A Brief History of Technology
A History Research Project
by Ethan Z. Ngui, Year 8, Jesselton International School.
A Brief History of Technology
A History Research Project
for Year 8
Jesselton International School
What is Technology?
"The term technology, a combination of the Greek technē, “art, craft,” with logos, “word, speech,” meant in Greece a discourse on the arts, both fine and applied." (Britannica.com, 2020)
Encyclopedia Britannica defined Technology as the following:
“Technology, the application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life or, as it is sometimes phrased, to the change and manipulation of the human environment.”
Technology is defined as: (the study and knowledge of) the practical, especially industrial, use of scientific discoveries. When technology just came about during the 18th century, it is commonly defined as something related to electricity nowadays.
Technology: The development over time of systematic techniques for making and doing things. In the early 20th century, the term gave a growing range of means, processes, and ideas along with tools and machines. By mid-century, technology was defined by phrases such as: “the means or activity by which man seeks to change or manipulate his environment.”
The History of Technology
From the First Tools to Artificial Intelligence
History of technology, the development of methods and techniques in the making or doing of things by human over time.
Technology started off as smooth and sharp stones, up until now with the Bullet train as fast as a bullet, smartphones, rocket science and many more. Technology has progressed since then, each time succeeding the other, and using other inventions made by others, and putting more things together, you can make something entirely new, and have it known to the world.
From early human technology to what we have today, the modern human technology, we have seen great discoveries and inventions like the wheels, electric light and nuclear power, all of which have been of great help to the everyday life and the development of the human race.
A Timeline of
the History of Technology
3.3 million years ago: The First Tools
Before humans even came upon earth, our ancestors, Australopithecus used smooth and sharp stone for hunting and hammering
1 million years ago: Fire
Fire, found by humans, was used to cook food and disinfect the food by killing the bacteria on the food.
20,000 to 15,000 years ago: The Neolithic Revolution
During the Neolithic Revolution, some key technology was found during this time, this included: Agriculture, people gathering in larger groups, Foraging, Clay for bricks, clothes from woven fabric, and most likely the wheel was invented during this time.
6000 BCE: Irrigation
Irrigation came at the same time in Mesopotamia and in the Nile River in Egypt. Since making an irrigation system is quite hard, it shows that there is a huge society organization working together in one country.
Technology and its Benefits
The advancement of technology has helped, and is still helping us grow in many different ways. To name a few, it helps us produce food, make our lives easier, and make transport faster and smoother. It also helps in our daily lives and gives us a sense of direction, and makes travelling beyond this world possible.
The Technological Dilemma
Technological inventions and advancements over the years no doubt have brought countless benefits to humankind. However, we must not exclude the fact that they have also brought us many unsolved problems.
This is the dilemma between, on the one hand, the over dependence of life in the advanced industrial countries on technology, and, on the other hand, the threat that technology will destroy the quality of life in modern society and even endanger society itself.
