History of Technology
Overall Course Objectives
The course gives the student an understanding of the interaction between technology and humans, knowledge, culture, economy as well as politics from ancient times to the present. Working with history, the student will gain a greater historical understanding, critical appreciation of source material and knowledge about basic approaches to the history of technology. Communication and argumentation skills will develop.
See course description in Danish
Learning Objectives
- Assess the relationship between a historical age and the technology in that age
- Exemplify elements of the complex interactions between technology, culture, economy, knowledge and society over time
- Apply historical methods and identify which school of thought in the history of technology a method belongs to
- Quickly scan large amounts of information and identify the central arguments contained in books and articles on the History of Technology
- Identify strong and weak points in the argumentation in presentations of history
- Formulate the relationship between evidence and interpretation in a historical text or other source material
- Apply sources, source criticism and academic referencing techniques
- Present the above in written and oral form, structured and well-argued
- Analyze a historical issue
- Select a technically related historical issue to be analyzed in an essay. Identify pertinent questions to be answered. Select and critically compare sources related to this issue. Present the analysis and conclusion clearly and to the point
- Create and document traceability in own learning and historical research
Course Content
We examine examples from the history of technology from ancient times until today through lectures, articles, film, historical artefacts, student exercises and presentations as well as trips to exhibitions and historical sites. We take a holistic view of technology and sociotechnical networks.
This is supplemented with further analysis of different themes, which include the relationship between invention and the old, everyday technology, military and technology, medicine and the body, sustainability, users and industry. Topics span from power sources, water, the interplay between natural resources and technology, the idea of modernity, systems technology and the role of experts.
Recommended prerequisites
Very good command of the English language
Teaching Method
Lectures, presentations, project work and excursions.
Faculty
Remarks
This course requires students to work with complicated arguments, read long texts, and to express themselves in a sophisticated way orally and in writing. It is only recommended to students with (1) a good command of the English language or (2) a good command of Danish and the ability to understand written or orally presented English.
Limited number of seats
Maximum: 15.
Please be aware that this course has a limited number of seats available. If there are too many applicants, a pool will be created for the remainder of the qualified applicants, and they will be selected at random. You will be informed 8 days before the start of the course, whether you have been allocated a spot.