Technology in history
Bachelor's degree
In Maynard (USA)
Description
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Type
Bachelor's degree
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Location
Maynard (USA)
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Start date
Different dates available
Today many people assume that technological change is the major factor in historical change and that it tends to lead to historical progress. This class turns these assumptions into a question—what is the role of technology in history?—by focusing on four key historical transitions: the human revolution (the emergence of humans as a history-making species), the Neolithic Revolution (the emergence of agriculture-based civilizations); the great leap in productivity (also known as the industrial revolution), and the great acceleration that has come with the rise of human empire on the planet. These topics are studied through a mix of textbook reading (David Christian's "Maps of Time"), supplementary readings (ranging from Auel, "The Clan of the Cave Bear" to Hersey, "Hiroshima"), illustrated lectures, class discussions, guest lectures/discussions, short "problem paper" assignments, and a final project defined by the student.
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Location
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Subjects
- Writing
- Technology
Course programme
Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session
In this class we ask two big questions. First, what is "technology"? Second, how has the set of activities to which we commonly give this label shaped human relations among ourselves and with the rest of the natural world?
We focus on four fundamental transformations in these relations: the emergence of humankind as a history-making species; of agriculture-based civilizations; of productive systems based on fossil fuels; and of "human empire" dominated by human presence and power.
In each unit we will study, among other things, technologies as media of expression and communication; connections among technological, political, and military power; the concept of "technological revolutions"; and the role of imagination, beliefs, and values both in inspiring and in being shaped by technological creativity.
Because MIT is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2011, we will focus on connections between MIT as an institution and technology in the history of the last 150 years.
This course is a Communications Intensive HASS (CI-H) subject. Students are required to have two meetings with the class Writing Advisor.
Christian, David. Maps of Time: An Introduction to Big History. University of California Press, 2004. ISBN: 9780520244764. [Preview with Google Books]
Hersey, John. Hiroshima. Vintage, 1989 [originally published in The New Yorker, 1946]. ISBN: 9780679721031.
Additional readings will be assigned from other sources.
Writing (check-off): Where is "technology" in The Clan of the Cave Bear?
Group discussions and presentations on reading
Paper 3 due
Oral reports on paper 3 topics
From Industry to Battlefield
Chemical Engineering at MIT
Discussion of Hersey, Hiroshima, and "Ground Zero" from Visualizing Cultures
Second mandatory meeting with writing advisor by this date
Fourth paper due: comments on Hersey, Hiroshima (default mode); other topics acceptable with permission
Review for quiz
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Technology in history