Lecture 8

Question 1

Why did early timekeeping technologies emerge?

Answer 1

They were driven by external factors like religion (monks needed precise times for prayers) and climate change during the Little Ice Age, which made water clocks unreliable

Question 2

What is the significance of the escapement mechanism and who developed it?

Answer 2

Developed by Richard of Wallingford, the escapement mechanism improved the accuracy of clocks by regulating their movement, symbolizing the shift to viewing the universe as a machine

Question 3

How did clicks reflect changes in societal perspectives?

Answer 3

Early clocks symbolized the mechanical philosophy, portraying the cosmos as a machine and God as a ‘supreme watchmaker”

Question 4

What was the Longitude Prize of 1714, and why was it important?

Answer 4

• A 20,000 pound (currency) prize was offered for a clock accurate enough tio determine longitude at sea
• John Harrison’s H5 clock was the most accurate mechanical watch until 1974

Question 5

Why were John Harrison’s clocks significant and when were they rediscovered?

Answer 5

• His designs solved the problem of maritime timekeeping.
• They were rediscovered in 1927 at Greenwich by Rupert Gould

Question 6

How did the Swiss dominate the watch industry and what led to their decline?

Answer 6

• From 1903 to 1968, Swiss watches were the best and most affordable due to mass production.
• Their refusal to adopt quartz technology allowed Japan (seiko) to surpass them in production by 1969

Question 7

What was the significance of Seiko’s quartz watch in 1968?

Answer 7

Quartz technology was 10 times more accurate than mechanical watches, revolutionizing the watch industry and marking a technological shift from mechanical to electronic timekeeping

Question 8

What is ‘mechanical philosophy’ and how is it connected to clocks?

Answer 8

A worldview that compares the universe to a machine, suggesting prediction and predictability with early clocks symbolizing this perspective

Question 9

Why was the 1300’s an important turning point in timekeeping technology?

Answer 9

The need for more precise timekeeping arose due to changing religious practices and the Little Ice Age, leading to innovations like the escapement mechanism and more reliable clocks

Question 10

How did technological and cultural shifts affect the perception of time?

Answer 10

Timekeeping evolved from natural indicators like sundials to highly precise mechanical clocks, reflecting a shift from nature-based to machine-based views of time and the cosmos