Science and technology have advanced human civilization and changed the world in many ways. The rapid development of knowledge has taken several hundred years and led to the world of the modern advancements. One of the most significant periods in history is the Renaissance which took place in 1300-1650 (Waugh 3).
It drastically changed the world, its place in the universe and people’s minds. It is interesting to note that according to Spielvogel, “the earliest humanlike creatures-known as hominids-existed in Africa as long as three to four millions years ago…and were the first hominids to make simple stone tools” (Spielvogel 2).
People have been developing for millions of years to make primitive devices, whereas Renaissance period moved people forward in progress by lasting only hundreds of years. It is also interesting to note that “Homo sapiens sapiens spread from Africa beginning about 70,000 years ago”, which means that even Europeans and their advancements are not their “selfish” invention (Spielvogel 3).
Robert Lembright acknowledges that the modern Western culture has become mixed up in history and how it is absorbed by the present and future generations. As such, a close analysis will allow for proper research and understanding (Lembright 20). Most what is known about Renaissance it that sciences were on the rise—geography, physics, mathematics, chemistry and astronomy became a part of society (Hansen 11).
At the same time, such fast development has seen some opposition from the government and society, as people tended to lean towards humanities and politics and considered exact sciences as unneeded and useless. Nonetheless, the intellectual growth continued through people becoming better engineers and the evidence of that can be seen in the buildings that are still standing today (Adams 32).
Chemistry was somewhat non-existent, as alchemy was the predominant form of science. People have been trying to make gold out of other substances but have seen no success. This is thought to be one of the earliest forms of chemistry that evolved into modern day science (Spielvogel 42).
Astronomy was also starting to emerge as an important part of the world. Previously, the Earth was thought to be the center of the solar system but this fact was changed by Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galilei. Medicine and the study of human body were another aspect in the development of humanity and there were many tests run in relation to drugs and medicines that were not used prior to the period.
The technology and use of clocks and watches was another dominant aspect of the time. People have begun to use time in a much different way, as now it could be better controlled and monitored. The weapons industry was also on the rise, as artillery and gunpowder have become major advancements in the war fare (Spielvogel 45).
Anything that had to deal with magnification, such as a microscope, spectacles, eye glasses and telescopes was largely perfected (Duiker 17). This opened up a whole new world to people, as they were able to see life beyond own existence and discover new ways of how living things functioned in the world. Robert Lembright stresses that history is not finished, it is a process that must be manipulated in the search for truth (Lembright 20).
The time periods in the development of the human society have set apart stages of advancements. The world has seen many changes, technologically and ethically. People’s minds were moving forward, along with the technology that has helped comprehend and gather more information.
Works Cited
Adams, Paul. Experiencing World History. New York: NYU Press, 2000. Print.
Duiker, William. World History, Volume 2, 7th ed.: Since 1500. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
Hansen, Valerie. Voyages in World History. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.
Lembright, Robert. Annual Editions: Western Civilization, Volume 1: The Earliest Civilizations through the Reformation. New York: McGraw-Hill. Print.
Spielvogel, Jackson. Western Civilization: A Brief History Volume 1.: A Brief History to 1715. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.
Waugh, Steven. Essential Modern World History. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes, 2001. Print.