished among many peoples. The progress of
technology enabled ingenious inventors to design and build some
examples of what we may name “robot”. In this paper, we sketch
a brief history of Robotics, from ancient times to the 18th century.
The most important achievements, as well as the most interesting
legends, are described and illustrated.
