HIST 2881

HIST 2881

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2016-2017.

In 1919, journalist John Reed published Ten Days That Shook the World about the 1917 Russian Revolution. Some events are so transformative, Reed argued, they change the course of history. This class examines ten technologies that "shook" the world over the past half millennium. Or did they? Can technology drive history? How should we think about the relationship between technology and culture, society, politics, and the environment? This course challenges many popular understandings of technology and technological change, introducing students to major concepts in the history and social studies of technology, including technological determinism, systems, infrastructure, skill, technopolitics, envirotech, users, and maintenance and repair. Technologies addressed will vary, but may include the slave ship, factory, climate control, atomic bomb, and plastic.  

When Offered Fall.

Distribution Category (HA-AS)
Course Attribute (CU-SBY)

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Syllabi: none
  •   Regular Academic Session.  Combined with: STS 2381

  • 3 Credits Graded

  • 17483 HIST 2881   LEC 001