9.7 Technology and Society

Technology Transforms Daily Life

After 1945, consumer technology reshaped European society: televisions, automobiles, household appliances, and later computers and the internet spread widely, especially during the postwar economic boom. These innovations raised standards of living and created a consumer culture, though access varied between Western and Eastern Europe due to differing economic systems.

Science, Medicine, and Space

Advances in medicine (vaccines, antibiotics, organ transplants) extended life expectancy and improved public health. The Space Race between the US and USSR, symbolized by Sputnik (1957) and the Apollo missions, showcased Cold War rivalry through technological achievement and spurred investment in scientific research and education across Europe.

Technology's Double-Edged Sword

Nuclear technology brought both energy production and the terrifying threat of nuclear war, fueling anxiety and antinuclear movements. Industrial and technological growth also caused environmental degradation, prompting the rise of environmentalism and green political parties by the late 20th century, as Europeans grappled with technology's costs and benefits.

Key terms

Sputnik (1957)

First artificial satellite, launched by the USSR; sparked the Cold War Space Race with the US.

Consumer culture

Postwar rise of mass consumption of goods like TVs, cars, and appliances, fueled by economic growth.

Environmentalism

Late 20th-century movement responding to pollution and technological/industrial harm to the environment.

Nuclear anxiety

Widespread Cold War fear of nuclear war and radioactive fallout, prompting antinuclear protests.

Medical advances

Vaccines, antibiotics, and organ transplants that improved public health and increased life expectancy after 1945.

Try an AP-style question

The internet and digital technology have transformed European…

1. medieval guild systems
2. royal succession
3. communication, work, and commerce
4. feudal land ownership