BACKGROUND:
When did humans actually start to
make an effort to use simple tools to better their lives as a society?
You can argue that agriculture certainly made humans stay in one place,
which would give humans time to control their environment. Remember
humans do inflict adverse effects on their environment if they don't
develop ways to control sanitation, food cultivation and storage,
housing, and defense. Irrigation, flood control, tools, animal
husbandry, cultivation, crop rotation, and fertilization were all
principles that probably developed about 10,000 BC or what
archaeologists call the Neolithic or New Stone Age.
The need to control the environment
even more, started what is called the Bronze Age about 4000 BC in the
Near East. This marks the beginning of larger structures caused by the
invention of bronze, a mixture of copper and tin, an alloy that can cast
easily. Achievements during this age include the harnessing of
animal power, wheeled vehicles, sailboats, the potter's wheel, and
bricks.
During the 4th through 14th
centuries, major technological advances were made, but most of them were
refinements of earlier inventions. The idea that the Middle Ages or the
Dark Ages were unproductive is only a myth. Politics, religion, and war
are attributed to the "anti-knowledge" campaigns.
Accomplishment like soap for cleansing, the making of barrels and tubs,
the cultivation of rye, oats, and hops, the heavy plow, horseshoes, and
the easily heated compact house are all inventions attributed to this
time. The European "mini" Industrial Revolution started in the
15th century marked a rebirth of science and inventions. Of particular
importance were the inventions and achievements of the Italian
architect-engineers, the German metallurgists and printers, and the
Dutch construction engineers.
The Industrial Revolution in the 18th
and 19th centuries was concentrated mainly in England. Natural resources
available in England and countries that they controlled, saw great
technological advances using iron, coal and steam. They produced a
society that would be forever dependant upon the machinery that they
created. The Industrial Revolution came to America about the time of the
war for Independence.
What was happening in other countries
like Asia, Africa, South America, and Central America when all this
inventing was going on? You must superimpose not only the politics and
religion of these regions, but also geographic location and resources. A
country that took part in the Industrial Revolution, must have natural
resources in order to participate. What happens when a nation has no
coal? They must import it into their country, which takes money from
that nation into the hands of another nation. The United States is an
excellent example of a country that has many natural resources. After
all the acquisitions of territory, there were very little resources that
this nation had to import. The United States was also fortunate not to
have one religion dominate its politics, because religious fervor, no
matter how well intended, causes a restriction of creativeness, if
forced on a society.
But is it only resources and
attitudes that make people invent? No, ideas generated by other
scientists lead to other inventions. Science and math works best when
there is communication between researchers. The beauty of science is
that when one person has an idea, there may be many people who may know
how to use it more effectively, especially if there is a possible
monetary gain.
PROCEDURE:
- Students watch movies and
television and often do not think about the technology needed to produce
them. In the Reading Rainbow book, Lights! Camera! Action! How a
movie is made, students follow how a movie is made, from casting
actors to hiring crew.
- Discuss how without technology, we
would not be able to produce a movie. Setting up props, costumes, and
special effects take a very high level of understanding equipment.
- As you read this book (or any
similar book), go through the pages and discuss the technology being
used. For example:
movie camera -
uses light to make an image on photographic paper
special effects - uses light to form optical illusions; uses
lasers, uses machines, uses computers
moving props - uses machines
costumes - uses sewing machines, zippers, fabric
- Students do not realize that
movies were not produced as a craft until 1890's when two French
brothers, Auguste and Louis Lumiere created a combined camera and
projector which recorded continuous pictures on a strip. The book, Inventions,
outlines the early history of movies and photography. Within the last
100 years, our society has changed a great deal. Videos were not as
widespread 20 years ago as they are now. The future will probably
produce more methods of entertainment.
-
Students may want to investigate
this subject further. Suggest they watch an older movie or cartoon with
a more recent one. See if they can notice any changes. Ask questions
about movies or television to make viewing more educational. See if they
know when color was first introduced into the movies, (the late 1940's).
