Political, Social, Economic, and TechnologicalFactors of Innovation

100AD, Roman EmpireProblems Opportunities

Political DictatorshipSlow decline

PeaceCommon lawsLocal controlMilitary hierarchy

Economic Wealth disparityGDP/person 60%

higher in Italia

GDP/person = $640 Coinage

Social Tiny elite over allSlaveryClass-based justiceSexismPolytheism

Common LanguageTravelUrbanizationLiteracyReligious tolerance

Technological Little manufacturing roads, water, sewage, fire protection, mining, agriculture, writing, ships

1500, Europe

Problems Opportunities

Political Ottoman Empire controls Middle East and Mediterranean

Religious Wars

Rise of the WestProtestantism

Economic Need for Gold and SilverLand controlled by state,

church, aristocracy

Growth of cities and economy

End of Black PlagueSocial Stratified Society

Peasant RevoltsTowns growingTaste for Asian goods

Technological Defense of citiesPlague

CopernicusCelestial NavigationLeonardo da VinciPrintingSailing: caravel, tackingGunpowder

1750, Atlantic Ocean

Problems Opportunities

Political Seven Years’ War Extensive ColonizationDecline of Ottomans

Rise of 1st British Empire

Economic Lack of people in AmericaLack of land and raw

material in EuropeLack of technology in Africa

Beginning of industrial revolution

Social Population pressure in Europe

Agriculture still dominant

Technological Few mechanical aids Sailing shipsNew cropsAnimal husbandrySteam PowerMechanical Devices

1850, US

Problems Opportunities

Political North/South Tension Land Grants

Economic Access to hinterland Industrial Revolution Increasing trade and specialization.

Social Many farmers everywhere

California Gold Rush Westward expansion

Technological Access to coal and raw materials

Bessemer process for SteelTelegraphSteam power

1900, US

Problems Opportunities

Political Gilded AgeSix Assassinations

Start of Progressive Era

Economic Farmers resent gold standard

Financial panics

Significant GDP growthOil cheaper than electricityUnemployment between

1.5% and 5.2%Social Bad working

conditionsStrikes

Coast-to-coast settlementSilent MoviesIncreasing travel

Technological Fires Oil-based heat and lightRadioKodakWright brothers fly1st cross-country car tripMass productionEuropean leadership

1945, US

Problems Opportunities

Political World War II National UnityCentralized Government

PlanningEconomic Increasing Debt

Potential unemployment

War mobilizationPostwar consumer boomGovernment tech investment

Big businessSocial Housing shortage Baby Boom

University researchGI Bill scholarships

Technological Encrypted radio communication

Air WarfareAtom Bomb Design

ElectronicsTransistorvon Neumann’s EDVAC

design

Now, USProblems Opportunities

Political Liberal/Conservative Split

Terrorism ThreatMoney in Politics

MilitarizationTransparency

Economic UnemploymentGovernment deficitsUnequal wealth

Stimulus moneyMulti-MillionairesGreen EnergyVenture Capital

Social End of DatingLow FertilityHousingPolarizationIsolation

Retiring Baby BoomersRise of MillennialsMobilityTwo income families

Technological Weather Events InternetMobile Phones, SensorsBiotechFracking

Now, Africa

Problems Opportunities

Political Colonial legacyBorder wars

Growing stable democracies

Arab SpringEconomic Government deficits

UnemploymentCorruption

Natural resourcesEmerging middleclassTourism

Social Poor educationDisease

Youth/Birth RateArt

Technological TransportEnergy

InternetMobile Phones, SensorsNo legacy systems