The term “automaton,” often used today as a near-synonym for “robot,” derives from the Greek α ὐ τόματον ( automaton ), meaning “self-moving.” This course examines the cultural and social history of automata from antiquity through the medieval and Renaissance periods, focusing on how the imitation of lifelike motion contributed to the development of mechanical technologies. Challenging modern assumptions shaped by cybernetics, robotics, and artificial intelligence, the course situates automata within their historical contexts, exploring their multiple meanings as both technical and symbolic objects. Field trips to the Huntington Library will be included.