2025 (Current Year) 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 / 1-2 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T203
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this course, we will examine the history of technology from the Industrial Revolution to the late 20th century. Particularly since the modern era, technological changes have exerted a profound influence on the unfolding of history. The transportation revolution, epitomized by advancements such as steamships, railways, and telegraphy, was instrumental in shaping 19th-century imperialism. Furthermore, discussing the Cold War without considering the existence of nuclear weapons would be impossible. While traditionally science has evolved separately from technology, in the modern era, the integration between science and technology has rapidly strengthened through the mediation of states and capital, leading to the birth of techno-science. This course will provide an overview of modern and contemporary history of technology from the perspective of the integration of science and technology.
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 Industrial Revolution | No requirements. |
| Class 2 | Overview of the British Industrial Revolution | Read course materials |
| Class 3 | Iron, Coal, and Steam Engines | Read course materials |
| Class 4 | The Rise of Mechanized Industry: The Transformation of the Cotton Industry | Read course materials |
| Class 5 | Formation of Land and Sea Transportation Infrastructure: Roads, Railways, and Steamships | Read course materials |
| Class 6 | The Second Industrial Revolution | Read course materials |
| Class 7 | The Emergence of Science-Based Technology | Read course materials |
| Class 8 | Telegraph: Communication and Empire | Read course materials |
| Class 9 | Formation of Electric Lighting and Power Systems | Read course materials |
| Class 10 | Making Production Science: Standardization, Interchangeability, Scientific Management, Mass Production | Read course materials |
| Class 11 | The Industrialization of War | Read course materials |
| Class 12 | Technology in the Age of Total War (1): Haber-Bosch Process and World War I | Read course materials |
| Class 13 | Technology in the Age of Total War (2): Manhattan Project and Development of the Atomic Bomb | Read course materials |
| Class 14 | The Cold War, Computer and Internet: The Third Industrial Revolution? | Read course materials |
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.