History Main / TechnologyUplift

* In the ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'' universe, there are two prominent examples; Bennett and Klovia. Both are industrialized worlds, but neither has access to space travel or nuclear energy. Bennett becomes the Navy Yard of the Galactic Patrol in Virgil Samms' time, while Klovia performs the same function when the Patrol extends its influence permanently into the Second Galaxy.
** Velantia is a third example, with influences from both the Galactic Patrol and its neighbouring planet of Delgon. However, the Delgonian influence is entirely malign, the Delgonians accelerating the Velantians to intra-system space-faring status so that they can travel to Delgon to be [[spoiler: tortured to death and have their ebbing life-force consumed.]] Subverted in-universe in that by the time the Patrol and the Velantians make (accidental) contact and common cause, a sublight generation ship was already on its way to Patrol space to seek help.
* Creator/DavidBrin's ''Literature/{{Uplift}}'' series is the TropeNamer as with UpliftedAnimal. There every sophont species in the known universe, with the possible exception of humanity, was both culturally and biologically uplifted by another species.

* The Kzin of Creator/LarryNiven's ''Literature/KnownSpace'' universe were bootstrapped by another species to serve as mercenaries. Unfortunately, they then turned on and enslaved their patrons.
* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' the Yeerks were given advanced technology by an Andalite named Seerow, whom the Andalites then named their AlienNonInterferenceClause after when the Yeerks used their new tech to conquer and enslave other species.
* Deconstructed in the Strugatsky Brothers' Noon Universe, where this practice is called Progressorism. The authors explore everything necessary to transform a pre-modern society into a futuristic one, and ''social'' uplift receives much more attention than giving fancy gadgets. The later novels explore the question whether this practice is ethical by introducing a mysterious precursor alien race which possibly practices covert Progressorism on humans.
** This practice is deconstructed in Creator/SergeyLukyanenko's ''Literature/TheStarsAreColdToys'' duology, where a HumanAlien race nicknamed the Geometers engage in a more nefarious version. Their ultimate goal is Friendship with all known races. They achieve it with a two-stage process. First, they send in [[AliensAmongUs operatives]] known as Regressors, whose purpose is to do the opposite of this trope and force the native culture to a more primitive state (frequently through war), thus allowing their race to appear from the sky and graciously uplift them, also imposing their cultural views. The protagonist, a human who infiltrates the Geometer society as a ManchurianAgent in order to see if they would make good allies to humans, is repulsed by this practice and resolves himself to avoid this fate for Earth (especially since Earth is already more primitive than they are). It's stated that they have already successfully integrated two alien races, native to their star system, into their culture, which also served to perfect their methods.
* Humans decide to do this for the pequeninos ("piggies") at the end of ''Literature/SpeakerForTheDead,'' and the sequels deal in part with the consequences. It turns out to be an extremely tricky balancing act.

* Creator/MikhailAkhmanov's ''[[Literature/ArrivalsFromTheDark Trevelyan's Mission]]'' series:

* In Creator/HarryHarrison's ''Literature/{{Deathworld}} 2'', interstellar adventurer Jason dinAlt is stranded on a LostColony which has regressed to barbarism. Various bits and pieces of more advanced technology, generally regarded more or less as sorcery, are held as closely guarded secrets by the different clans (one group still knows how to make primitive petroleum-fueled engines, another how to make some crude electrical devices, yet another clan practices alchemy-level chemistry). The hero winds up completely revolutionizing the planet's backwater society solely out a desire to get off that primitive dirtball and back to someplace more civilized. The language issue is avoided as everyone on the planet speaks a (somewhat degraded) version of Esperanto.
** Interestingly, Jason manages to make working engines despite claiming that no one knows how internal combustion engines work anymore.
* In Creator/VernorVinge's ''Literature/AFireUponTheDeep'', two groups on a medieval planet get technological advice, but not physical help, from stranded human children with, respectively, a small computer and an FTL phone, allowing them both to advance significantly. It helps enormously that the child's computer has a full history of technology stored, while the people on the other end of the phone can look up theoretical academic research on bringing technology to lost colonies, which is apparently a minor academic discipline in that galaxy.

* Played with in ''Literature/AlienInASmallTown.'' Earth's first real colleagues in space turn out to be a race of SpaceAmish called the Jan, who are happy enough to share such technology as they use on a regular basis, but that isn't necessarily a lot. Conversely, when their rivals the Arachne show up, they're willing and eager to share anything and everything, but some of it comes with considerable drawbacks.

** This practice is deconstructed in Creator/SergeyLukyanenko's ''Literature/TheStarsAreColdToys'' duology, where a HumanAlien race nicknamed the Geometers engage in a more nefarious version. Their ultimate goal is Friendship with all known races. The achieve it with a two-stage process. First, they send in [[AliensAmongUs operatives]] known as Regressors, whose purpose is to do the opposite of this trope and force the native culture to a more primitive state (frequently through war), thus allowing their race to appear from the sky and graciously uplift them, also imposing their cultural views. The protagonist, a human who infiltrates the Geometer society as a ManchurianAgent in order to see if they would make good allies to humans, is repulsed by this practice and resolves himself to avoid this fate for Earth (especially since Earth is already more primitive than they are). It's stated that they have already successfully integrated two alien races, native to their star system, into their culture, which also served to perfect their methods.

* ''Literature/TalesOfTheMagicLand'': In ''Fire God of the Marrans'' [[MagnificentBastard Urfin Jus]] does this to the eponymous primitive tribe, effectively helping them speedrun the Neolithic Revolution until they not only revere him as a benevolent deity, but become a sufficient force for him to use in his next war with the Magic Land. After he is unmasked and deposed, they keep the tech and ditch some of the social inequality that came with it.

* An interdimensional rather than interplanetary example: the fantasy world in ''LightNovel/TheReunionWithTwelveFascinatingGoddesses'' advances in technology considerably within ten years due to a human who was summoned from Earth with his smartphone on him. The new technologies (which include things like motorbikes and telephones) tend to be {{Magitek}} in nature, being powered by the native spirits instead of petrol or electricity.

* In ''FanFic/{{Fractured}}'', a ''Franchise/MassEffect''[=/=]''Franchise/StarWars''[[spoiler:[=/=]''[=Borderlands=]'']] [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover crossover]] and its sequel ''Fanfic/{{Origins}}'', the Trans-Galactic Republic has an AlienNonInterferenceClause that can be waived aside if the other society agrees to accept help (usually [[MyWayOrTheHighway on the Republic's terms]]). Or if you're a sufficiently clandestine [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections well-connected]] intelligence agency it doesn't matter what the actual rules are...

** Humans may have made it to space on their own, but they received hyperdrive tech from the [[SiliconBasedLife Chenjesu]]. Interestingly, their ServantRace the Androsynch developed the hyperdrive all on their own.

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* [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] in ''Wheels Toward Whatever''. Cromwell is trapped in [[VideoGame/HollowKnight Hallownest]] but had the benefit of coming across the kingdom before [[MysticalPlague the Infection]] destroyed it. He decides to start using his unique sources to enhance the inhabitants of Hallownest further with a combination of both Earth technology and similar effects via the use of Soul. It leads to problems when other factions start noticing the changes he has given to the other bugs thanks to his technology. This soon leads to an all out [[CivilWar civil war]] between the Greenpath nobles and the rest of Hallownest in an attempt to gain this technology for themselves. By the time its all over and the kingdom starts rebuilding from this, Cromwell resigns to himself to limit the advancements of Earth technology he gives to the bugs to prevent a occurrence of this happening again.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'', [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2525 SCP-2525 ("Extraterrestrial Broadcaster").]] SCP-2525-1 (formerly Junior Researcher L____) has said that the aliens that sent SCP-2525 (the rocket-like device) did so to provide plans for advanced technology to humanity, and that they had done so for other primitive races as well.

** Or even not-so-isolated people: many experts believe that one of the key contributors to the Rwandan genocide was the too sudden emergence of mass media in a country that had a huge amount of tension and resentment in a largely uneducated populace, and had not had enough time to work them out peacefully. Website/TheOtherWiki [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide#Media_propaganda details in one part of its article]] how, [[{{Irony}} in the hope that it would promote an informed populace and assist the spread of democracy and human rights]], various international agencies had assisted and encouraged the development of the radio and printing, but didn't realise until it was too late that the people who got control of Rwanda's nascent free press were actually using it to encourage genocide. Almost the entire staff of the state radio network Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), from the managers and directors down to their ShockJock hosts, wound up convicted or accused of crimes against humanity for their role in assisting the ''génocidaires'' and doxxing their targets, as were the publishers of ''Kangura'' magazine.

* [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] in ''Wheels Toward Whatever''. Cromwell is trapped in [[VideoGame/HollowKnight Hallownest]] but had the benefit of coming across the kingdom before things went bad. As a result, he decides to start using his unique sources to enhance the inhabitants of Hallownest further with a combination of both Earth technology and similar effects with the use of Soul. But it leads to problems when other factions start noticing the changes he has given to the other bugs thanks to his technology. Eventually, this leads to an all out [[CivilWar civil war]] between the Greenpath Nobles and the rest of Hallownest in an attempt to gain this technology for themselves. By the time its all over and the kingdom starts rebuilding from this, Cromwell resigns to himself to limit the advancements of Earth technology he gives to the bugs to prevent a ocurrence of this happening again.

** Or even not-so-isolated people: many experts believe that one of the key contributors to the Rwandan genocide was the too sudden emergence of mass media in a country that had a huge amount of tension and resentment in a largely uneducated populace, and had not had enough time to work them out peacefully. Wiki/TheOtherWiki [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide#Media_propaganda details in one part of its article]] how, [[{{Irony}} in the hope that it would promote an informed populace and assist the spread of democracy and human rights]], various international agencies had assisted and encouraged the development of the radio and printing, but didn't realise until it was too late that the people who got control of Rwanda's nascent free press were actually using it to encourage genocide. Almost the entire staff of the state radio network Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), from the managers and directors down to their ShockJock hosts, wound up convicted or accused of crimes against humanity for their role in assisting the ''génocidaires'' and doxxing their targets, as were the publishers of ''Kangura'' magazine.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'', [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2525 SCP-2525 ("Extraterrestrial Broadcaster")]]. SCP-2525-1 (formerly Junior Researcher L____) has said that the aliens that sent SCP-2525 (the rocket-like device) did so to provide plans for advanced technology to humanity, and that they had done so for other primitive races as well.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'':

* A frequent dilemma for the more advanced races in ''Series/StargateSG1'' is whether or not to do this. Most races are reluctant to provide Earth any advanced technology due to either bad prior experiences, such as the Tollan who in the past gave a lower-tech planet an unlimited energy source only for them to blow themselves up the day after, or believing Earth is not yet mature enough as a civilization. The main exceptions are the Asgard, who owe Earth, and the Tok'ra, with whom Earth was in an alliance.

** As the series progresses, and Earth becomes a (if not ''the'') major power in the galaxy, the protagonists face this dilemma themselves from time to time. They're usually willing to provide things like food, medicine, and knowledge, but not weapons technology.
* As shown on ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', before adopting the [[AlienNonInterferenceClause Prime Directive]], the United Earth Space Probe Agency sent out Friendship 1, a warp-capable probe that contained a great deal of cultural and technological information as a gesture of peace and friendship towards any other intelligent species. As shown in the episode "Friendship One", it was a good thing they sent only one. Centuries later, the probe reached a Delta Quadrant planet called Uxal, and its inhabitants eagerly upgraded their planetary power grid to make use of anti-matter (and also built anti-matter missiles). Since they didn't have any experience in working with it, an accident resulted in the entire power grid exploding and putting the planet into a long nuclear winter. Naturally, the remaining Uxali aren't big fans of humans, as they think that the probe was an intentional attempt to destroy a potential rival.
** A ''Voyager'' two-parter reveals that humans unintentionally did it ''to themselves''. A 29th century timeship crash-lands in TheSeventies. A hiker finds the ship and uses the tech within to start the Digital Revolution. While some of those events are undone by breaking a StableTimeLoop, the Digital Revolution remains.

** "A Private Little War". The Klingons are arming an Iron Age culture with increasingly sophisticated black powder muskets (rifled barrels were about to be introduced when Kirk and company intervene). TheFederation responds in kind by similarly arming a different faction of that culture in a very {{anvilicious}} parable about the UsefulNotes/ColdWar.
** A similar thing happens in "A Piece of the Action": The inhabitants of a primitive culture get a book from a visiting starship, "Chicago Mobs of the '20s", and [[PlanetOfHats model their entire society around it.]] When [=McCoy=] discovers he's left his communicator behind, Kirk postulates that they may find it and remodel their society after Federation technology.
*** More details of how this came about were revealed in one of the ''Enterprise'' ExpandedUniverse stories. A civilian freighter suffered an engine fault and had to drop out of warp in that system, and the crew made FirstContact with the locals to ask for help. In exchange for the raw materials to fabricate the replacement parts they needed, the freighter's crew printed off copies of every physics, chemistry and engineering textbook they had in the onboard library. As they left, two of the crew [[LampshadeHanging expressed concern]] about the fact that the aliens were extremely quick to learn how to imitate others but not so good with innovation or original thinking, and worry about the long-term consequences... then realise ''Chicago Mobs of the '20s'' was left behind on the surface by accident. [[OhCrap Oops.]]
** By contrast, "Errand of Mercy" has Kirk offering to share technological goodies with the pre-industrial Organians, who seem oddly disinterested in such things. (This is before the Prime Directive was written into the show.) It then turns out that [[spoiler:the Organians have already evolved into EnergyBeings and only project the illusion of an agrarian society]].

* In ''FanFic/{{Fractured}}'', a ''Franchise/MassEffect''[=/=]''Franchise/StarWars''[[spoiler:[=/=]''[=Borderlands=]'']] [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover crossover]] and its sequel ''Fanfic/{{Origins}}'', the Trans-Galactic Republic has an AlienNonInterferenceClause that can be waived aside if the other society agrees to accept help (usually [[MyWayOrTheHighway on the Republic's terms]]). Or if you're a [[DrunkWithPower sufficiently clandestine]] [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections well-connected]] [[StateSec intelligence agency]] it doesn't matter what the actual rules are...

* ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' goes a different route and assumes the Ethereals ''didn't'' hold back in their invasion, meaning XCOM got [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] in a matter of weeks and never fully developed a psionics program or energy weapons. But twenty years later, the [[VichyEarth ADVENT Administration]] has rebuilt Earth with shining [[GildedCage city centers]] displaying the benefits of alien technology -- clean Elerium-based energy, gene therapy clinics that have eradicated disease, [[ImpossiblyDeliciousFood delicious]] [[MysteryMeat ADVENT Burgers]], and battalions of heavily-armred Peacekeepers on hand to ensure that no dissidents disrupt the lives of loyal citizens. In this case, the Ethereals' interest in humanity is [[HumanResources even more sinister...]]

* In the ''Lensman'' universe, there are two prominent examples; Bennett and Klovia. Both are industrialized worlds, but neither has access to space travel or nuclear energy. Bennett becomes the Navy Yard of the Galactic Patrol in Virgil Samms' time, while Klovia performs the same function when the Patrol extends its influence permanently into the Second Galaxy.

* In ''Fanfic/FuryAndFlame'' the presence of the [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Fire Nation]] in [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire Westeros]] results in this as [[PerfectlyArrangedMarriage Stannis and Azula]] build the Royal Navy with steam ships and bring industrial manufacturing to Dragonstone. [[RealityEnsues It doesn't change the fact]] that the Seven Kingdoms remain a MedievalEuropeanFantasy ruled by a DecadentCourt and [[AristocratsAreEvil power hungry lords]] making this very much a case of LowCultureHighTech scenario.

* ''[[https://www.fictionpress.com/s/3238329/1/A-Hero-s-War A Hero's War]]'' sees a pre-industrial world summon a Hero from Earth to help them fight off encroaching monsters -- but unbeknownst to them, a young materials engineer named Cato was pulled along for the ride. While the Hero is off searching for the Sword of Legend, Cato kick-starts the industrial revolution, warts and all, but with SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic taking a large role. (The Hero is not anti-uplift himself, but with different education and more public acclaim, he focuses more on social reform.)

** With disastrous results. Much of the famine in Africa in the 1980s was directly attributable to this. Much of the aid to Africa in the earlier parts of the 20th century involved bringing tractors to farmers who were, up until that point, still using wooden plows for their fields. Initially, the tractors boosted farmer productivity greatly, causing population booms as food became plentiful. However, since the aid did not include parts, gasoline, or technicians, the tractors broke down over time and the farmers had no means to repair them. Made worse by the gasoline crisis of the 1970s, which made the tractors too expensive to run, even if they were still operable.

* In ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'', this turns out to have been the Ethereals' ''modus operandi'', traveling the galaxy, encountering other species, and trying to prepare them for [[VaguenessIsComing "what lies ahead."]] All the various alien races encountered in their armies are what they consider failures, either primitive brutes like Mutons who never developed [[PsychicPowers "the Gift,"]] or brilliant but frail creatures like Sectoids. They're ''very'' excited that humanity, by the final mission, has managed to surpass the others by combining physical and technological might with mastery of the Gift, which explains the SortingAlgorithmOfEvil used in the invasion - the Ethereals were holding back their elite forces and letting humanity adapt to escalating threats and [[INeedYouStronger grow stronger]]. Which, [[GoneHorriblyRight unfortunately for the Ethereals]], means that they've created something that can beat anything they throw at them, and which absolutely hates them for devastating their homeworld.
* ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' goes a different route and assumes the Ethereals ''didn't'' hold back in their invasion, meaning XCOM got [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] in a matter of weeks and never fully developed a psionics program or energy weapons. But twenty years later, the [[VichyEarth ADVENT Administration]] has rebuilt Earth with shining [[GildedCage city centers]] displaying the benefits of alien technology - clean Elerium-based energy, gene therapy clinics that have eradicated disease, [[ImpossiblyDeliciousFood delicious]] [[MysteryMeat ADVENT Burgers]], and battalions of heavily-armred Peacekeepers on hand to ensure that no dissidents disrupt the lives of loyal citizens. In this case, the Ethereals' interest in humanity is [[HumanResources even more sinister...]]

* ''Literature/ReleaseThatWitch'': An overworked, overqualified 21st-century engineer falls asleep at his desk only to wake up in the body of a prince presiding over a witch beheading in a backwater town in a fantasy world on the brink of war. First thing he does is [[TitleDrop Release That Witch]]. Then he hires her to help him weld steam engines and guns. And the R&D just gets better and better until the town evolves into a mega-city with modern commodities (and Gwent). Interestingly, the main theme is about learning to accept and show gratitude to the mystical and unknown, especially when attempting to move forward - like using the magics of formerly persecuted witches to fill in the technological gaps with AWizardDidIt, when there's an important technological stepping stone the engineer has no understanding of.
* ''[[https://www.fictionpress.com/s/3238329/1/A-Hero-s-War A Hero's War]]'' sees a pre-industrial world summon a Hero from Earth to help them fight off encroaching monsters - but unbeknownst to them, a young materials engineer named Cato was pulled along for the ride. While the Hero is off searching for the Sword of Legend, Cato kick-starts the industrial revolution, but with SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic taking a large role.

** A similar thing happens in "A Piece of the Action": The inhabitants of an imitative culture get a book from a visiting starship, "Chicago Mobs of the '30s", and model their entire society around it. When [=McCoy=] discovers he's left his communicator behind, Kirk postulates that they may find it and remodel their society after Federation technology.

** The Hiver Federation is known for manipulating low-tech species to accelerate their development and form cultures friendly to them. Some suspect them of doing the same to humaniti, and in fact after the collapse of the Third Imperium they openly teach some of their tech to the Reformation Coalition.

** Zig-zagged with the modern Imperium. Sometimes a LostColony is found and dragged into [[LowCultureHighTech what passes for modernity]] in the Imperium of Man, while in other cases Imperial bureaucrats decide that the inhabitants of a medieval Feudral World, Stone Age-equivalent Feral World, or DeathWorld are fine as they are, perhaps because they aren't strategically worth the effort of uplifting, perhaps because the brutal conditions of a world mean the locals HadToBeSharp and make for good recruits. In these cases, the assigned Imperial governor will rule with a light touch, often from orbit, monitoring the backwards planet for heresy, mutants and psykers, while encouraging legends about "Sky Warriors" who will take those they deem worthy on grand campaigns beyond the stars.

** With disastrous results. Much of the famine in Africa in the 1980s was directly attributable to this. Much of the aid to Africa in the earlier parts of the 20th century involved bringing tractors to farmers who were, up until that point, still using wooden plows for their fields. Initially, the tractors boosted farmer productivity greatly, causing population booms as food became plentiful. However, since the aid did not include parts, gasoline, or technicians, the tractors over time broke down and the farmers had no means to repair them. Made worse by the gasoline crisis of the 1970s, which made the tractors too expensive to run, even if they were still operable.