The Power of the Machine: The Impact of Technology from 1700 to the PresentBy far the most important single factor in world history has been the process of technological revolution whereby small-scale agricultural societies have been transformed into massive industrialized and urbanized communities. This development has occurred over a long period of time, but its greatest thrust has been concentrated over the last two centuries, beginning in the West, in Europe and North America, and then spreading through the rest of the world. The author systematically analyses this process, showing how increasing mastery over sources of power provided increased industrial and agricultural productivity, and created radically new methods of transport and communication. He then examines the impact of these technical achievements on society, paying special attention to the political and ecological consequences of a vastly increased world population, the facilities for rapid transport and instantaneous communication, and the possession of weapons of immense destructive force. |
Contents
Elements of technological revolution | 5 |
Technological development over one million years | 9 |
The comparative development of world civilizations | 29 |
Copyright | |
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achieved adopted aeroplane American amongst application automobile became become Boulton and Watt bridge Britain British building canals cast iron chemical coal coalmining communication construction cultural cylinder decades dominant early Edison effect efficiency eighteenth century electricity environment Europe exploration factory fuel history of technology human important improved increase Industrial Revolution internal combustion engine invention inventors Iron Age L. T. C. Rolt locomotive London machines manufacture material mechanical metal Neolithic Revolution Newcomen nineteenth century nological nuclear operating patent piston population possible problems process of technological production R. A. Buchanan railway relationship road rocket scientific Second World Second World War ship significant skills social society sources of power space SS Great Eastern steam engine steam power steam turbine steel successful tech technical techniques technological development technological dilemma technological innovation technological revolution towns traditional transformation transport twentieth century urban Watt Western Civilization