UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
FALL 2017
HIST*1250 Science and Technology in a Global Context (0.5 CR)

Instructor: Dr John Walsh

Office: MacKinnon 243
Extension: 58039
email1: waljo@uoguelph.ca
TA contact: See Courselink
Office Hours: Wed. (4:30-5:30pm); Th. (2:00-3:00pm); Fri. (9:00:11:00am)
________________________________________________________________________________

COURSE OUTLINE
Course Description:
Science and technology are arguably two of the most powerful cultural forces in human history. This
course will introduce you to the historical development of science and technology in a global
context, from the ancient period to early 21st century. We will address the ways in which scientific
and technological knowledge has been shaped by social and cultural contexts and how such contexts
were also affected by science and technology. Our focus will be on the trajectories and patterns in
which scientific and technological knowledge, objects, and practices have circulated between
cultures throughout history, and how the development of science and technology is contingent upon
time and place.

Learning Outcomes:
After successful completion of this course, an assiduous student will have learned to:
• appreciate the contributions of science and technology to world history;
• recognize that specific sciences and technologies are dependent on their social, cultural, and
historical context and cannot be understood outside of them;
• recognize the ways in which knowledge and skills have travelled and been constructed across
cultures;
• engage with the central issues, research approaches, and practices of history as a discipline;
• develop skills in critical reading, writing, and thinking;
• develop skills in library research and critical evaluation of information.

If you are taking this course as a part of your requirements for the B.Eng. program, the
outcomes above support and are consistent with the following Graduate Attributes (GA) as
outlined by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB)

Graduate Attributes (GA):

GA 7: Communication skills: An ability to communicate complex engineering concepts within
the profession and with society at large. Such ability includes reading, writing, speaking and
listening, and the ability to comprehend and write effective reports and design documentation,
and to give and effectively respond to clear instructions.

1
ALL email communication MUST identify the course by course code and number (i.e. HIST*1250). Unidentified
emails may not be answered.
 GA 9: Impact of engineering on society and the environment: An ability to analyze social and
environmental aspects of engineering activities. Such ability includes an understanding of the
interactions that engineering has with the economic, social, health, safety, legal, and cultural
aspects of society, the uncertainties in the prediction of such interactions; and the concepts
of sustainable design and development and environmental stewardship.

Prerequisites:
None.

Texts Required:
1. Andrew Ede and Lesley B. Cormack. 2016. A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to
Utility. University of Toronto Press (3rd edition).

***Note: It is essential that you purchase the THIRD EDITION of this text. Students who
purchase the 2nd edition do so at their own risk!***

2. Daniel R. Headrick. 2009. Technology: A World History. Oxford University Press.

Method of Presentation:
Lectures and in-class discussions.
LEC Tues, Thur
08:30AM - 09:50AM
ROZH, Room 101

Evaluation:

Method Weight Evaluation/Due Dates

Term Test 3% Oct. 3 (in-class)
Midterm Exam 20% Oct.24 (in-class)
In-Class Library Assignments 2% Sep. 19, 21 (in-class)
Research Assignments 25% Oct. 6; Nov. 17
Final Exam 50% See Webadvisor
Total 100%

For the purposes of evaluation, students are responsible for ALL material discussed in lecture.
Students who miss lecture/s remain responsible for ALL course material. All obligation to catch up
on missed material resides solely with the student. Students who miss lecture/s should use
scheduled Office Hours to discuss any matters arising from their absence. Email will not be used
for this purpose. Students who miss significant portions of the semester are advised to consult the
Undergraduate Calendar and seek advice and guidance from their Program Advisor. ALL
ARRANGEMENTS CONCERNING MISSED EVALUATIONS MUST BE DISCUSSED DURING SCHEDULED
OFFICE HOURS. Email will not be used for this purpose.
Research Assignments:
You will be required to submit two research assignments for this course. The first (due Fri. 6
October [5pm Dropbox]) requires you to prepare an outline and annotated bibliography, and the
second is a short essay (due Fri. 17 November [5pm Dropbox]). The outline and bibliography will
form the basis of your essay. The essay will be minimum 1500 words, maximum 1750 words in
length. More detailed instructions for both assignments may be found on Courselink. Both
assignments will evaluate your written communication skills and will be graded according to several
criteria: format, writing style and grammar, clear thesis statement, logical structure, effective use
of examples, and evidence of logical and critical thinking.

To help you get started on your first assignment we will have presentations (September 19 and 21)
from members of the University of Guelph’s Learning and Curriculum Support Team. Also, The
University of Guelph also has a Research Help Desk on the first floor of the library as well as a Writing
Services Centre and a Learning Services Centre, also both on the first floor of the library.

Research Assignments must be completed by the Due Date. ALL assignments must be submitted
before 5pm on the Due Date. NO submissions will be accepted beyond the Due Date. There will
be NO EXTENSIONS GRANTED for these assignments after the respective Due Dates. Assignments
may be submitted at any time PRIOR to the Final Submission Date (via Dropbox). Assignments
received through Dropbox on/before the Due Date will be graded. No other assignments will be
graded. No email submissions will be accepted. ALL ARRANGEMENTS CONCERNING MISSED/LATE
ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE DISCUSSED DURING SCHEDULED OFFICE HOURS.

TURNITIN
In this course, your instructor will be using Turnitin, integrated with the CourseLink Dropbox tool, to detect
possible plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration or copying as part of the ongoing efforts to maintain
academic integrity at the University of Guelph. All submitted assignments will be included as source
documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such
papers. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the Usage Policy posted on the Turnitin.com site. A major
benefit of using Turnitin is that students will be able to educate and empower themselves in preventing
academic misconduct. In this course, you may screen your own assignments through Turnitin as many times
as you wish before the due date. You will be able to see and print reports that show you exactly where you
have properly and improperly referenced the outside sources and materials in your assignment.

The Library and Learning Commons

The Library and Learning Commons offers free services to help you succeed at the University of
Guelph in the following ways:

1. meet with a Peer Helper to talk about study strategies or your writing assignments
2. get assistance finding journal articles and books
3. use our many online resources, such as Citation Guides and the Mark Calculator
4. lots more!

Visit the Library website for more information: www.lib.uoguelph.ca/get-assistance. I strongly

encourage you to make use of these services to help you with research, writing, time
management, exam preparation, and all sorts of other areas that are crucial to your academic
success!
 LECTURE SYLLABUS and SCHEDULE
(UNIT I) Science and Technology from the Ancient World to the Renaissance

Day Date Subject(s) Weekly Readings2 and

Activities
Th. Sep. 7 Introduction Course Outline and
• Evaluation Schedule Courselink
• Assignments
• Course Policies
T. Sep.12 Science and Human History HSS “Introduction” pp. xiii-
Stone Age Technology xvi
TWH ch. 1 pp. 1-16
Th. Sep.14 Hydraulic Civilizations (4000-1500 BCE) TWH Ch. 2 pp. 17-34
T. Sep.19 Research Support: See Courselink
Presentation by Librarian Dave Hudson
***SUBMIT IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT ***
Th. Sep.21 Learning and Writing Support: See Courselink
Presentations by Learning Specialist and Writing
Specialist
***SUBMIT IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT***
T. Sep.26 Ancient Greece and Rome (I) HSS pp. 1-42
TWH pp. 35-50
Th. Sep.28 Ancient Greece and Rome (II) Continue HSS pp. 1-42
TWH pp. 35-50
T. Oct.3 ***TERM TEST (IN-CLASS)*** See Courselink
Th. Oct.5 Science in the Islamic World HSS pp. 42-66, 106-09
TWH pp. 51-70
T. Oct.10 *** Fall Study Break Day*** ***NO CLASSES***
Th. Oct. 12 Science in Song Dynasty China Continue HSS pp. 42-66,
106-09
TWH pp. 51-70
T. Oct. 17 The Middle Ages around the Mediterranean HSS pp. 67-106, 110-132
TWH pp. 71-90

Th. Oct. 19 Renaissance Humanism and Renaissance Art Continue HSS pp. 67-106,
110-132
TWH pp. 71-90
T. Oct. 24 ***MIDTERM EXAMINATION*** See Courselink

2
Andrew Ede and Lesley B. Cormack. 2016. A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to
Utility. University of Toronto Press (3rd edition). (= HSS)
Daniel R. Headrick. 2009. Technology: A World History. Oxford University Press. (= TWH)
 LECTURE SYLLABUS and SCHEDULE
(UNIT II) Science, Technology, and the Modern World

Day Date Subject(s) Weekly Readings3 and

Activities
Th. Oct. 26 Cultural Status of Science and Technology in HSS pp. 133-168
Europe

T. Oct. 31 Academies, Institutions, and the Japanese HSS 169-185, 230-232

Context

Th. Nov. 2 Science and Empire I: Commerce and HSS pp. 185-229
Exploration
T. Nov. 7 Science and Empire II: Darwin and Natural Continue HSS pp. 185-229
History
Th. Nov. 9 The Industrial Revolution TWH pp. 91-110
T. Nov. 14 Urban Life I: Transportation and Electricity HSS pp. 245-262
TWH pp. 111-129
Th. Nov. 16 Urban Life II: Medicine, Germs, and Sanitation Continue HSS pp. 245-262
TWH pp. 111-129
T. Nov. 21 Science and Politics: Physics and Physicists HSS pp. 245-320
Between the Wars TWH pp. 130-148
Secrets of Death: The Manhattan Project
Th. Nov. 23 Science, Technology, and the Cold War HSS pp. 327-405
TWH pp. 130-148
T. Nov. 28 Environmentalism, Engineering, and the New Continue HSS pp. 327-405
Millennium TWH pp. 130-148
Th Nov. 30 Conclusion

3
Andrew Ede and Lesley B. Cormack. 2016. A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to
Utility. University of Toronto Press (3rd edition). (= HSS)
Daniel R. Headrick. 2009. Technology: A World History. Oxford University Press. (= TWH)
UNIVERSITY POLICIES

E-mail Communication
As per university regulations, all students are required to check their <mail.uoguelph.ca> e-mail
account regularly: e-mail is the official route of communication between the University and its
students.

When You Cannot Meet a Course Requirement

When you find yourself unable to meet an in-course requirement because of illness or
compassionate reasons, please advise the course instructor (or designated person, such as a
teaching assistant) in writing, with your name, id#, and e-mail contact. See the undergraduate
calendar for information on regulations and procedures for Academic Consideration.

Drop Date
Courses that are one semester long must be dropped by the end of the fortieth class day
(Friday, 3 November 2017); two-semester courses must be dropped by the last day of the add
period in the second semester. The regulations and procedures for Dropping Courses are
available in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Copies of out-of-class assignments

Keep paper and/or other reliable back-up copies of all out-of-class assignments: you may be
asked to resubmit work at any time.

Accessibility
The University promotes the full participation of students who experience disabilities in their
academic programs. To that end, the provision of academic accommodation is a shared
responsibility between the University and the student.

When accommodations are needed, the student is required to first register with Student
Accessibility Services (SAS). Documentation to substantiate the existence of a disability is
required, however, interim accommodations may be possible while that process is underway.

Accommodations are available for both permanent and temporary disabilities. It should be
noted that common illnesses such as a cold or the flu do not constitute a disability.

Use of the SAS Exam Centre requires students to book their exams at least 7 days in advance,
and not later than the 40th Class Day.

More information on the SAS Website.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Each student at the University of Guelph has rights, which carry commensurate responsibilities
that involve, broadly, being a civil and respectful member of the University community. The
Rights and Responsibilities are detailed in the Undergraduate Calendar
Academic Misconduct
The University of Guelph is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity
and it is the responsibility of all members of the University community – faculty, staff, and
students – to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and to do as much as possible
to prevent academic offences from occurring. University of Guelph students have the
responsibility of abiding by the University's policy on academic misconduct regardless of their
location of study; faculty, staff and students have the responsibility of supporting an
environment that discourages misconduct. Students need to remain aware that instructors
have access to and the right to use electronic and other means of detection.

Please note: Whether or not a student intended to commit academic misconduct is not relevant
for a finding of guilt. Hurried or careless submission of assignments does not excuse students
from responsibility for verifying the academic integrity of their work before submitting it.
Students who are in any doubt as to whether an action on their part could be construed as an
academic offence should consult with a faculty member or faculty advisor.

The Academic Misconduct Policy is detailed in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Recording of Materials
Presentations which are made in relation to course work—including lectures—cannot be
recorded or copied without the permission of the presenter, whether the instructor, a
classmate or guest lecturer. Material recorded with permission is restricted to use for that
course unless further permission is granted.

Resources
The Academic Calendars are the source of information about the University of Guelph’s
procedures, policies and regulations which apply to undergraduate, graduate and diploma
programs.