Memeology?

Is there a word for the history and application of ideas and concepts. Something akin to industrial archaeology which looks at the history and application of technology? Perhaps memeology? Why do some ideas take off in one environment or time and not in others? Why did the New World civilizations have the idea of the wheel (as evidenced by wheeled toys for children) but never used it for transportation as far as we can tell? Why did the Chinese develop the capability of steel production for a couple of hundred years and then abandon it to the point of total amnesia.

All this is brought to mind by an article (Blissful Oblivion by Stephaine Pain in New Scientist, March 7th, 2009) which examines the catalytic influence of Western medical technology upon Japanese practitioners between the 18th and 19th centuries and particularly with regard to the parallel development of anaesthetics in isolation of one another. A fascinating little story.