Ancient Age: Three-Age System

Ancient Age: Three-Age System

• Christian Jurgensen Thomsen, a Danish archaeologist, introduced the Three-Age System
• This system divides prehistory into the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age

Stone Age (2.5 Million Years Ago - 3000 BC)

• Tools were made from stone, wood, and bones
• The Stone Age is subdivided into:
  • Paleolithic (Old Stone Age): Homo sapiens emerged, using tools from flint, bone, and antlers
  • Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age): Transition to farming occurred, with the use of microliths, bows, and pottery
  • Neolithic (New Stone Age): Agriculture and domestication flourished, and tools like plows and chisels were developed

Bronze Age (3000 BC - 1200 BC)

• People crafted tools from bronze, which is a combination of copper and tin
• This era saw the advent of first smelting techniques

Iron Age (1500 BC – 450 AD)

• Advanced smelting techniques led to widespread iron use

Middle Ages (450 - 1450 AD)

• China had silk production, gunpowder, paper, the compass, and clocks
• Europe saw the rise of universities, the feudal system, and medical advancements
• India contributed to mathematics and medicine
• Pre-Columbian America developed the Mayan calendar, pyramids, and Aztec temples

Scientific & Industrial Revolutions

• Scientific Revolution (1440 – 1690 AD): Heliocentrism, laws of motion, and the scientific method were established
• Industrial Revolution (1750 – 1895 AD):
  • Textile advancements like the cotton gin and power loom
  • Transportation through steam boats and steam engines
  • Communication via telegraph, telephone, and radio

20th Century to Present

• Electricity: The Bunsen burner and electric light were invented
• Major discoveries:
  • Theory of Relativity (Einstein)
  • DNA Structure (Watson & Crick)
  • Continental Drift Theory (Wegener)
  • Nuclear Fission (Otto Hahn)
• Information Age: Computers, the internet, and digital communication emerged

Science and Technology in the Philippines: Historical Perspective

• Pre-Spanish Era: Indigenous practices in agriculture, medicine, and engineering

Spanish Rule

• It established barangay governance
• Education was mainly religious

American Period

• The public school system expanded
• Science-based public services were introduced
• Private School Act was established in 1917

Post-WWII

• A slow technological development compared to Asia
• Poor investment in R&D
• Low number of international research publications

Science & Technology Plans

• By 2004, there was improved access to S&T Education and Service
• By 2010, leadership was aimed at biotechnology, materials science, and microelectronics
• By 2020, globally competitive universities, scientists, and technologies were the aim

Major Intellectual Revolutions

• Copernican: Heliocentrism (Sun-centered universe)
• Darwinian: Evolution through natural selection
• Freudian: Psychoanalysis (Id, Ego, Superego)
• Information Revolution: Printing press, computers, internet

Contributions of Major Civilizations

• Mesoamerican: Agriculture, textiles, calendar systems
• Asian: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism
• Middle Eastern: Writing, governance, astronomy
• African: Metallurgy, architecture, medicine

Harmonized National R&D Agenda (HNRDA) 2017-2022

• Areas to focus include Health, agriculture, Industry, Energy, Disaster Risk Reduction

National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA)

• It encompasses programs for Water Security (TUBIG), Food Security (SAPAT), Health (LIKAS), clean Energy (ALERT), and Disaster Risk Reduction through climate change adaptation and technology innovations

Education System

• Aim: Develop science literacy.
• The three domains includes:
  • Scientific knowledge (local/global contexts)
  • Scientific processes and skills
  • Scientific attitudes and values

Challenges

• Poor science literacy
• Lack of facilities and trained teachers
• PISA & TIMSS Reports indicates that the Philippines ranked last in science and math assessments

Indigenous Science & Knowledge

• Weather prediction (animal behavior, sky observations)
• Herbal medicine (traditional healing practices)
• Food preservation (fermentation, drying techniques)
• Agricultural innovations (irrigation, seed selection)

Notable Filipino Inventions

• Yo-Yo (Pedro Flores)
• Medical Incubator (Fe del Mundo)
• Erythromycin (Abelardo Aguilar)
• Banana Catsup (Maria Orosa)
• 16-bit Microchip (Diosdado Banatao)