The author’s purpose in ""The Early History of the Generation and Use of Steam"" is to . 1- outline the purpose of steam engines 2-show the development of steam engines over time 3- illustrate the weaknesses of steam technology 4- evaluate the usefulness of steam engines

2-show the development of steam engines over time

Explanation:

The author of "The Early History of the Generation and Use of Steam", Babcock Wilcox, highlighted the development of steam engines overtime tracing the use of the device down to 150 B.C.E. He was able to infer this from a treatise written around that time period known as the Pneumatica, wherein Hero, of Alexander explained that his predecessors as well as his contemporaries used devices that raised steam above its natural level, a mechanism of action employed by the steam engine.

The author further noted that writers from, 1571 to 1629 wrote treatises explaining the working of the steam engine. His chronology lasted up to 1800 when Richard Trevithick and Oliver Evans invented a non-condensing, high pressure steam engine. He also explained that steam engines are still in use till date.