The History of Technology

As we know, technology makes objects to improve our quality of life in all aspects. And what’s more. These technological innovations seem to emerge at a very high rate; think not how quickly your computer will become obsolete when only months have passed.

Technological Evolution goes hand in hand with Science, although both things are different

Scientific discoveries encompass knowledge itself.

Technology applies that knowledge to solve a human need.

Technology is usually associate with modernity, but technological activity. The curiosity to modify our environment to improve our living conditions, is as old as humanity.

A few years ago, not many, say about 5 million years, the man had his entire body covered with hair. Then he lost it (although not in all cases), but in any case, the man found a way to protect his needs and avoid the cold. He covered himself with the skins of the animals he hunted for food.

Later, he discovered that vegetable fibers could give him warmth and invented clothing. Finally, he got tired of going barefoot and creating shoes, yelling, and developing the telephone; he got tired of burning his fingers (and eyelashes) with candles. So he invent the electric light, got tired of counting by hand, and created the calculator and the computer.

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The Prehistory

It is the period elapse from the appearance of the first human being to the development of script more than 5,000 years ago.

The first prehistoric people were nomads dedicate to hunting and gathering fruits. Their technological advances were gear towards their survival.
Prehistory is divide into three stages; Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.

The first technological revolution occurred about 10,000 years ago, in the Neolithic. When human beings went from nomadic to sedentary, developing the first agricultural techniques.

The Ancient Age (3,000 BC – V century AD)

At this time, the city-states in Greece and the territorial empires ( Rome ) appear.

The Greek contributions were more scientific and philosophical, while the Romans were more dedicated to civil and military engineering.

Technological development declined at the end of this period; historians attribute it to slavery. However, enslaved people are cheap labor, so producing innovations that facilitate manual and repetitive tasks is unnecessary.

The Middle Ages – Technology (5th century AD-1492)

The Western Roman Empire fell in the 5th century due to the barbarian invasions. Thus, much of the intellectual legacy of Antiquity is lost.

In the East, the Arabs are the heirs of classical culture, which they will reintroduce into Europe. In parallel, from 2000 BC to the fifteenth century in China, they built a flourishing society that produced endless technological successes.

The alchemist’s Saint Albert the Great, Ramón Lull, Roger Bacon, Jabir ibn Haiyan (Geber), the doctors Avicenna and Averroes, and the mathematician  Al-Karey stand out from this period.

In Europe, there has been an intellectual revival from the eleventh century with the creation of universities and cathedral schools.

Many inventions appear at this time. However, three technological innovations stand out: paper,  printing, and gunpowder.

The Modern Age – Technology (1492 – 1789)

It is the period between the discovery of America and the French Revolution.

In this period, the great geographical discoveries stand out, such as the discovery of America, the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Counter-Reformation.

With the growth of the cities, the economic system changed: the feudal economy gave way to the first signs of the capitalist system.

All this activity led to the need to search for new lands to obtain the raw materials necessary to manufacture the products. In addition, it meant opening new markets where they could be sold.

Many inventions appear at this time. However, three technological innovations stand out above the rest: the compass, cartography, and firearms.

The Technology Industrial Revolution (1760 – 1840).

The first industrial revolution began in England at the end of the 18th century with the invention of the steam engine. Then, for the first time, humanity could carry out agricultural or industrial tasks without the effort of people or animals.

This invention led to large-scale agriculture and the development of industries.

By improving the means of production, there was a massive migration from the countryside to the cities. Where the factories were, changing society as the working class appeared. However, the first workers were force to work long hours with hardly any breaks and vacations. This gave rise to the appearance of labor movements that began to fight for workers’ rights.

Many inventions and technological innovations appeared then, such as the telephone, the light bulb, the iron and steel industry, the lightning rod, the telegraph, the sewing machine, and motor vehicles.

The 20th and 21st Century Until Today.

In century XX an extraordinary technological development takes place. The first airplanes appear electricity reached cities and factories. Electronics were born that led to the appearance of the first personal computers around 1980, and nuclear technology was born and develop. In addition, medicine has undergone significant advances that prolonged the quality of life and the age of the human being. The space technology that places artificial satellites in orbit (1957) was born and develop, Man reach the Moon (1969), and interplanetary probes are launch, the excellent communication networks are develop fixe and mobile telephone lines.

Many inventions and technological innovations appear. Such as the radio, television, mobile phones, nuclear power plants, robots, CDs and DVDs, cinema, microprocessors, personal computers, and household appliances.

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