Context in History
Eight moments in the history of technology that illuminate how new tools reshape society, power, and perception — from the printing press to social media.
The Printing Press and the Reconfiguration of Knowledge
How Gutenberg's printing press transformed who could produce, distribute, and control knowledge — and the political upheavals that followed.
The Telegraph and the Re-Wiring of Empire and Colony
How the telegraph enabled new forms of imperial control, collapsing distance while reinforcing colonial power structures.
Photography and the Framing of the Orient
How photography became a tool for constructing and reinforcing Orientalist narratives, shaping Western perceptions of the Middle East.
The Automobile and the Remaking of Social Space
How the automobile reshaped cities, suburbs, and social life — creating new forms of freedom and inequality simultaneously.
Radio and the Broadcast of National Identity
How radio created shared national consciousness while becoming a powerful tool for propaganda and political control.
Television and the Visual Construction of Reality
How television transformed public perception by making the visual the dominant mode of understanding reality and truth.
The Internet and the Promise of Digital Democracy
How the internet's utopian promise of open, democratic communication gave way to platform monopolies and surveillance capitalism.
Social Media and the Attention Economy
How social media platforms monetized human attention, creating algorithmic feedback loops that shape behavior, belief, and public discourse.