Advances in Technology and Exchange

Essential Question

Technological advances have significantly impacted population growth and globalization.
New technologies in communication and transportation have made the world feel smaller.

Early 1900s: Radio introduced, bringing news, music, and cultural events to many.
Late 20th Century: Air travel and shipping containers revolutionized movement of people and goods.
Internet: Developed for U.S. defense during the Cold War, became public in the late 1990s.
- Enabled the rise of knowledge economies.
- Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) allowed for instant media access and civic engagement (e.g., Arab Spring).
Mobile Technology: Cell phones and later smartphones empowered individuals globally.

Mid-20th Century: Response to hunger through new crop varieties (e.g., wheat, rice) with higher yields and pest resistance.
Techniques:
- Cross-breeding and genetic engineering.
- Increased irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides use.
Challenges:
- Economic strain on small farmers.
- Environmental damage due to chemical use.
- Concerns over genetic modifications affecting ecosystems.

1900s: Coal, petroleum, and natural gas became primary energy sources.
Nuclear Power: Clean energy but with risks (e.g., radiation leaks, hazardous waste).
Renewable Resources: Wind and solar power growing but still small percentage of global energy.
Environmental Concerns: Fossil fuels causing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Antibiotics: Penicillin discovered in 1928, transformative in bacterial infection treatment.
- Concern over antibiotic resistance.
Birth Control: Pill developed in the 1950s, approved in 1960.
- Impact on fertility rates and gender roles.
Vaccines:
- Post-1900 advancements led to vaccines against polio, measles, etc., saving millions of lives.

Technological developments since 1900 continue to shape society and the global environment.
Technologies have offered solutions but also introduced new challenges.