Logo

Science and Technology in the Modern Age

Code: 103985
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Archaeology OP 4
History OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Maria Antonia Marti Escayol
Email :
mariaantonia.marti@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Maria Antonia Marti Escayol

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

None

Objectives

On completing this subject, students will be able to: interpret and understand the issues involved in science history and use technical and documentation tools to understand science. The purpose of this subject is a) provide an in-depth overview of science and technology during Early Modern times, and b) offer an essential perspective to contextualize and understand the events of the entire history of mankind.

 

Learning outcomes

  1. Identifying the specific methods of History and its relationship with the analysis of particular facts.
  2. Identifying the context of the historical processes.
  3. Using the specific interpretational and technical vocabulary of the discipline.
  4. Interpreting material sources and the archaeological record.
  5. Mastering the diachronic structure of the past.
  6. Using specialized knowledge acquired in an interdisciplinary context when debating.
  7. Interpreting and analysing documentary sources.
  8. Identifying the specific methods of history and their relationship with the analysis of particular facts.
  9. Using the specific technical and interpretational vocabulary of the discipline.
  10. Interpreting material and documentary sources.

Contents

Recent historiographical trends


Periodisation


Revolutions and continuities. Astronomy, medicine, natural sciences, alchemy, chemistry, physics.


Scientifics utopias and Science Fiction. 


Documentation and technical tools

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Exercices 10 0.4 1, 2, 8
Seminars, visits and presentations 10 0.4 6
tutorials 30 1.2 1, 2, 8
Personal study 48 1.92 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Research and reading. Preparation of exercices 30 1.2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
tutorials 10 0.4

To achieve the established objectives, this subject involves both lectures and practical classes.

- Students must keep abreast of the news and information published on the Virtual Campus / Moodle.

- All activity deadlines are indicated in the subject's schedule and must be strictly adhered to.

- The work students carry out mainly consists of lectures, reading assignments and exercises to be performed in class

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Exam II 30% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10
Essays and other activities 30% 7.5 0.3 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10
Exam I 30% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10
Attendance and active monitoring 10% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Continuous Assessment:

- Written Exam 1 on course content: 30%

- Written Exam 2 on course content: 30%

- In-class questions on specific readings: 30%

-Participation and active monitoring (debates, forums, etc.): 10%


Assessment is continuous. Students must provide evidence of their progress by completing tasks and tests.

At the time of completion/delivery of each assessment activity, the teacher will inform (Moodle, SIA) of the procedure and date of revision of the grades.

The schedule of the assessment tests cannot be modified (except in justified exceptional cases).

Erasmus students who request to bring an exam forward must present the teacher with a written document from their home university justifying their request.

Classification as \"not assessable\": The student will be classified as Non-evaluable when he has not delivered more than 30% of the evaluation activities.

Retake: will be made on the dates specified by the faculty; will not be to improve grade; the maximum rating is 5.0. To participate in the process you must have obtained a final minimum grade of 3.5.

This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI wil be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

To participate in the retake, students must have previously been evaluated in a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to a minimum of 2/3 of the total grade (continued evaluation) or submit all the tests provided (Unique Assessment).


Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unlessthey have submitted more than 30% of the assessment items.


Assessment dates can’t be changed unless there’s an exceptional and well-justified reason. If a student has a documented chronic or acute illness, they can request to postpone the assessment, if it fits within the academic calendar. These requests must be submitted at least seven days in advance and include the required documentation. If the reason is an unexpected situation considered force majeure, the regulations allow the request to be submitted after the scheduled date, provided the documentation is delivered within three working days. This includes situations such as the birth or adoption of a child, or the death of a partner or a close relative (up to second degree). In cases of illness or other circumstances, the documentation must clearly show that the student was not in a condition to take the assessment at the scheduled time. Teaching staff may also use their discretion to consider other circumstances not explicitly listed above.


Law 3/2022, of February 24, on University Coexistence, includes among the serious offenses (Art. 12.e) the improper use of content or reproduction and recording media of university activities subject to intellectual property rights. The sessions and their contents are protected by intellectual property and data protection regulations. Recording, reproducing, or sharing classes or participants' contributions is not permitted without prior authorization. Any recording must be expressly authorized.


This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.



Erasmus

Erasmus students who need to leave before the scheduled assessment dates must provide an official document from their home university, addressed to the Degree Exchange Coordinator, confirming a calendar conflict (an overlap with academic activities at their home institution).


Single Assessment:


- Written Exam 1 on course content: 40%

- Written Exam 2 on course content: 40%

- In-class questions on specific readings: 20%


The same assessment method as continuous assessment will be used.


Misconduct in assessment activities: In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will begiven a zero as the final grade for this subject.

In the written activities, spelling, syntactic or lexical errors are taken into account. The penalty can be between 0.1-0.2 points on the final grade for each mistake made. Repeated errors can discount.


Intercambio

Erasmus and exchange students who request to advance an exam must present a document from their home university justifying their request.



Bibliography

 

BERNAL, John D. (1973) Historia social de la ciencia Edició 3ª ed. Península. Barcelona. (1ª ed. 1954).

BOWLER, Peter J.; MORUS, Iwan Rhys (2007), Panorama general de la ciencia moderna. Crítica. Barcelona.

DEBUS, Allen G. (1985) Hombre y naturaleza en el Renacimiento. Fondo de Cultura Económica. México (1ª ed. 1978).

FARA, Patricia (2009) Breve historia de la ciencia. Ariel. Barcelona

GARBER, Daniel i AYERS, Michael (eds.) (2008). The Cambridge History of Seventeenth-Century Philosophy. Cambridge University Press.

HENRY, John (2002). The Scientific Revolution and the Origins of Modern Science. Palgrave. New York.

KUHN, Thomas S. (1962) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago University Press. Chicago.

OLBY, G.N. CANTOR, J.R.R. CHRISTIE, M.J.S. HODGE (eds.) (1990) Companion to the History of Modern Science. Routletge. Londres.

OSLER, Margaret J. (ed.) (2000) Rethinking the Scientific Revolution. Cambridge University Press.

PESTRE, Dominique (2008) Ciència, diners i política: assaig d'interpretació Obrador Edèndum. Santa Coloma de Queralt.

ROSSI, Paolo (1998) El nacimiento de la ciencia modernaen Europa. Crítica. Barcelona.

SOLIS, Carlos; SELLÉS, Manuel (2005) Historia de la Ciencia. Espasa. Madrid.

WESTFALL, Richard S. (1977). The Construction of Modern Science. Cambridge

Software

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed