The History of Technology
From Stone Tools
to Artificial Intelligence
Erasmus+, TECHNODICTION project
Introduction
• Technology: the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
• Technology drives human progress and transformation across eras
• This presentation explores key stages in technology’s evolution
Prehistoric Technology
• Stone tools, fire, early shelters
• Invention of the wheel (~3500 BCE)
• Beginning of tool-based problem solving
Ancient Civilizations
• Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, China
• Irrigation, writing systems, bronze and iron tools
• Inventions: abacus, water clocks, early engineering feats
Middle Ages (500–1500 CE)
• Mechanical clocks, windmills, navigation tools
• Printing press (Gutenberg, ~1440) revolutionizes knowledge sharing
• Contributions from Islamic Golden Age
Renaissance & Scientific Revolution
• Revival of science and invention
• Galileo’s telescope, da Vinci’s sketches, early microscopes
• Foundation for industrial technologies
Industrial Revolution (1760–1840)
• Steam engine, textile machinery, mechanized factories
• Railroads and mass production
• Start of modern technological society
20th Century: The Age of Invention
• Automobiles, airplanes, telephone, radio, television
• Birth of computing (Turing, ENIAC)
• Space race: Sputnik (1957), Moon landing (1969)
The Digital Revolution (1970s–2000s)
• Personal computers, mobile phones, internet
• Rise of Silicon Valley: Microsoft, Apple, Google
• Digital globalization and media
21st Century: Smart & Emerging Technologies
• Smartphones, AI, robotics, biotech
• Quantum computing, blockchain, 5G
• Ethical concerns: data privacy, automation, AI bias
Timeline Summary
• Prehistoric → Ancient → Middle Ages → Renaissance → Industrial
• 20th Century → Digital Revolution → Present & Future
• A continuous path of innovation and adaptation
Impact of Technology on Society
• Transforming communication, healthcare, transport, education
• Both benefits (efficiency, connectivity) and challenges (pollution, inequality)
Future of Technology
• AI integration, space exploration, sustainable energy
• Brain-computer interfaces, augmented reality
• Responsibility and regulation in tech development
Conclusion
• Technology has shaped every era of human history
• Continued innovation brings new opportunities and responsibilities
• 'Technology is best when it brings people together.' – M. Mullenweg