Not all technology enhances tradition in a creative method; technology also can help facilitate political oppression and war by way of instruments such as weapons. As a cultural exercise, technology predates both science and engineering, every of which formalize some aspects of technological endeavor. For description of the materials which are each the item and technique of manipulating the environment, see elastomers; industrial ceramics; industrial glass; metallurgy; mineral deposit; mineral processing; mining; plastic. For the generation of energy, see energy conversion; coal mining; coal utilization; petroleum manufacturing; petroleum refining. For the strategies of building technology, see bridge; constructing development; canals…