STS

science

a branch of study that deals with a connected body of demonstrated truths with observed facts systematically classified and more or less comprehended by general laws and incorporating trustworthy methods.

scientific results obtained from observations, experiments and scientific data 

pharmakon

poison and cure at the same time (Socrates)

neolithic 

new stone age (farming)

a period of primitive technological and social development. Farming!

technology 

a manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes, methods or knowledge. 

society 

A community of people living in a particular country or region and having shared customs, laws, or institutions.

cuneiform

a syllabic and logo-graphic form of writing

pyrophyte

fire adapted species, a plant that can survive or even grow better after a fire.

clepsydra

an ancient device used to measure time using water.

water clock

Socratic method 

a way of teaching or discussing by asking questions to help people think deeply and discover answers for themselves, rather than just being told. (Q and A)

aqueduct

a structure that carries water from one place to another, often over long distances.

social determinism

In theories of the relationship between society and technology or media

Social determinism means people and society shape technology and media, not the other way around.

It looks at who makes it, how people use it, and why—things like purpose, skills, style, and who has access—not the machine’s parts or the code.

technological determinism

A theory of social change, characteristically one of evolutionary progress or development, in which productive technique obeys a logic or trajectory of its own; and, in the process, acts as the principal determinant of institutions and social relationships

the idea that new technology drives social change on its own, shaping how people live and organize

difference between social and technological determinism

Social determinism: Society and people shape technology.
Technological determinism: Technology shapes society and people.

indoctrination

forcing ideas or beliefs on someone so they accept them without question.

“brainwashing”

sedentism

living in one place all the time instead of moving around.

stopped moving and built permanent villages 

nomadism

moving from place to place instead of staying in one permanent home.

What is the significance of Pre history

time before writing. People lived as hunters and gatherers. We know about them from artifacts and fossils.

• Key Features: Hunter-gatherer societies, stone tools, control of fire, cave art, early religions.

• Why Important: Shows how humans survived, adapted, and spread across the globe before recorded history.

What is the significance of Ancient History

laid the foundation of civilizations Begins when writing and major societies/civilizations appeared (like Egypt, China, Indus Valley).

humans created governments, writing, and laws. It laid the foundation for modern civilizations and shaped art, trade, and religion.

What is the significance of the Neolithic Revolution

when humans switched from hunting and gathering to farming and raising animals. This allowed people to settle in one place, form villages, and develop surplus food, which led to population growth, trade, and early civilizations. It was the foundation for cities, governments, and organized societies.

what is the significance of the Golden Age of Athens

A period of cultural and intellectual growth in Greece, marked by achievements in philosophy, art, architecture, and democracy.Thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle influenced Western thought, and impressive structures like the Parthenon were built. This era showed how culture, knowledge, and government could flourish together and influenced later civilizations.

The Golden Age of Athens shaped democracy, philosophy, and culture that still influence the world today.

What is the significance of the Roman Empire

the time when Rome grew into a large, powerful empire ruled by emperors. It expanded across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, spreading Roman law, engineering, language (Latin), and culture. The empire set the foundation for modern government, roads, architecture, and legal systems.

What is the significance of the Nicene council 

a meeting of Christian leaders to unify Christian beliefs and address disagreements about Jesus’ nature. It created the Nicene Creed, which defined key Christian doctrines about the nature of God and Jesus. It helped unify Christian beliefs and strengthen the Church’s authority. It shaped the foundation of Christianity and influenced religious and political life in Europe for centuries.

Significance of Industrial Revolution

a period when societies shifted from farming and handmade goods to machines and factories. It transformed economies, technology, and daily life, leading to urbanization, new jobs, and mass production. It set the foundation for the modern industrialized world and the technologies we rely on today.

Who was Johannes Gutenberg (what did he invent where he was from and his significance)

• Who he was: A German inventor and printer.

• What he invented: The movable-type printing press.

• Where he was from / Era: Germany, 15th century (Renaissance period).

• Significance:

  • Made it much faster and cheaper to produce books.

  • Spread knowledge, literacy, and ideas across Europe.

  • Helped fuel the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution.

Who was Socrates (what did he invent where he was from and his significance)

• Who he was: A Greek philosopher.

• What he did/invented: Developed the Socratic Method—a way of learning by asking questions to stimulate critical thinking.

• Where he was from / Era: Athens, Ancient Greece (5th century BCE).

• Significance:

  • Laid the foundation for Western philosophy.

  • Influenced students like Plato and Aristotle.

  • Encouraged critical thinking and questioning of beliefs.

said writing could be harmful

Who was Vitruvius (what did he invent where he was from and his significance)

• Who he was: A Roman architect, engineer, and author.

• What he did/invented: Wrote “De Architectura”, a detailed treatise on architecture and engineering; he emphasized proportion, symmetry, and functionality in buildings.

• Where he was from / Era: Ancient Rome, 1st century BCE.

• Significance:

  • Influenced Renaissance architects like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

  • His ideas shaped Western architecture and engineering for centuries.

  • Introduced principles of design that are still taught today.

(timepieces as a department of architecture and the invention of concrete likely enabled him to write his 10 books on architecture?)

Who was Tesibuis (what did he invent where he was from and his significance)

• Who he was: A Greek engineer and inventor.

• What he did/invented: Perfected the water clock (clepsydra) and worked on pneumatic devices.

• Where he was from / Era: Alexandria, Ancient Greece/Hellenistic period (3rd century BCE).

• Significance:

  • Improved timekeeping technology in the ancient world.

  • His inventions influenced later engineers in Greece and Rome.

  • Pioneered early hydraulics and mechanical engineering concepts.

Who was Jared Diamond (what did he invent where he was from and his significance)

Jared Diamond was a modern American scientist, he explained how geography and environment shaped human societies in books like “Guns, Germs, and Steel.” Helped explain why some societies developed more quickly than others.

Who was James Watt (what did he invent where he was from and his significance)

• Who he was: A Scottish inventor and engineer.

• What he did/invented: Improved the steam engine, making it more efficient and practical for industry.

• Where he was from / Era: Scotland, 18th century (Industrial Revolution).

• Significance:

  • His improvements powered factories, ships, and trains.

  • Helped drive the Industrial Revolution by enabling mass production and mechanization.

  • Revolutionized transportation and industry worldwide.

Who was Ian Morris (what did he invent where he was from and his significance)

• Who he is: A British-American historian and archaeologist.

• What he did/invented: Writes about social development, human history, and the rise of civilizations, including the book “Why the West Rules—For Now”.

• Where he is from / Era: United Kingdom / United States, modern era (20th–21st century).

• Significance:

  • Explains long-term patterns in history and why some societies developed faster than others.

  • Combines archaeology, history, and social science to study civilizations.

  • Offers insights into cultural, economic, and technological development over time.

social determinsim

the significance of a technology depends on a society and societies choices can vary. we choose how to use technology

where does the term “running out of time” come from

comes from English in the 1800s, during the Industrial Revolution, when precise timekeeping became important for work, transportation, and daily life. People started thinking of time as a limited resource, like money or fuel, that could be “used up” or “run out.”

waterclock????

who were the Hadza people

• Who they are: One of the last remaining hunter-gatherer societies in the world.

• Where: Live around Lake Eyasi in northern Tanzania, East Africa.

• Era: They continue their traditional lifestyle today, but their way of life reflects patterns from the Stone Age.

• Significance:

  • Their daily hunting-and-gathering practices show how humans lived before the Agricultural Revolution.

  • They offer insight into early human diets, social structures, and survival methods.

  • Studying the Hadza helps anthropologists understand human evolution and the shift from foraging to farming.

What is the difference between James Scott’s main argument in the Introduction to Against the Grain and traditional mainline arguments about the agricultural revolution?

Traditional: Farming was a voluntary step forward that improved life and built civilization. people discovered farming, quickly settled down, built cities, and life improved

James Scott: Early agriculture often made life harder and let states control and tax people, so it wasn’t purely progress or choice. more disease, worse nutrition, heavier labor.

What were some potential negative effects of the wide-spread adoption of writing as a technology that Socrates was concerned about?

weaken memory, give only the appearance of knowledge, and replace real dialogue with one-way words (only goes one direction—you read it, but it can’t talk back.)

what was Mesopotamia’s significance to the neolithic revolution?

Mesopotamia was one of the birthplaces of the Neolithic (Agricultural) Revolution.

• Its fertile soil and rivers let people grow wheat and barley instead of hunting and gathering.

• Farming there created food surpluses, which allowed permanent villages, cities, writing, and government to develop.

What was the Edict of Theodosius?

a law issued by the Roman emperor Theodosius I. that made Nicene Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire and it banned public pagan worship and gave the Christian Church special legal status and power.

Invention of Cement created a….

Romans developed cement. it created a stronger and more durable building material than anything used before that allowed people to build long-lasting roads, aqueducts, and massive structures, an innovation that enabled a great deal of Roman architectural development (collesium)

what did the Steam engine do

enabled the Industrial Revolution. it used steam to power machines, trains, and factories

what did the invention of coal do

gave the Industrial Revolution its main energy source, powering steam engines, factories, and trains