Social Impact Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Social Impact Paper - Essay Example Many such technologies may lay claim to having been the key milestones in this path of human development. These claims are validated by the impact they have had on human beings and the changes in societal patterns that have resulted from such technological inventions and discoveries. The invention of the wheel is often considered as that which has had the greatest impact on human progress (1). In the same line of thought then the invention of the internal combustion engine has a strong impact on the sped and direction of human progress since its invention, not so long ago in the history of human progress. The impact of the internal combustion engine on human progress has been on a broad. Within the limits of this paper it is not possible to deal with every aspect of social impact that the invention of the internal combustion has. Therefore, this paper limits itself to evaluating the social impact of the gas powered internal combustion engine from the limited perspective of contribution to human progress in overland transportation, with particular emphasis on automobiles and the manner in which it has impacted on society. History The basic technology involved in the internal combustion engine can be truly said to be derived from the gunpowder engine developed in the seventeenth century. Two centuries were to elapse before the technology involved in the gunpowder engine could be harnessed into the internal combustion engine. ... Though passenger cars were developed using steam engine, the best use of steam engines was seen in the engines developed for hauling the locomotives of the train. The deficiencies of large engine size and lower efficiency made the steam engines unsuitable for widespread use in passenger vehicles. By the second half of the nineteenth century the search was on for a more efficient engine (2) Technological advances occur in what appears to be a predetermined sequence, one setting the ground for the other, and when the right idea is seeded into this advance of technology, further advances are made (3). The fundamental idea of the internal combustion engine gas was conceived through the principles contained in the gunpowder engine and the steam engine. The reason for the idea progressing to reality was finding the ideal fuel for the internal combustion engine. In the nineteenth century the availability of coal gas and petroleum removed this barrier to progress in the development of the ga s powered internal combustion engine (2). The high energy fuel of petroleum in a mixture with air on ignition produces a rapid and powerful explosion. From 1860 to1880 the means for harnessing the energy of these explosions to power an internal combustion was under active experimentation and the results were soon forthcoming. Most of these experiments were in Germany and not surprisingly the early results sprang from Germany. Two sets of pioneers of the internal combustion engine using petroleum products emerged in the form of Daimler and Maybach on one side and Karl Benz on the other side. While Daimler and Maybach delivered early initial results of an internal combustion engine that could be used on two-wheelers, Karl

The Middle Ages and the Renaissance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Middle Ages and the Renaissance - Essay Example Religion was a vital cultural feature at the time. Religion influenced the cultural and social values in a society. Furthermore, religion influenced governance since religious leaders advised leaders. As such, religion was a fundamental cultural tenet in the early societies. The role of women in religion safeguarded the position of nuns thereby safeguarding some of the fundamental principles of faith. Additionally, Herrad of Landsberg portrayed the role of women in enhancing the growth of knowledge and safeguarding the position of women in the society. She used arts to show the ability of women to learn and take part in arts. By authoring the Hortus deliciarum, a pictoral encyclopedia she sought to enhance the spread of knowledge besides proving the ability of women to take part in arts. The encyclopedia comprised of paintings and poems that helped grow both arts and the enlightenment of women. Her works were among the earliest forms of feminist movements. Lavinia Fontana was among the earliest female artists in Italy. She was the daughter of a painter a feature that influenced her involvement in the art. Painted in 1576, Christ with the Symbols of the Passion is one of her works. Louise Élisabeth Vigà ©e Le Brun on the other hand was one of the most renowned female painters in Northern Europe in the 18th century. She created several works including Portrait of Princess Alexandra Golitsyna and her son Piotr in 1794. The two women had numerous similarities and differences all of which influenced their works and participation in the various forms of arts. Key among the similarities was the fact that they were both daughters of painters (McGuire 55). They therefore inherited the art from their fathers. Their involvement in the art was in a bid to foster the growth of their respective family business. However, the two women lived in different times and locations thereby creating unique works that