In this chapter Richard Bulliet gives us an initial question comparing pre-capitalist technology to the theory of capitalism in itself. Essentially what he’s trying to prove, is that economy is not the only driving force of technological change. By doing this, he gives us several examples of such technology and elaborates on each by discussing each example’s role in the unfolding of history. He makes an example of block printing, camels, and wheeled transportation. When one thinks of each of these technologies, you can’t help but think of how far each have come from their perspective beginnings. He describes these beginnings an how societies were affected by each of the technologies he lists. Bulliet makes the argument that without each of these technologies, our societies would not be the same as they are today. I for one entirely agree with the argument. What would happen without the wheel, or the domesticated animal, or even the evolution of printing? In the chapter, Bulliet essentially tells us that we as a society need technology to make history. without a printing press, we wouldn’t be able to even document it much less talk about it now. I liked this chapter in that its was easy to understand because he analyzed most of his points for his audience so it was easy to comprehend. Bulliet’s take on social change through technology is entirely feasible and makes sense.
Determinism and Pre-Industrial Technology
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