Soap and mechanical clock: what they have in common

1. Step 1. Soap — uses — Lime. The alkali for soapmaking was obtained from ash and lime.
2. Step 2. Lime — is material for — Cistern. The walls were coated with lime plaster against leaks.
3. Step 3. Cistern — is part of — Aqueduct. Distribution reservoirs.
4. Step 4. Aqueduct — uses — Gravity flow. Water flows down a gradient without pumps.
5. Step 5. Gravity flow — is used in — Water clock (clepsydra). Water flows out at a constant rate under gravity.
6. Step 6. Water clock (clepsydra) — evolved into — Mechanical clock. Mechanical clocks replaced water clocks, swapping the flow of water for an escapement.

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