2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
History of Technology A
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Yutaka Kawamura
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T103
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The goal of this course is to understand historical examples and methodologies of historical analysis, with a focus on modern technology, as a means of understanding the characteristics of modern technology.
For historical examples, stone tools will be introduced as the oldest technology based on the definition of technology, and then technology in ancient societies, technology in medieval society, and technology in modern society will be discussed.
Regarding the methodology of historical analysis, in relation to the premise "definition of technology", the distinction and relevance of technology-engineering-science, the distinction between product technology and manufacturing technology in the case of technology, and the historical changes in design and research and development in the case of engineering. In the case of science, we will also touch on the distinction between objective basic research and academic research, and then introduce the "hindsight fallacy" and "pressure to justify" that are indispensable for historical analysis, and then take up the meaning of historical interpretation associated with the work of "periodization".
Course description and aims
Fundamentals of Technology History:
(1) To acquire basic knowledge that allows you to discuss the definition of technology,
(2) To acquire basic knowledge that allows us to analyze where the opportunities for technological development lie.
(3) To acquire basic knowledge that allows students to analyze the relationship between technology and society.
Beyond the foundations of this technological history
(4) Acquire basic knowledge of how to analyze various problems in technology in modern society.
Keywords
The definition of technology, The oldest technology, The technology and society, The technology and industrial revolution
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In each lecture, we will (1) present sub-assignments related to the subject of each lecture; Additionally, (2) multiple quizzes will be asked. At the end of the lecture, students will be asked to submit a 50-character essay on the sub-assignment and an answer to these quizzes.. There is a point allocation.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | A1.Conceptual classification of technology and methods of technology history - What is technology? Based on the definition of technology | Find the oldest technology based on the definition of technology. |
| Class 2 | A2.Ancient Civilizations and Irrigation Technologies - The impact of technology on society (1) Irrigation Techniques and Ancient Civilization Systems | Find the connection between the establishment of ancient civilizations and irrigation technology. |
| Class 3 | A3.Iron Technology in Ancient Societies - The impact of technology on society (2) Steelmaking technology that solves resource problems | Find out what is the significance of the appearance of iron tools in the history of technology. |
| Class 4 | A4. Production technology in ancient societies - Influence of society on technology: Slavery society and restrictions on labor-saving technology | Understand why social environments limit labor-saving techniques. |
| Class 5 | Ａ5. Agricultural technology and navigation technology in medieval Western Europe - Impact of technology on society (3): Origin of the "era of European dominance" | Find out the agricultural techniques that led to the expansion of productivity in medieval Western Europe. |
| Class 6 | A6.The Relationship between Intent and Means in Modern Western Society - Industrial Revolution and Technology (1) Expansion of production capacity and its limitations before the advent of "machines" | Find out what the technology that supported the manufacture (factory-based handicrafts industry).Find out what the distinction is between a tool and a machine. |
| Class 7 | A7.Classification of tools and machines in modern Western society - Industrial Revolution and Technology (2) Understand the limitations of tools and the meaning of machines in cotton spinning technology | Find out what the distinction is between a tool and a machine. Find out what the development of machinery was like in the Industrial Revolution. |
| Class 8 | final exam | final exam |
Study advice (preparation and review)
"Small assignments" and "quizzes" will be given during each lecture, and they will be collected at the end of each lecture, but as a general rule, they will not be returned. Therefore, (1) students should take a picture and copy them with a smartphone at the time of collection, and (2) check the sample answers in the next lecture.
Textbook(s)
no required Projected materials (PPT) used during class will be published on the web．
Reference books, course materials, etc.
河村豊，小長谷大介，山崎文徳他『未来を考えるための科学史・技術史入門』北樹出版 (2023/5/1)，256ページ
Evaluation methods and criteria
Assignment submission (30%) and exams (70%) during lectures, assignment submission is "small assignments" and "quizzes" that are submitted in each lecture. Details about the exam will be explained during class.
Related courses
- LAH.T203 ： History of Technology B
- LAH.T303 ： History of Technology C
- LAH.S416 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences16:History of Technology
Prerequisites
no required