2023 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
History of Technology B
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Toma Kawanishi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Mon (M-103(H114)) / 1-2 Thu (M-103(H114))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T203
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The purpose of this course is to enhance students' critical thinking skills with regards to the impact of technology on society, the economy, and culture. This course will delve into the history of Western technology, acknowledging the criticisms surrounding a Western-centric approach. Throughout human history, technology has played a significant role everywhere. This course will examine how technological change has affected historical developments. For instance, 19th-century imperialism was made possible by the transport revolution brought about by steamships, railways, and telegraphs. The rise of heavy and chemical industries also increased the importance of resources such as oil, leading to a division of power and contributing to the cause of World War II. The course will cover the history of technology from the Middle Ages to the present day and explore its role in shaping world events, including the rise of nationalism and modern imperialism in the context of industrial capitalist societies.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Consider technology from broader perspectives
2. Understand the role that technology has played in the world history.
Keywords
Industrial Revolution (First, Second), Transportation Revolution, Science-based Technology, Military Technology
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The class will be given in a standard lecture style. Students will be required to submit comments or questions after the class. Each class starts with the lecturer's reviewing the comments.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction: Overview of the lecture: Culture of improvement: : culture of improvement Middle Ages (1) Agricultural technology and power technology (human power, livestock power, wind and water power) | No requirements. |
| Class 2 | Middle Ages (2) Technology transfer from Asia to Europe (paper making, gunpowder, compass) and innovations in military technology | Read course materials |
| Class 3 | Early Modern (1) Renaissance technology (glass, shipbuilding, clocks, weapons) and ingeniator | Read course materials |
| Class 4 | Early Modern (2) Mining technology and alchemy; type printing and the emergence of the "technical book" | Read course materials |
| Class 5 | Convergence of Science and Technology (1) The idea of "useful" science | Read course materials |
| Class 6 | The First Industrial Revolution (1) Steam Engine and Textile Industry: From Product to "Process" Innovation | Read course materials |
| Class 7 | The First Industrial Revolution (2) Revolution in Transportation and Communication: Steamships, Railroads, and Telegraph | Read course materials |
| Class 8 | The First Industrial Revolution (3) Production Technology: From the Arsenal of the French Revolution to the American System | Read course materials |
| Class 9 | Convergence of Science and Technology (2) Dynamics and Technology of Heat, Electricity, and Fluids | Read course materials |
| Class 10 | The Second Industrial Revolution (1) Integration of science and technology mediated by the state and capital: "institutionalization" of invention and improvement | Read course materials |
| Class 11 | Second Industrial Revolution (2) Age of Big technology: electricity, oil, automobiles, mass production | Read course materials |
| Class 12 | Two World Wars: Technology in the age of Total War | Read course materials |
| Class 13 | Electronics and Communication: The Third Industrial Revolution? | Read course materials |
| Class 14 | Conclusion: The 1970s as a turning point | No requirements. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to other course material.
Textbook(s)
Robert Friedel. A Culture of Improvement: Technology and the Western Millennium. (MIT Press 2007)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Lewis Mumford, Technics and Civilization (Harcourt,1934)
T. K. Derry and Trevor I. Williams, A short history of technology from the earliest times to A.D. 1900 ((Oxford University Press 1960)
Donald Cardwell, Wheels, Clocks and Rockets: A History of Technology (W. W. Norton & Company 1994)
Horn, Jeff, Leonard N. Rosenband, and Merritt Roe Smith, eds. Reconceptualizing the Industrial Revolution. (MIT Press 2010)
Takahiko Hasegawa, Sangyo Kakumei (Iwanami shoten 2012）
Further reference will be given in the course of lecture. All materials used in class can be found on T2SCHOLA.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluation is based on the submission of forms before each session (20%) and a final report (80%). If you use a generative AI, like ChatGPT, in your report, please make sure to indicate this and support its accuracy with proper references.
Related courses
- LAH.T103 ： History of Technology A
- LAH.T303 ： History of Technology C
- LAH.S416 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences16:History of Technology
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.