Lesson Overview

If you could go back in time, in what time period would you choose to live? Which technological age would that be; Stone age, Renaissance or perhaps the Industrial Revolution? The technology of that period of time drove society. Technology of the time period would determine your overall quality of life and how long you would probably have lived. This lesson looks at the technology of each era and provides many answers to the technology and practices of today. Can you see the connections?

Learning Outcomes:

Develop an understanding of the role of troubleshooting, research and development, invention and innovation, and experimentation in problem solving. (ITEA 7)

• Most technological developments have been evolutionary, the result of a series of refinements to a basic invention. (ITEA 7-G)
• The evolution of civilization has been directly affected by, and has in turn affected, the development and use of tools and materials. (ITEA 7-H)
• Throughout history, technology has been a powerful force in reshaping the social, cultural, political, and economic landscape (ITEA 7-I)
• Early in the history of technology, the development of many tools and machines was based not on scientific knowledge but in technological know-how (ITEA 7-J)
• The Iron Age was defined by the use of iron and steel as the primary materials for tools (ITEA 7-K)
• The Middle Ages saw the development of many technological devices that produced long-lasting effects on technology and society. (ITEA 7-L)
• The Renaissance, a time of rebirth of the arts and humanities, was also an important development in the history of technology (ITEA 7-M)
• The Industrial Revolution saw the development of continuous manufacturing, sophisticated transportation and communication systems, advanced construction practices, and improved education and leisure time. (ITEA 7-N)
• The Information Age places emphasis on the processing and exchange of information. (ITEA 7-0)

Getting Started

The ages of man are most clearly characterized by the tools and technologies, and the impact those tools and technologies had on the lives of people. This brief video, a student project, looks at the tools and technologies of the Stone Age, and the human lifestyle they supported. As you watch the video, consider:

• What tools and technologies are presented?
• How do these tools and technologies support human lifestyle of the times?