HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY: FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT DAY - TECHNOLOGY - 2025

The history of technology is the history of the creation of the tools and techniques that humans use in their daily lives. The first of these tools must have been a simple stone, used by the first humans to cut with its edge and strike to grind food.

During prehistory, humans could only communicate their discoveries verbally. His discoveries, therefore, were mostly accidental. Among them, one of the most important: how to light and control fire. This simple fact was a great leap in the history of mankind, like the subsequent invention of agriculture.

Bifaz lanceolado (replica)

- Source: José-Manuel Benito Álvarez (Spain) -> Locutus Borg

Technological discoveries don't usually happen out of nowhere. For the most part, they all depend on previous inventions. Thus, thanks to fire, man was able to start working with metals and making new and better tools.

The Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution and the Industrial Revolution were three historical moments characterized by great technological advances. The same happened during the last 20th century, especially in its second half. This acceleration of discoveries seems to have continued in this 20th century, in which Artificial Intelligence is expected to be a reality.

Origin of technology

Even before Homo sapiens appeared, human ancestors tried to create tools that would allow them to survive better. It can be affirmed that the history of humanity is closely linked to the history of technology, from the use of simple stones to the most modern digital machines.

In this sense, the historical context of each era has deeply marked the technology created by humans. Thus, many of the medieval religious beliefs slowed down scientific research, just the opposite of what happened during the Renaissance or the Industrial Revolution.

Representation of Homo sapiens from prehistory. Source:, via Wikimedia Commons

At the same time, technology has also brought about real changes in the way of life of human beings: the control of fire caused a profound change; the Scientific Revolution transformed society; and the Industrial Revolution made new social classes appear and the world, thanks to new transport, was more accessible.

Technological advancements do not appear randomly. All of them are heirs to previous discoveries and, in turn, will be the basis of new technologies.

What is technology?

Technology is defined as the set of techniques and knowledge that are applied following an ordered system to achieve a specific objective or to solve a problem. The term comes from the Greek, specifically from the union of tekne (technique or art) and lodge (skill over something).

In more common use, the word technology is associated with science and engineering. As such, there is no set date marking its origin. It can be affirmed that it exists since the beginning of human history, when some hominid collected a stone to give it a practical use.

Stone age

Paleolithic bones and tools. Source: Harrygouvas at Greek Wikipedia

The Stone Age encompasses the beginnings of the human species, when the main activities were gathering and hunting. The way of life was very hard and the first human beings had to fight for their survival.

To try to improve their chances they began to use stone and bone instruments. At first, the goal was to make hunting easier, cut meat, and grind bones and vegetables. Over time, in addition, they began to be used as a weapon, to defend themselves against rival tribes and wild animals.

A key moment occurred when they managed to control the fire. It is supposed to have been an accidental discovery, but after that they had to learn to turn it on and control it at will. This allowed the food to be cooked, which allowed to improve nutrient intake and increase the intelligence of the species.

Age of metals

Human beings abandoned nomadism to settle in fixed places. For this, the discovery of agriculture and tools to help cultivate the land was essential.

On the other hand, the Age of Metals was characterized, as its name indicates, by the beginning of metallurgy. Being able to work with metals facilitated the creation of new tools, more versatile, resistant and simple.

This period has been divided by historians into three different phases, each with its own technological advances.

The first was the Copper Age, the moment when man began to extract and melt the metal that gives it its name. The result was the creation of better weapons, vessels or instruments.

The Bronze Age was the next historical period. Mankind took a step forward in metalworking and began to make alloys. The most common was that of copper with tin, resulting in bronze. It is a more resistant material that allowed the elaborated tools to be greatly improved.

Finally, mankind entered the Iron Age. This metal soon became the most important raw material of the time and gave a great competitive advantage to the peoples who learned to work it.

Middle Ages

Painting of the Middle Ages. Plow technology is observed. Source: Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, Octobre the Musée Condé, Chantilly Between 1412 and 1416 and circa 1440.

The preponderance of religious thought caused technological discoveries to be less abundant, especially in the West. However, in China and the Middle East the development continued without problems.

Experts note that medieval technology conformed to the mix between tradition and innovation. Despite the slowdown in discoveries, medievalists point out that, in some fields, important inventions were produced.

Among these innovations, mechanical watches, windmills and glasses stood out. Likewise, at this time small advances appeared such as buttons or the watermark.

On the other hand, already with the advanced Middle Ages, a race for the search and control of new territories began in Europe. In this area, technology became very important. Although they were not recent inventions, the use of the compass, the astrolabe or the lateen sail increased.

The frequent wars that took place in this historical stage caused important military advances to appear. Thus, items such as full metal armor, steel crossbows or the cannon were invented.

Early Modern Age

Gutenberg Press (replica), by Patrice Audet,, via Pixabay.

In the 15th century it was very rich in historical events. In the field of technology, he highlighted an invention that revolutionized the transmission of knowledge: the printing press.

With that innovation, the old method of copying books by hand disappeared. The printing press allowed documents to be replicated more quickly and, more importantly, they were no longer available to only a few.

The use of the printing press led to the beginning of encyclopedic knowledge and the scientific revolution. The Church, which had reserved the right to decide what knowledge was correct, began to lose importance in the face of reason.

This scientific revolution was fundamental for the arrival of a new era: the Renaissance.

Industrial Revolution

Workers during the Industrial Revolution

Starting in the second half of the 18th century, mankind experienced the first revolution that affected industry. This great transformation began in England and, already in the 19th century, it spread to the rest of Europe and other parts of the planet. Experts say that it was the period with the greatest innovations since the Neolithic.

The result of this revolution affected all of society. Machinery was introduced into factories, leaving manual labor behind.

The innovations didn't just affect factories. Just as important were the new inventions related to transportation, from the railroad to the steam engine (also used in industry). The human being was able to move more quickly, like the goods.

XIX century

A Watt type steam engine, built by the David Napier & Son Limited company (London) in 1859. It was one of the first steam engines to be installed in Spain. Nicolás Pérez, via Wikimedia Commons

The technology of the early 1800s was driven by all the discoveries made in the Industrial Revolution. Progress was so rapid that, at the end of the century, the so-called Second Industrial Revolution took place.

The steam engine, mentioned above, began to be used in ships and trains, improving transportation. In addition, the telegraph appeared at the beginning of this century, which was a great advance in communications.

No less important was the invention of the incandescent lamp. The cities, little by little, began to have electric lighting.

In the industrial field, the British were the first to manufacture boat pulleys fully automatically. Thanks to this automation, which spread to other sectors, the era of mass production began.

In the same way, the ships were already built entirely of metal. The greater resistance of this material allowed to increase trade with the Far East.

In the middle of the second Industrial Revolution, at the end of the century, chemical, petroleum, metallurgical and electrical technology developed in a way like never before.

Twentieth century

Allied landing in Normandy during World War II. Source: history.navy.mil

Already at the end of the 19th century, the threat of war was a great boost to technological development. In the twentieth century, with its two world wars, it confirmed that war conflicts cause new discoveries that, in the medium term, are incorporated into daily life.

Transportation, energy or computing are examples of the great technological advances produced in that century. Airplanes became the transportation system par excellence for long distances, communications developed from the cable telephone to cell phones, and nuclear energy began to be used.

Among all these advances, the one in computing stands out. Driven by the war, computers went from occupying entire rooms to being able to sit on a table in any house. The appearance of the internet, also linked to the military industry, has represented an absolute transformation of society.

XXI century

Although barely two decades of the new century have passed, technological advances continue to develop at great speed. Computing, together with digitization, robotics and the incipient artificial intelligence, is omnipresent in all areas.

Many authors claim that humanity is immersed in a new Industrial Revolution, the fourth or 4.0. Automation and digitization present great opportunities, but also challenges in the world of work.

References

1. Cervantinos Studies Center. History of technology. Stages and outstanding inventions. Obtained from centroestudioscervantinos.es
2. The thinker. History of technology. Obtained from educacion.elpensante.com
3. TecnoMagazine. History of technology. Retrieved from tecnomagazine.net
4. Buchanan, Robert Angus. History of technology. Retrieved from britannica.com
5. Khan, Nazir Nawaz. History and evolution of technology. Retrieved from nation.com.pk
6. Historyworld. History of technology. Retrieved from historyworld.net
7. Lepore, Jill. Does technology drive history ?. Retrieved from newyorker.com