Science fiction never ceases to amaze me as I take great enjoyment in exploring these creative universes. I have always had a great interest in military science fiction for its take on technological innovation and critical analysis. Military science fiction in general is very speculative about future of technology and warfare. The military science fiction genre also serves as a critique of contemporary politics as it deals with many of the same issues that go on today. This has made military science fiction one if the most well respected genres of science fiction for it ability to indirectly criticize modern society. My Integrated Project explores the relationship between how technology that has arisen from war has been some of the most innovative and why war has become an unshakeable aspect of human existence.
It seems since that dawn of the era of man we have always been in competition with one another. We have fought countless wars over every issue imaginable, with many great civilizations being founded and destroyed by war. Though with each new conflict comes newer and better technology. Technology is what drives civilizations forward, but it can also lead to its downfall. It is fascinating see how much technology has evolved over history, and how we have incorporated these innovations into newer technology. In past century technology has seen its greatest leap forward. This is in large part due to the two major World Wars that plagued the early part of the 20th century. (Koch p.122)
One thing that I looked at for inspiration for my project was the not only the technology produce in recent memory, I also looked at the innovations of one of the greatest empires to have ever existed –the Roman Empire-. I took heavy influenc...
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...: Texere, 2001. Print.
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Koch, Richard. The Third Revolution. Oxford: Capstone Limited, 1998. Print.
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Advancements in technology and science contributed to one of the most gory and bloodiest wars in the annals of human existence. These new technological advancements revolutionized how people regarded war. War was no longer where the opposite forces fought in a coordinated battle. War evolved into a game of cunning strategy where the side with the bigger, more powerful, and smarter toys played better. This led to a fierce competition where each side tried to create the smarter machines and better weapons, leading to deadly mass killing weapons in the process.
The development and advancement of technology over the generations has had a bizarre affect on not only our everyday lives, but more specifically on our militaries. It has increased the ability of Nations to serve and defend the ones they have sworn to protect. It truly shows how the World War II era gave birth to technologies that affected weaponry, radar, and tactics used to fight a war.
The Romans invented and revolutionised many innovations and technologies. Although, of all of these innovations and technologies, only one has survived unchanged for over 2000 years. Hydraulic cement-based concrete is certainly the most significant ancient Roman innovation that has come to be. Ancient Roman concrete was significant as it was cheap, and allowed the ancient world to build greater infrastructure. This in turn vitally helped revolutionise trade and many regions’ economy. Concrete also allowed long-lasting and important health systems, as well as security systems to be put into place for ancient Rome, revolutionising both health and safety across the ancient world. On top of this, to prove the significance of concrete, it is still
“In July 1945, the first atomic bomb was tested in New Mexico and the next month the second and third weapons off the production line were dropped on Japan. Since then no nuclear weapons have been used in anger, although tens of thousands have been accumulated by the major powers and their destructiveness and sophistication increased immensely.” The nature of warfare is constant and evolved from multiple factors and military revolutions over time. The purpose of this paper is to identify the most important military revolution in history and highlight its effects that permeate modern day society. The proliferation of nuclear weapons is the most significant military revolution that led to the greatest changes in warfare, which include the immergence of new threats such as non-state actors, the shift from total war to low intensity conflict, and the importance of technology and innovation. This military revolution completely shattered existing paradigms of warfare due to the real threat of nuclear weapons’ total destruction of humanity.
Fifty years ago, on January 17, 1961 President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his farewell address to the nation. He talked about the dangers of deficit spending and of future planning. But, the main point that Eisenhower made that caused his farewell address to become famous was his valid concern and warning of the military-industry complex and it’s ability to destroy our security and liberty. Based on research and past events Eisenhower was correct in doing so because of America’s need for success and their ability to pay any cost to do so.
In ancient Rome, architecture and engineering were highly regarded. It contributed much to Rome’s development, power, as well as the longevity of such an immense and substantial empire. Architecture displayed an immense amount of workmanship as well as innovation. This is seen through Rome engineers as they created the concept of concrete, constructed the famous Roman aqueducts, and the luxurious Roman baths. Roman’s were clearly superior engineers compared to their competitors because Roman engineers developed new and innovative concepts that were never introduced before, therefore contributing to the success of the Roman Empire.
The ancient Romans were skilled engineers and have left lasting contributions in this field. The Romans built a great network of roads connecting cities throughout their empire. They also built aqueducts and bridges using arches for support. The Roman arch design was by far the most important innovation of their time. The arch, however, would have been useless without the discovery of concrete. The Romans had many other such discoveries that would make their engineering skills known throughout the world.
The World Wars were a great development process for the progressivism of countries. The Wars molded how countries interact together, their financial and economic status, and which countries have the most impact over the modern world. Because of the technological advancements during time of war, the world has changed significantly. While World War I and World War II both advanced in military technology, World War I did so through small advancements while World War II advanced with quicker and larger ways. Technology flourished largely through small advancements in World War I, quicker and larger in World War II, and to end the World Wars, technology progressed the greatest with the first atomic bomb. Through times of war came great innovation.
“Ever since World War I, superior force is no longer measured in terms of men or horses, but in the means to wreak destruction.” Professor Saul David sums up how greatly warfare changed due to the technological advancements during World War I. Throughout the ages, new technology has defined how complex and gruesome war is. Advances in warfare created deadly, yet supportive items including, the rise of chemical war, airplanes, and the use of beneficial technology.
Science Fiction as a literary genre has historically fused the mythology of the past with the scientific advancements of the future, creating a world that is both comfortable and frightening. The love affair of the hybridity of myth and science is elegantly displayed in Nnedi Okorafor’s “The Book of the Phoenix” as a young woman struggles to reconcile her veiled past with the uncertain future created by her technologically enhanced birth. The elements of the story are purposefully selected to highlight the interconnectivity of technological advances and evolving cultures, as the protagonist struggles to discover her origins and destiny. Okorafor expertly utilizes science fiction as a genre, Africa as a setting, and Phoenix as a female character
Although both Roman and Greek civilizations shared similarities in the areas of art and literature, their differences were many and prominent. Their contrasting aspects rest mainly upon political systems and engineering progress, but there are also several small discrepancies that distinguish between these two societies. This essay will examine these differences and explain why, ultimately, Rome was the more advanced civilization of the two.
When watching the film, Star Wars, it is impossible not to be aware of the technology that is represented in the film, partly because it is so much more advanced than our own is now, but also because we can imagine how we might someday acquire such technology. The central theme in Star Wars is good versus evil, clearly demonstrated by the technology in the film. While the Rebels (the good guys) use technology primarily to fight for freedom and quality of life for all, the Empire (the bad guys) use technology to develop weapons of destruction and war in an attempt to rule the galaxy. In addition to these two opposing sides, there is another group that doesn’t use technology for war. This group gets technology as it filters down from the other two groups at war. Consequently, in the film technology is used for good, for bad, and for everyday use. This mirrors our own society in many ways, and therefore, Star Wars is a great artifact to study to get a better understanding of our own technological advancements. In this report, we focus specifically on how the Empire, the Rebels, and the Non-Warring people of the film acquired, developed, and used technology and how that relates to our society today.
But all this had come at a price. The competitive vitality of this emerging civilization, harnessed by the ambitions of its kings, had created near-perpetual conflict between the emerging states of the Continent—conflicts which in later centuries spread to the colonial empires of some of Europe’s major powers. Moreover, in later centuries, technological advances accelerated the lethal effects of these conflicts—to the point where in the closing century of the millennium the very existence of the human race came under threat from this weaponry.
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