This book presents critical evaluations of various historical sources and their impact on technological development. The problem of the origins of the Principle of Virtual Work is discussed and an  exegesis of the Pseudo-Aristotle Mechanica Problemata is presented. Readers will also find an exploration of the criteria used to evaluate scientific works, providing insight into the selection and preservation of significant scholarly contributions. In particular, the case of Continuum Mechanics textbooks selection in XX century is examined.