Technology and Society
A World History

Celebrates the creativity of humanity by examining the history of technology as a strategy to solve real-world problems.

Andrew Ede (Author)

9781108425605, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 November 2019

332 pages, 51 b/w illus. 4 maps 22 tables
25.2 x 17.8 x 1.9 cm, 0.8 kg

'Sweeping, scholarly and clear, Andrew Ede's Technology and Society: A World History is the book that many historians of technology have been waiting for: a lively, well-researched text for those who aim to teach a more global story of the built world, and one reaching back to the origins of humanity.' Matthew H. Hersch, Harvard University

Technology and Society: A World History explores the creative power of humanity from the age of stone tools to the digital revolution. It introduces technology as a series of systems that allowed us to solve real-world problems and create a global civilization. The history of technology is also the history of the intellectual and cultural place of our tools and devices. With a broad view of technology, we can see that some of the most powerful technologies such as education and government produce no physical object but have allowed us to coordinate our inventive skills and pass knowledge through the ages. Yet although all human communities depend on technology, there are unexpected consequences from the use of technology which, as Ede shows, form a crucial part of this rich story.

1. Introduction: thinking about technology
2. Technology and our ancient ancestors
3. Origins of civilizations
4. The Eastern age
5. The Mediterranean world to the Islamic Renaissance
6. The European agrarian revolution and the proto-industrial revolution
7. The Industrial Revolution and the rise of European power
8. The Atlantic era I
9. Domestic technology: bringing new technology to the people
10. The second Industrial Revolution and globalization
11. The digital age
12. Conclusion: technological challenges
References
Index.

Subject Areas: History of engineering & technology [TBX], History of science [PDX], Impact of science & technology on society [PDR], Social & cultural history [HBTB], General & world history [HBG], History [HB]