Why were the Europeans the people who were able to conquer so many of the world’s great

civilizations and control so much of the world?

What weapons have had the most impact on warfare throughout history?

How did the development of technologies help civilizations gain power?

What technologies were important to gaining this power?

Part Two: SteelIn other words technology:tech·nol·o·gy  /tɛkˈnɒlədʒi/ –noun 2. the terminology of an art, science, etc.; technical nomenclature. 3. a technological process, invention, method, or the like. 4. the sum of the ways in which social groups provide themselves with the material objects of their civilization.

Remember: certain civilizations gained great power and wealth and were able to conquer much of the world because of simple geographic luck. They had access to the best resources because of where they lived.

Resources:• Part 1- Animals, Plants, Shape of

Continents• Part 2- Technology (steel and writing)

Steel:“Humans’ ability to transform mineral ores into useful materials has shaped the course of human history. Those civilizations that have been armed with a greater range of metal technologies have always defeated their rivals.” GGS

Examples:• Spanish Conquistadors over the Inca (South America)• French/British troops over the First Nations (North

America)

Why?

Steel:• Requirements

• Right natural resources• Iron ore, carbon-rich forests, fast flowing water.

• Long term, hot fires. In what region was this possible?• First, experimented with turning limestone into

plaster, then copper, then iron ore (steel is a refined version of iron ore).

• Right human environment• Balance of independence, economic competition and

technological collaboration. In what region was this possible?

• Uses (Significance)

Writing:

“One of the most important inventions in human history was undoubtedly the development of writing. Life without this innovation would be unthinkable today.” GGS

Why?

Writing:

• First three systems of writing:• 5000 years ago in Fertile Crescent (Sumer) as a system of symbols

called cuneiform and in • 5000 years ago in Southern Mexico (Maya) as a system of

hieroglyphs.• 4000 years ago in China as a system of symbols and characters.

“Throughout human history whenever literate societies clashed with non literate societies, the victors were usually the ones capable of later recording their great achievements for posterity. To the victor goes the recording of history.” GGS

The pen is mightier than the sword.

• Which of these two technologies is the most important in the development of human history?