Technology: A World History

by Daniel R. Headrick

Today technology has created a world of dazzling progress, growing disparities of wealth and poverty, and looming threats to the environment. A World History offers an illuminating backdrop to our present moment--a brilliant history of invention around the globe. Historian Daniel R. Headrick ranges from the Stone Age and the beginnings of agriculture to the Industrial Revolution and the electronic revolution of the recent past. In tracing the growing power of humans over nature through increasingly powerful innovations, he compares the evolution of technology in different parts of the world, providing a much broader account than is found in other histories of technology. We also discover how small changes sometimes have dramatic results--how, for instance, the stirrup revolutionized war and gave the Mongols a deadly advantage over the Chinese. And how the nailed horseshoe was a pivotal breakthrough for western farmers. Enlivened with many illustrations, Technology offers a fascinating look at the spread of inventions around the world, both as boons for humanity and as weapons of destruction.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Technology, World History, Science, Philosophy

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2009

About the author

A specialist in the history of international relations, technology, and the environment, Daniel R. Headrick is professor emeritus of social science and history at Roosevelt University.

Reviews

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fine book for introducing what the ancients knew about technology. It receives only three stars not because of quality, but because of brevity--there is much more I wanted to know. Still, it is a good introduction to the topic. More may be found here: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book if you like history and technology. It clearly headlights the different technological advancements around the world and the impact they had on the relation between the different civilizations/nations/countries in a chronological order from ancient times until today.

You will learn that the power of civilizations has shifted back and forth over time as a result of or leading to technological achievements.

The power of this book that it does not lose itself in explaining all the details but rather focusses on giving a complete summary and connecting the dots. In combination with wikipedia to dig deeper in particular inventions/technologies/people it is a really enjoyable experience.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but informative history of technology - with a global perspective. This works well as some sort of introduction, but it is not a comprehensive volume and it leaves out many aspects of technological advancement.

[Louis Picone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This quick survey of technology in World History admirably covers a lot of ground in an easy to read fashion. Headrick organizes chapters by period, but even the brief 150 pages, I felt he covered the ancient periods too extensively, when technological advances were fewer and farther between. In comparison, the Industrial Revolution & modern period chapters, where technological changes occurred fast & furious with dramatic impact, seemed overly condensed and rushed.

[Loke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshingly non-eurocentric survey of technology history. The book is a very good jumping off point. It is a rather quick read, slender and simple. Very elegant.

If you are looking for an in-depth history book that will detail the exact who, when, and how, this isn't it. If you want a starting point, a quick overview, this is most certainly it.

[Oscar · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a decent history in terms of telling what happened but completely lacked theoretical discussions of what is meant by technology and how we understand it.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it was a course requirement, it was a delightfully entertaining book! It was very brief, which was a plus since I did not read it out of my own free will, but I found myself wanting more, which was an odd experience, considering I have two other books to read for this course.
A great intro to the history of technology and definitely a book to grab if you want to learn more about how the achievements of the human race.
Did ya'll know that Teflon was originally made for nuclear bombs? Neither did I.

[LeeryRaven164 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, can even be published as "Non-Fiction"...

This is one of those books, in which you just wish that it would keep going on...
Written very skillfully, makes history not only interesting but reading this removes boredom...

[Ivan Savić · Rating 3 out of 5]

I it a simple introduction to the important technologies humans invented. There is not a lot information on any particular technology, it is a short book. I like that it cover the whole world equally, most of the other history books cover only the western world, Europe and United States.

[Sulaiman · Rating 1 out of 5]

كتاب يسرد تاريخ التكنولوجيا والأدوات التقنية في العالم

لا تهتم كثيرا لهذا الكتاب فهو سرد أكثر منه كتاب نافع ليقدم لك معرفة خالصة في التكنولوجيا العالمية

إن كنت قارئا ومتابعا للوثائقيات فستمل من البداية في قراءة هذا الكتاب

[مؤرخ · Rating 2 out of 5]

كتاب ثقيل ، يكثر فيه السرد ويندر فيه التحليل ودراسة الأثر.

[Alya · Rating 4 out of 5]

الكتاب غطى أمور كثيرة كنت بحاجتها، افادني

[Will]

Read for Hist 115 - The History of Technology

[Holly Shi]

can somebody tell me how can I read this book,electronic or paper?