History of Technology

The lessons contextualize the main stages of the process of development of technological knowledge in the fundamental stages of the evolution of civilizations, cultures and sciences. This approach allows students to highlight how they have addressed the technology and how they, in turn, have been promoted and constrained by technology.

Program

The teaching considers different aspects of technological development in a context not limited only to engineering or to industrial engineering. Topics are divided into six parts.
PART I: technological development from the origins of the first technological revolution.
PART II: technological development from the ancient empires to the fall of the Roman Empire.
PART III: technological development from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance (second technological revolution).
PART IV: technological development from the seventh century (scientific revolution) to the industrial revolution.
PART V: technological development in the nineteenth century (second industrial revolution),
PART VI: technological development in the twentieth century.

Learning target

This teaching aims to offer the student an overview of the developments in technology, expanded to cover the whole timescale of human history, from the first appearance, to the first technological revolution, the second, and the various "waves" of the industrial revolution.

Reference books

1. Lesson notes,
2. A. Beghi, A. Lepschy: Storia della tecnologia dell'informazione, downloadable at the teaching home page,
3. Downloadable Lesson notes and slides,

Other suggested books

A. Peloso: Il cammino della chimica, Progetto, 2005
M. Guarnieri: Fatti e protagonisti dell’elettromagnetismo, Aracne Editore, 2005
V.Marchis: Storia delle macchine, Laterza, 2005
C. Singer: Storia della Tecnologia, in 7x2 volumi, Bollati Boringhieri, 1993