9.1-9.3 Notes

9.1: Advances in Technology and Exchange

  • Joseph Krutch Quote

    • "Technology made large populations possible; large populations now make technology indispensable."

Essential Question

  • How has the development of new technology changed the world since 1900?

Globalization and Telecommunications

  • Globalization has made the world feel smaller.

  • Advances in telecommunications helped in connecting individuals globally.

  • Communication Technologies

    • Early 1900s: Radio emerged, providing news, music, and cultural events to a wide audience.

    • Late 20th century: The internet became a common communication tool.

  • Transportation Technologies

    • Shipping containers revolutionized the movement of people and goods, allowing them to be easily transported by truck, train, or ship.

    • Air travel saw significant growth.

  • Energy Technologies

    • Use of oil and nuclear power enhanced the speed and cost-effectiveness of goods transportation.

  • Shift to knowledge economies in urban areas worldwide.

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Communication and Transportation

  • Pre-internet communication technologies connected people.

  • Mobile technology positioned individuals as content creators and disseminators.

  • Impact of Social Media:

    • Videos from mobile devices led to discussions on racial profiling.

    • Social media fueled the Arab Spring protests across North Africa and the Middle East in the 2010s.

      • Social media enabled people to share their experiences

Transportation Advancements

  • Daily air travel accommodates about 2 million passengers.

  • Cargo planes operate continuously, delivering shipments.

  • Increasing number of giant tankers transport shipping containers across the seas.

The Green Revolution

  • Mid-20th century initiative to address global hunger.

  • Developed higher-yield and disease-resistant crop varieties through:

    • Crossbreeding: Combining two plant varieties to create hybrids.

    • Genetic Engineering: Altering the organisms’ characteristics directly.

  • Agricultural expansions due to:

    • Increased irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides.

    • Clearing of forests for farmland.

  • Impact on Small Farmers:

    • Small farmers unable to afford new technology lost their land to larger landowners.

    • Mechanization reduced farm labor opportunities.

    • Environmental damage from chemical use.

Genetic Engineering Concerns

  • Potential negative impacts, such as reduced populations of beneficial insects (e.g., bees).

  • Loss of traditional seed varieties due to adoption of genetically engineered crops.

Energy Technologies

  • Transition of energy sources:

    • In 1900, coal accounted for approximately 50% of energy consumption.

    • Growth in petroleum and natural gas usage due to advancements in extraction and transport.

    • Nuclear power emerged from technologies developed during WWII.

  • Fossil Fuels

    • Nonrenewable resources causing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

    • Nuclear accidents raised concerns over safety and waste storage.

  • Current energy scenario:

    • Nuclear energy supplies about 5% of global energy; renewable energy also accounts for a similar percentage.

Medical Innovations

Antibiotics

  • Discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 led to antibiotic treatments.

  • Greatly reduced bacterial infections, especially among soldiers during WWII.

  • Concerns raised about antibiotic resistance due to overuse.

Birth Control

  • The birth control pill, developed in the early 1950s by Gregory Pincus, became widely used by 1960.

  • Resulted in declining fertility rates globally and transformed social and gender dynamics.

Vaccines

  • Vaccines became significant in public health, leading to eradication of diseases like smallpox.

  • WHO reported vaccines prevent around 3 million deaths annually.

Key Terms by Theme

  • Society: Communication, Crossbreeding, Radio, Internet

  • Technology: Travel, Shipping Containers, Green Revolution

  • Environment: Ecology

  • Medicine Technologies: Antibiotic, Birth Control, Fertility Rates, Vaccine

9.2: Technological Advancements and Limitations - Disease

Essential Question

  • How have environmental factors affected human populations since 1900?

Achievements in Public Health

  • Significant reduction of illnesses and deaths from diseases through:

    • Scientific advancements and public health strategies.

    • Successful global vaccination campaigns like that for smallpox.

Ongoing Disease Challenges

  • Challenges with diseases related to poverty, including malaria, tuberculosis, and cholera.

  • Emergence of new epidemics such as flu, HIV/AIDS, and Ebola.

  • Increase in lifestyle diseases (e.g., heart disease, Alzheimer’s) tied to increased longevity.

Disease and Poverty Dynamics

  • Social factors exacerbating disease spread:

    • Poor living and working conditions, contaminated water, and limited healthcare access.

  • Malaria: Affects many in tropical regions; efforts include mosquito nets and preventive treatments.

  • Tuberculosis: Resurgence of resistant strains requiring increased public health measures.

  • Cholera: A bacterial disease primarily affecting impoverished regions, manageable with clean water access and hygiene education.

Causes of Death in Low- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries (2016)

  • Reports on death rates highlight differences in health outcomes based on economic status.

Emerging Epidemics

Historical Context

  • The 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic killed over 20 million, severely impacting global health and longevity.

  • HIV/AIDS continues to challenge public health and socioeconomic conditions, particularly in low-income regions.

Ebola Outbreaks

  • Discoveries and responses to Ebola initiated coordinated global public health actions.

Chronic Diseases Associated with Longevity

  • Increased focus on diseases common among aging populations:

    • Heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

9.3: Technology and the Environment

Essential Question

  • What were the causes and effects of environmental changes from 1900 to the present?

Environmental Changes

  • Human activities since 1900 have altered the environment, leading to issues like:

    • Deforestation.

    • Desertification.

    • Declining air quality.

    • Freshwater scarcity.

Causes of Environmental Change

  • Population growth, urbanization, globalization, and industrialization.

    • Increased demand for arable land contributes to environmental degradation.

Effects of Environmental Change

  • Increased competition for increasingly scarce resources.

  • Growing concerns around resource depletion and inequality.

    • Example: Water scarcity issues affecting over 1 billion people worldwide.

Addressing Climate Change

  • The vital role of international agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, in fostering global collaboration on climate action.

  • Recent climate activism spearheaded by figures like Greta Thunberg highlights the urgency of global response to climate change.