Historical Antecedents in The Course of Science and Technology
Historical Antecedents in The Course of Science and Technology
Overview
Science and Technology play significant roles in the everyday life. They
make difficult and complicated tasks easier and encourage people to do more with so
little effort and time. Developments in this field are brought about by gradual
improvements to earlier works from different time periods. This module will discuss the
technological and scientific achievements during the ancient, middle, and modern ages.
It will also cover the development of science and technology in the Philippines.
Ancient Times
Out of necessity, people in ancient times were able to discover and invent things
that would impact the lives of the modern people. They were able to develop things to
improve the transportation, communication, health and aesthetic, architecture, mass
production, and security and protection during these times.
Sumerian Civilization
2. City of Uruk. It is considered as the first true city in the world. The Sumerians
used sun-baked bricks – mud or clay mixed with reeds – to build the city.
4. Irrigation and Dikes. Sumerians created dikes and irrigation canals to bring
water to farmlands and at the same time control the flooding of the rivers, which
in return increased their food production.
5. Wheel. Sumerians constructed the first wheels by inserting rotating axles into
solid discs of wood. This innovation was used for transportation, farm work, and
food processes.
Babylonian Civilization
Babylonian civilization flourished near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The
Babylonians made significant discoveries in mathematics, physics, and astronomy.
They were also known as great builders, engineers, and architects. Some of the
important contributions of the Sumerians were:
Egyptian Civilization
Egyptian civilization is located in ancient North Africa. This civilization built many
engineering feats such as the pyramids, temples, and tombs. Aside from engineering
technology, the Egyptians have developed other things that the world now considers as
essential.
1. Paper or Papyrus and Ink. Paper made from papyrus was the main writing
material in ancient Egypt. Papyrus (cyperus papyrus) was a plant which once
grew in abundance, along the Nile River in Egypt. Since paper made from
papyrus was lighter and thinner than clay tablets, it was easy to carry and store.
It was also less breakable compared to clay tablets. This invention was a major
accomplishment in Egyptian record-keeping and communications. They also
invented ink by combining soot with different chemicals.
The Greek civilization has contributed much to the world especially in the fields of
science and technology. Its origins were in the land of Greece and the islands of the
Aegean Sea. It is known as the birthplace of western philosophy. Some of their major
achievements include the following:
1. Alarm Clock. The ancient Greek’s alarm clock used water or sometimes small
stones or sand that dropped into drums which sounded the alarm. Plato was
believed to have utilized an alarm clock to signal the start of his lecture.
2. Water Mill. Watermills were used in agricultural processes like milling of grains
which was a necessary form of food processing during that time. This invention
only required access to rivers or flowing water where a mechanism of a large
wheel with small “buckets” of water attached to it could be installed.
Roman Civilization
Roman civilization emerged from the city of Rome in modern day Italy. It was
perceived to be the strongest political and social entity in the west and other civilizations
looked up to it as their model in terms of legislation and codified laws. Aside from their
contributions in politics, this civilization also contributed a lot of discoveries and
inventions that are still relevant today.
4. Roman Numerals. Romans devised their own number system to address the
need for a standard counting method that would meet their increasing
communication and trade concerns.
Chinese Civilization
China is located on the far east of Asia. The Chinese civilization is the oldest
civilization in Asia. Gunpowder, paper, printing, and the compass are sometimes called
the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China. It was also famous among other
civilizations because of its silk trade.
1. Silk. The Chinese were the ones to who developed the technology to harvest the
silk which is naturally produced by silkworms and process it to produce paper
and clothing. Silk production resulted in the creation of a product for trade that
bridged the gap between the western world and the middle kingdom.
3. Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China is said to be the largest and most
extensive infrastructure that the nation built. It was constructed to keep out
foreign invaders and control the borders of China. It was made with stone, brick,
wood, earth, and other materials. This man-made structure continues to be a
world attraction due to its historical significance and architectural grandeur.
Figure 2.23 Great Wall of China
4. Gunpowder. The gunpowder was developed by Chinese alchemists by mixing
charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate.
Medieval/Middle Ages
The start of the middle ages was marred by massive invasions and migrations.
Wars were prevalent during this time. Thus, great technology was needed in the fields
of weaponry, navigation, mass food and farm production, and health. Moreover, trade
and commerce among nations increased, which resulted in greater demands for
transportation technology. Some of the most innovative minds came from this period.
Here are some of the important contributions during the middle ages.
1. Printing Press. Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press. He uses wooden
machines that extracted juices from fruits, attached to them a metal impression of
the letters, and pressed firmly the cast metal into a piece of paper, which then
made an exact impression on paper.
4. War Weapons. Cross bows, long bows, and chainmail were invented during the
Middle Ages.
Modern Ages
The modern era includes the early period, called the early modern period, which
lasted from 1500-present. The Modern Period covers human history from the creation of
a more global network to present day. Here are some of the important discoveries and
inventions during the modern ages.
3. Telephone. The first telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.
He made the first call on March 10, 1876, to his assistant, Thomas Watson. It
was one of the most important inventions at that time.
4. Calculator. The creation of modern calculators did not only pave the way for
easier arithmetic calculations, but also resulted in the development of more
complex processing machines like the computer.
Philippine Inventions
2. Salt Lamp. A young Filipina inventor named Aisa Mejino invented a lighting
system that utilizes saltwater to address the needs of electricity. She invented the
Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt) lamp, an environmental-friendly light
source that runs on saltwater.
5. Ejeepney. This modern type of transportation uses electricity instead of the more
expensive diesel.
PRACTICE TASK 2