Difference between revisions of "Technological development"
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| − | [[ | + | [[Technology]] or the use of tools has developed along with civilization throughout the course of history. From the use of a sharpened stick to splitting the atom and the Internet, one technological advancement has built on preceding developments. |
Most technological advancements can be categorized as focused on one major area of civilization. | Most technological advancements can be categorized as focused on one major area of civilization. | ||
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*Information | *Information | ||
| − | As even a cursory examination of the history of the development of different | + | As even a cursory examination of the history of the development of different technologies for these categories would suggest, one particular invention is used for all of them. Probably the most basic example would be the wheel. No one would deny that this one invention made lasting improvements in every area of life. |
==Commerce== | ==Commerce== | ||
===Agriculture=== | ===Agriculture=== | ||
| − | Probably the single greatest technology of all time. Though some reference both positives (provided for the | + | Probably the single greatest technology of all time. Though some reference both positives (provided for the possibility of surplus food, a measure of predictability and structure, allowed for population increases) others point out negatives (most early farmers only had one type of crop which lead to some malnutrition, if they lost their crop the population would suffer tremendously). The other major influence of agriculture was the division of the population into classes, i.e. farm workers and everyone else. This allowed individuals to specialize in other areas of life, trade, warfare, health care, communication, building, etc. which subsequently allowed them to develop other technologies. |
*Original Tools required: [[Axe]], [[Hoe]], [[Sickle]], [[Quern]] | *Original Tools required: [[Axe]], [[Hoe]], [[Sickle]], [[Quern]] | ||
*Early Improvements: [[Plow]] | *Early Improvements: [[Plow]] | ||
| − | *Subsequent Developments: [[ | + | *Subsequent Developments: [[Archimedes Screw]], [[Irrigation]] |
*Modern Techniques: [[Pesticides]], [[Tractor]], Combine, Automated Processing, [[Bio-Engineered Plants]] | *Modern Techniques: [[Pesticides]], [[Tractor]], Combine, Automated Processing, [[Bio-Engineered Plants]] | ||
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==Warfare== | ==Warfare== | ||
*[[Hand-to-hand Weapons]] - Club, Axe, Spear, Knife, Sword, Pike | *[[Hand-to-hand Weapons]] - Club, Axe, Spear, Knife, Sword, Pike | ||
| − | *[[ | + | *[[Missile Weapons]] - Javelin, Atlatl, Bow & Arrow |
*[[Siege Engines]] - Catapult, Trebuchet | *[[Siege Engines]] - Catapult, Trebuchet | ||
*[[Gunpowder]] Weapons - musket, rifle, revolver, cannon | *[[Gunpowder]] Weapons - musket, rifle, revolver, cannon | ||
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*[[Medicine]] | *[[Medicine]] | ||
**[[Penicillin]] | **[[Penicillin]] | ||
| − | **[[ | + | **[[Antibiotics]] |
**[[Aspirin]] | **[[Aspirin]] | ||
*Procedures | *Procedures | ||
Revision as of 20:37, August 25, 2007
Technology or the use of tools has developed along with civilization throughout the course of history. From the use of a sharpened stick to splitting the atom and the Internet, one technological advancement has built on preceding developments. Most technological advancements can be categorized as focused on one major area of civilization.
- Commerce
- Warfare
- Transportation
- Building & Construction
- Health
- Information
As even a cursory examination of the history of the development of different technologies for these categories would suggest, one particular invention is used for all of them. Probably the most basic example would be the wheel. No one would deny that this one invention made lasting improvements in every area of life.
Commerce
Agriculture
Probably the single greatest technology of all time. Though some reference both positives (provided for the possibility of surplus food, a measure of predictability and structure, allowed for population increases) others point out negatives (most early farmers only had one type of crop which lead to some malnutrition, if they lost their crop the population would suffer tremendously). The other major influence of agriculture was the division of the population into classes, i.e. farm workers and everyone else. This allowed individuals to specialize in other areas of life, trade, warfare, health care, communication, building, etc. which subsequently allowed them to develop other technologies.
- Original Tools required: Axe, Hoe, Sickle, Quern
- Early Improvements: Plow
- Subsequent Developments: Archimedes Screw, Irrigation
- Modern Techniques: Pesticides, Tractor, Combine, Automated Processing, Bio-Engineered Plants
Money
The development of an object with constant value which everyone is willing to trade for their goods or services.
Materials
Warfare
- Hand-to-hand Weapons - Club, Axe, Spear, Knife, Sword, Pike
- Missile Weapons - Javelin, Atlatl, Bow & Arrow
- Siege Engines - Catapult, Trebuchet
- Gunpowder Weapons - musket, rifle, revolver, cannon
- Explosives - TNT, Nuclear Weapons
Transportation
- The Wheel
- Automobiles
- Aircraft
- Watercraft
Buildings and Construction
- Rammed Earth
- Masonry
- Fired Brick
- Stone work
- Post & Lintel
- Concrete
- The Arch
- Steel Frame Construction
- Roads
Health
- Medicine
- Procedures