Lecture 10

Question 1

What advancements did Richard Trevithick contribute to steam engine technology?

Answer 1

• Invented high-pressure steam engine
• Created the Puffing Devil road vehicle
• Developed the Penydarren locomotive
• Designed the Catch Me Who Can locomotive

Question 2

Why did Richard Trevithick die in poverty despite this innovations?

Answer 2

• He faced resistance from prominent figures like James Watt, who opposed high-pressure steam engines, and laws targeting such technologies
• Trevithick lacked the social networks and resources to commercialize his inventions effectively

Question 3

How did the railroads contribute to globalization in the 19th century?

Answer 3

Combined with steamships, railroads created the first global transportation network, reducing travel times significantly, facilitating trade, and connecting distant regions

Question 4

What role did civil engineering play in the industrial revolution?

Answer 4

The era marked a shift from self-taught inventors to professional civil engineers like Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who revolutionized ship design (ex. Great Britain) and public infrastructure

Question 5

What was the significance of the Crystal Palace?

Answer 5

Designed by Joseph Paxton for the 1851 Great Exhibition, it showcased the fruits of the Industrial Revolution, integrating arts and industries to address social problems and overpopulation

Question 6

How did the Great Exhibition of 1851 impact resource exploration?

Answer 6

The Catalogue of the Great Exhibition served as a system for locating global natural resources, aiding Britain’s industrial expansion, aiding Britain’s industrial expansion

Question 7

How did technological advancements in the 19th century empower women?

Answer 7

Innovations like the Singer sewing machines provided women with opportunities for financial independence, making a shift in gender dynamics

Question 8

What role did photography play during the industrial revolution?

Answer 8

For the first time, industrial and transportation innovations were documented photographically , pursuing visual records of this transformative era

Question 9

How did societal views on technology and progress evolve by the mid-19th century?

Answer 9

Public support for technological positivism grew, with increasing faith in engineering and technology as solutions to societal and economic challenges

Question 10

Who were Alice Perry and Mary Fergusson and why are they significant?

Answer 10

• Alice Perry: First woman in Europe awarded a degree in Civil Engineering
• Mary Furgession: First woman admitted to Britain’s Institution of Civil Engineers
• They challenged Newton’s legacy of excluding women from scientific fields