Science, Technology and Society, 1400 to Present (HI2D5): Timetable
Term |
Week |
Lecture and Seminar TopicsSeminar content. Questions and readings for each seminar, along with a short description of the seminar topic, are on the Talis Aspire list for this module. Seminar themes. Seminar themes are in italics. These themes go beyond the specific examples dealt with in the lectures and the seminar readings. They are there to give focus to the seminar discussions and to suggest connections to the examples covered in other weeks. Lecture capture. The lectures will be recorded using lecture capture and posted here. Lecture capture can be used for revision and catch-up, but attendance at lectures is essential. Lecture slides and handouts will be posted on this page before the relevant lecture. |
Autumn Term | 1 |
Introduction. Science, technology and society in history (James Poskett and Michael Bycroft) |
2 |
Theories of everything, 1400-1600. Theories. |
|
3 |
Scholars and artisans, 1500-1700. Experiment. |
|
4 |
The mathematisation of the world, 1400-1700. Measurement. No physical lecture this week - the lecture has been recorded and is available for download here - to open the file, click on Open in the top right-hand corner than on Open in Powerpoint (Michael Bycroft) |
|
5 |
Explorers, merchants and missionaries, 1500-1700. Networks. |
|
6 |
Reading Week (no lecture or seminar) |
|
7 |
Science in the public sphere, 1650-1800. The public. |
|
8 |
Human nature and the Enlightenment. Man. |
|
9 |
The expert state, 1700-1800. Expertise |
|
10 |
Science in the age of revolution, 1780-1850. Disciplines. |
|
Christmas Vacation |
||
Spring Term | 11 |
Workshop of the world, 1780-1900. Technology. |
12 |
The origins of evolution, 1760-1900. Life. |
|
13 |
Anthropology and empire, 1800-1900. Race. |
|
14 |
DNA and the secret of life, 1850-1950. Laboratories. |
|
15 |
Einstein's generation. Time. |
|
16 |
Reading Week (no lecture or seminar) |
|
17 |
From political economy to neoliberalism, 1800-2000. The economy. (Michael Bycroft) |
|
18 |
Cold War science and technology, 1945-1991. Ideology. |
|
19 |
Energy and empire, 1900-1980. Infrastructure. |
|
20 |
Nature and development, 1945-2000. Futurity. |
|
Easter Vacation |
||
21 |
Conclusion: science, technology and society today |
|
Summer Term |
22 |
Revision Seminar only |
23 |
Revision Seminar only |