The document summarizes the history of science and technology in the Indian subcontinent from prehistoric times through British colonial rule and post-independence. It then divides the history of technology into nine distinct periods from the Paleolithic Age to the present Information Age. For each period, it provides the time period, impacts on history, examples of artifacts from that era, and some examples of engineering design achievements.

1. IN INDIAN SUB - CONTENENT

2.  The history of science and technology in the Indian
Subcontinent begins with prehistoric human activity at Mehrgarh, in
present-day Pakistan, and continues through the Indus Valley
Civilization to early states and empires. The British colonial
rule introduced some elements of western education in India.
Following independence science and technology in the Republic of
India has included automobile engineering, information technology,
communications as well as space, polar, and nuclear sciences.

3.  The History of Technology can be divided into nine
distinct periods of time –
Paleolithic Age The Middle Ages
The Renaissance
Industrial Age
The Information Age
Mesolithic Age
Neolithic Age
Bronze Age
Iron Age

4. The Old Stone Age or in Greek (palaios – “old”) and (lithos –
“stone”)
Time Period: 500,000 BC – 10,000 BC
Impacts on history:
Improved diet and enhanced
security enabled early humans
to increase the population.
Artifacts:
Stone axes, bone needles, hearth sites

5. The Middle Stone Age or in Greek (mesos – “middle”) and (lithos –
“stone”)
Time Period: 10,000 BC – 4,000 BC
Impacts on history:
The gradual domestication of animals
and agriculture led to settled
communities.
Artifacts:
Leatherwork, fishing tackle, stone circles

6. The New Stone Age or in Greek (néos – “new”) and (líthos –
“stone”)
Time Period: 4,000 BC – 2,300 BC
Impacts on history:
Dependable year-round food supply
enables division of labor and
specialization that spurs invention.
Artifacts:
Spinning/weaving tools, stone plows, sickles

7. Examples of Engineering Design during the Neolithic Age:
Mesopotamian engineers used clay
tablets to document irrigation systems.
Babylonian engineers used
mathematical concepts such as
algebra for land excavation
calculations.
Egyptian engineers built
the pyramids.

8. Impacts on history:
High Middle Ages – the beginning of feudalism, population
increase, and agricultural innovation
Late Middle Ages – famine, plague and war, often marked by
the Black Death,
which killed approximately one-third
of the population
Artifacts:
Improved harness for horses, cast iron,
cannons, mechanical clocks, compass

9. Examples of Engineering Design during the Middle Ages:
Technology, like the windmill,
produced mechanical labor.
The printing press was used
to share information and
knowledge.
The word “engineer” began to
appear as “ingenerate” or to
design or devise.

10. Impacts on history:
Economic expansion created the
rise of professionals, population
expansion, and improved standard
of living.
Artifacts:
Electricity, automobile, airplane,
radio, television, telephone, rocket

11. Examples of Engineering Design during the Industrial Age:
James Watt refines the steam
engine for practical use.
Alessandro Volta discovers the
principles for a battery.
Pieter van Musschenbroek creates
the forerunner of the capacitor.
Henry Ford creates the concept
of the modern assembly line.

12. The architectural period marked by information sharing, gathering,
manipulation, and retrieval.
Time Period: 1950 AD - Present
Impacts on history:
As information becomes more
widely available, increasing numbers
of people will be empowered.
Artifacts:
Integrated circuit, computer, nuclear power, digital camera