Science and technology play major roles our everyday life.

They make Cuneiform: The Sumerians made their noblest contribution in the field of
difficult and complicated tasks easier and allow people to do more with little writing. They adopted a system of writing which was popularly known as
effort and time. ‘Cuneiform’.

The developments in this field are not just products of people’s imagination The term ‘Cuneiform’ was derived from the Latin word ‘Cunus’ which means
or a one-time thought process; they are also brought about by gradual wedge. Wedge shaped marks were pressed on soft clay tablets with the
improvements to earlier works from different time periods. help of sharp reed pen. They hardened these tablets by drying them up in
the sun.
The driving force behind this continuous progress is the desire to raise the
quality of life of the people. These Cuneiform writings of the “Sumerians were read from right to left.
Thus the development of Cuneiform script was the outstanding contribution
ANCIENT TIMES
of Sumerians to the civilization of mankind.
In the ancient times, people we’re concerned with:
Uruk city & The Great Ziggurat of Ur: Uruk (modern Warka in Iraq) where
city life began more than five thousand years ago and where the first writing
Transportation & Navigation
emerged was clearly one of the most important places in southern
- During the Ancient times, their means of transportation was to be Mesopotamia.
carried by servants.
Uruk
Communication and Record-keeping
Within Uruk, the greatest monument was the Anu Ziggurat on which the
- During the Ancient times, they use clay tablets as a form of writing White Temple was built and dedicated to the sky god Anu. The temple
material towered well above the flat plain of Uruk, and visible from a great distance
even over the defensive walls of the city.
Mass production
Wheel & Cart
- Mass production is done manually.
A great contribution of the Sumerians to the history of mankind was
Security and Protection ‘wheel’. This wheel accelerated the progress of Sumerian civilization.
Health, Aesthetics, & Architecture
The potter made pottery of various shapes and sizes through this wheel. The
SUMERIAN CIVILIZATIO wheeled carts facilitated trade and commerce on land route. This invention
Sumer was the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day of wheel by the Sumerians made them immortal in the annals of history.
Iraq and Kuwait) which is generally considered the cradle of civilization. Irrigation, Dikes, & Plow
The name comes from Akkadian, the language of the north of Civilization rose alongside fresh water rivers. The land may have been
Mesopotamia, and means “land of the civilized kings”. The Sumerians called fertile, but the ancient Mesopotamians learned the rivers could not be
themselves “the black headed people” and their land, in cuneiform script, trusted to flood their fields when they needed them to.
was simply “the land” or “the land of the black headed people”
Rain was also something that could not be counted on. So, the
In the biblical Book of Genesis, Sumer is known as Shinar. Mesopotamians invented irrigation. They dug a maze of ditches and
waterways from the rivers to their fields, creating a dependable source of One of their major contribution is the Hanging Gardens if Babylon, one of
water for their crops. the seven wonders of the ancient world. Hanging Gardens of Babylon is a
famous from stories of historians and is painted to portray the place.
Irrigation, Dikes, & Plow
Historians believes that The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is a structure made
Throughout history, great cities and civilization would not have risen up of layers upon layers of gardens inside that contained several species of
without a source of clean and drinkable water. The economy of the plants, trees and vines.
Sumerians relied heavily to agriculture. Agriculture provided the people
The legends says that it was made by the great Babylonian King
food made from several crops. Lettuces, beans, and onions provided
Nebuchadnezzar II, for his wife, Queen Amytis. However, no physical
nutrients to the Sumerians. But the most widely cultivated crop was barley.
evidence has been found to prove the existence of the said garden.
Barley allowed the Sumerian to produce bread and also alcohol, in
particular, ale. Ale became an important part of Sumerian society. People have been debating about the existence of the said mythical place.
And some said it was just a product of the creative imagination of the great
Sail Boat
king because it lacked documentation or archeological evidence.
Mesopotamian civilization was one of the first civilizations to flourish.
On the other hand, if it really existed, it must have been destroyed by war,
Sailboats were of utmost importance to them as transportation was
erosion or an earthquake. True or not, hearing the stories and description of
essential to their culture. Since Mesopotamia was situated between two
the place would be enough to inspire awe to anyone.
famous rivers, namely the Euphrates and the Tigris, they needed water
transportation for travel and trade.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
Five thousand years ago Mesopotamians started using sailing boats.
Northern Ireland, Well-known for their engineering feats especially the
Road
infrastructures established by Pharaoh
The oldest constructed roads discovered to date are in former
Egyptian also contributed other practical things that the world now
Mesopotamia, now known as Iraq. The location in the land of the Sumerian
considers as essential
people offered fertile soil and, with irrigation, crops and livestock were
raised successfully. Paper or Papyrus - One of the earlier contributions of Egyptians

The Sumerians used meticulous brick-making skills, forming identical mud Papyrus – a thick type of paper made from the pith of the papyrus plant,
bricks for building. After drying they would take them to the site of a temple Cyperus papyrus (plants that grew abundantly along the Nile River in Egypt).
and set them in place with bitumen. Bitumen is the natural sticky black
They were able to process the plant in order to produce thin sheets on
substance in asphalt.
which one could write down things. ighter and thinner than clay tablets, it
BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION was easy to carry and store. A major accomplishment in Egyptian record-
keeping and communications.
Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Ink- Invented by the Egyptians used to write in papyrus.
The Babylonians were great builders, engineers, and architects.
Made by combining soot with different chemicals to produce inks of
different colors.
Withstands the elements of nature since it was used to record history,
culture, and codified laws. GREEK CIVILIZATION

Tamper-proof so that it could not simply tinker with those written down by Greece – an archipelago in the southern part of Europe.
authorities.
Known as the birthplace of western philosophy.
Hieroglyphics- Formal writing system used by the ancient Egyptians that
Some of the major achievements of the Greeks include:
combined Iogographic and alphabetic elements.
In-depth works on philosophy and mathematics
Hieroglyphs – a character of the ancient Egyptian writing system.
More than coliseums and the Olympics
Egyptians used cursive hieroglyphics for religious literature on papyrus and
wood. Science and Technology
Can be seen today and remains to be as famous as the pyramids where they Alarm Clock
were found.
One of the most utilized gadgets today. Used to tell an individual when to
Cosmetics- Used for both health and aesthetic reasons stop or when to start.
Kohl – used around the eyes to prevent and even cure eye diseases. It is Used large complicated mechanism to time the alarm. They use of water (or
created by mixing soot or malachite with mineral galena. sometimes small stone or sand) that dropped into drums which sounded
the alarm.
Egyptians also believed that a person wearing make-up was protected from
evil and that beauty was a sign of holiness. Plato – believed to have utilized an alarm clock to signal the start of his
lecture.
Wig- Another cosmetic invention of ancient Egyptians. Worn for health and
wellness rather than aesthetic purposes. His version used four water vessels lined up vertically. The upper vessel
supplied the water which dropped to the vessel below it, which was set to
Used to protect the shaved heads of the wealthy Egyptians from harmful
be filled in a given time. After it was full, water was siphoned off at a faster
rays of the sun, better than putting on scarf.
rate into the third vessel which would cause the expulsion of contained air,
Considered cleaner than natural hair because it prevented the accumulation creating a whistling noise. Afterwards, this vessel would empty towards the
of head lice. bottom vessel for storage and reuse.

Water Clock/Clepsydra- A device that utilizes gravity that affects the flow of Water Mill- Also considered as one of the most important contributions of
water from one vessel to the other. the Greek civilization to the world.

The amount of water (or its height, depending on the methods used) Commonly used in agricultural processes like milling of grains which was
remaining in the device determines how much time has elapsed since it is necessary for food production during that time.
full.
Considered better the mills powered by farm animals
In the process, Time is measured.

Widely used as a timekeeping device during the ancient times.

Required less effort and time to operate since it only required access to architectural designs established. Romans are also creative, redesign old
rivers or flowing water where a mechanism of a large wheel with small architectural patterns to adapt the new trends at that time. These majestic
“buckets” of water attached to it could be installed. Roman structures can be seen by the way they withstood time and harsh
elements of the environment.
ROMAN CIVILIZATION
Roman Numerals- Although other number system had already been
The roman empire was perceived to be the strongest political and social
established before the Roman Numeral , these old system could not keep up
entity in the west.
with high calculations requirements due to the increasing rate of
It was considered as the cradle of politics and governance during the period. communication and the trade among nations.

Other civilization looked up to it as their model in terms of legislation and CHINESE CIVILIZATION
codified laws. Aside from their contributions on politics, a lot of discoveries
The Chinese civilizations considered to be the oldest civilization in Asia, if
and invention that is still relevant today.
not the world. Also known as the middle kingdom, China is located on the
Newspaper- It is the major contributions of Roman, it known as gazettes far east of Asia. It was famous among other ancient civilization because of
contained announcements of the Roman Empire to the people. These its silk trade.
gazettes were engraved in metal or stone tablets and then publicly
Silk- One of the things that connected far east china to the world.
displayed.
Although silk is naturally produced by silk worms, the chinese were the ones
When paper was invented, it became easier for the Romans to "publish"
who developed the technology to harvest the silk and process it to produce
matters that needed the attention of the Roman citizen. These documents
paper and clothing.
were edited and published on the same day that they were recorded.
The silk production resulted in the creation of the product for trade. The silk
Bound Books or Codex
trade opened china to the outside world, making way for cultural,
With the invention of paper, it became easier for the civilization to write economic, and scientific exchanges. It bridged the gap between western
down everything that happened in their time. Record keeping was much world and the Middle Kingdom.
easier since paper did not easily break, was lightweight and did not occupy
much space.
Tea Production- Tea is a beverage produced by pouring hot or boiling water
As a result, civilization became fond of record-keeping especially historical over crushed or shredded dried tea leaves.
events and newly legislated laws. According to sources, Julius Caesar started
It was believed that first tea was drunk by a Chinese emperor. Tea
the tradition of stacking up papyrus to form pages of the book. The earlier
production was developed when an unknown Chinese inventor created a
covers were made of wax but later on replaced by animal skin which proved
machine that was able to shred tea leaves into strips.
to be stronger and long lasting.
The machine was done using a wheel-based mechanism with sharp edge
Roman Architecture
attached to a wooden or ceramic pot. Because of the invention, Chinese
It is one of the most visual contributions of the ancient roman Empire to the were able to increase their production of tea and trade with other nation.
world. Roman Architecture was still regarded as pioneering since the China thus became known for its tea exports aside from its silk production.
Romans were able to adapt new building and engineering technology on
Tea production developed by the ancient Chinese may have resulted in The start of the middle ages was marred by massive invasions and
making tea as one of the most popular beverages in the world today migrations. Wars were prevalent during this time. As such, great technology
was needed in the fields of weaponry, navigations, mass food and farm
production, and health
The Great Wall of China
Microscope
Ancient China produced what has become the oldest, still extant, culture in
the world. The name `China’ comes from the Sanskrit China (derived from Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the first compound of microscope.
the name of the Chinese Qin Dynasty, pronounced `Chin’) which was
The microscope was key in discovering new means in preventing and curing
translated as `Cin’ by the Persians and seems to have become popularized
various illnesses.
through trade along the Silk Road from China to the rest of the world. The
Romans and the Greeks knew the country as `Seres’, “the land Telescope
where silk comes from”.
The middle ages was the age of exploration
Once considered the only man-made structure that could be seen from
outer space, The Great Wall of China is said to be the largest and most Galileo named it as a refractor
extensive infrastructure that the nation built. Along with the telescope, compass, oars, and rudders made sea travelling
It was constructed to keep out foreign invaders and control the boarders of easier and safer
China. Made with stone, Brick, Wood, Earth, and other materials, it War Weapons
showcased the extent of Chinese engineering technology at that time.
Cross bows and long bows were developed to attack the enemies at long
The structure was so massive and strong that it was said to have literally ranges
divided Chine from the rest of the world. The wall’s construction put the
nation among the powerful civilizations during the ancient times. It was the Iron body armors are needed for offense. However, they were very heavy
pride of their land and their crowning glory. and it limited the movements of soldiers.

Today, with some sections already in ruins, The Great Wall still continues to Chainmail was invented as lighter substitute for body armors
be a world attraction due to its historical significance and architectural Modern Times
grandeur.
the booming world population during the 19th century onwards demanded
Gunpowder that more goods should be produced at a faster rate
The gunpowder is one of the most interesting inventions in china. Originally, people needed efficient means of transportation to trade goods
it was developed by Chinese alchemists who aimed to achieved immortality.
They mixed charcoal, sulphur, and potassium nitrate, but instead of creating machines that needed animals to operate must be upgraded
an elixir of life, they accidentally invented a black powder that could actually
faster communication is needed to establish connections between and
generate large amounts of heat and gas in an instant.
among nations

MEDIEVAL/MIDDLE AGES
food and medicine was some of their biggest challenges since health was of Salamander, an amphibious tricycle that can cross not only flooded streets
great concern but also rivers and lakes

Pasteurization Salt Lamp

Louis Pasteur – French biologist, microbiologist and chemist One of the major needs in the Philippines, as a developing nation, is
electrification. Electricity powers various type of machines, including light
The process of heating dairy products to kill the harmful bacteria that allow
sources. A young Filipino inventor named Aisa Mijeno was able to invent a
them to spoil faster. In this process, milk could be stored and consumed for
lightning (SALT) lamp, an environment friendly light source that light on
a longer time.
saltwater. Salt lamp is safer as it poses no risk of time and no toxic gases
Petroleum Refinery
Medical Incubator
Better means of powering homes and transportation.
Dr. Fe del Mundo a Filipino pediatrician and the first Asian woman admitted
At first they used animal oil for generating light to illuminate their homes. into Harvard Medical School, devised a medical incubator made from
indigenous and cheap materials which did not run on electricity.
Samuel M. Kier was able to invent kerosene by refining petroleum and it
was later referred to as "illuminating oil" because it was used to light Mosquito Ovicidal / Larvicidal Trap System
homes. After some time it was used for heating purposes
This trap system is made of natural ingredients that are lethal to mosquitos
the development of kerosene established the petroleum refinery industry. but save for humans and the environment.

Telephone E-Jeepney

The development of telephone by Alexander Graham Bell was one of the A major innovation that changed the transportation industry in the
most important inventions because it was used as a way to easily maintain Philippines was the development of the jeepney.
connections and communications and the government used to allow them
Famous Filipinos in the Field of Science
to administer their states well.
1. Ramon Cabanos Barba – outstanding research on tissue culture in
Calculator- It was made to compute large numbers faster and easier. This
Philippine mangoes
device is easy to carry. Its development resulted in complex processing
machines like the computer 2. Josefino Cacas Comiso – for his works on observing the
characteristics of Antarctica by using satellite images
Inventions in the Philippines
3. Jose Bejar Cruz Jr. – known internationally in the field of electrical
The Philippines is known to be one of the most vulnerable countries in
engineering; was elected as officer of the famous Institute of
terms of Natural disaster. Some of their buildings is from indigenous
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
materials or created to adapt to the harsh tropical environment.
4. Lourdes Jansuy Cruz – notable for her research on sea snail venom
Salamander Amphibious Tricycle
5. Fabian Millar Dayrit – for his research on herbal medicine
Tricycles find it very difficult to transverse the streets. To remedy the issue,
Victor Llave and his teamat H20 Technologies were able to invent 6. Rafael Dineros Guerrero III – for his research on tilapia culture
7. Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr. – for inventing the meconium drugs
testing

8. Lilian Formalejo Patena – for doing research on plant

biotechnology

9. Mari-Jo Panganiban Ruiz – for being an outstanding educator and

graph theorist

10. Gregory Ligot Tangonan – for his research in the field of

communications technology