Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ιστορία και Φιλοσοφία των Επιστημών και της ΤεχνολογίαςLibrary of the School of Science
Supervisors info:
Τύμπας Αριστοτέλης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Φιλοσοφίας της Επιστήμης, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Αραμπατζής Θεόδωρος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Φιλοσοφίας της Επιστήμης, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Αραποστάθης Ευστάθιος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Φιλοσοφίας της Επιστήμης, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Original Title:
Τεχνολογία και κοινωνία: Από τον αντλητικό ανεμόμυλο στην εκμηχανισμένη άρδευση στο οροπέδιο Λασιθίου
Translated title:
Technology and society: From the windmill to mechanized irrigation on the Lasithi plateau
Summary:
Since the beginning of the 20th century, on the island of Crete, at an isolated place of the Lasithi plateau, a unique technological phenomenon emerged: the windmill pump. The uniqueness of this windmill has historically been shaped in consequence of the skills of the local craftsmen and farmers who utilised the available materials, found in the nearby area, to build a technology that is well suited to the local particularities and in full harmony with local environmental conditions. The aforementioned case study is one of the many examples through which the social role in the construction of technology can be revealed, along with its relation to the technical characteristics of the artifacts.
The purpose of this thesis is to study the relationship between the techniques and the social factors that surrounded this artifact and led to its development and eventually its replacement. Its appearance, diffusion and transition are processes and results of many factors, that interact with each other and must be examined within this particular social context. The thesis is divided into two main periods, namely before and after World War II.
The first chapter, instead of an introduction, refers to the basic concepts of the history of technology, the critical considerations and methodological approaches proposed by the field of science and technology studies (STS). Then, a brief reference follows, with regards to the social characteristics of the agricultural community of the Lasithi plateau as well as a technical description of the artifact for a better understanding of its function. Finally, a description of the day-to-day-work takes place, that is required for the windmill irrigation.
The second chapter discusses the first period of development and diffusion of the windmill pump, the emergence of the first wooden windmill at the end of the 19th century, the transition from wood to metal and the rapid increase in the number of windmills, up to the beginning of World War II.
The third chapter concerns the post-war period and the introduction of motorized internal combustion pumps for the irrigation of crops. This period is characterized by technological controversies that have led to the replacement of windmills, as a result of specific social factors.
Main subject category:
Science
Other subject categories:
History
Keywords:
history of technology, science, technology and society, technological transitions, windmill pump, mechanized irrigation, lasithi plateau
