Greek Philosophers' Contributions

Greek Contributions (400B.C.-400A.D.)

• Greece is located in Southern Europe.
• Classical Greek Philosophers aided in the development of science and technology in ancient times.

Thales of Miletus

• Developed the theory of matter being based upon water.

Socrates

• Proposed the theory of skepticism.
• Skepticism is the belief that some or all human knowledge is impossible.
• Believed that no one does wrong voluntarily.
• Taught people should care less about bodies and possessions and more about souls.
• Said wealth does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth.

Empedocles

• Postulated the four roots of elements: earth, air, fire and water.

Hippocrates

• Considered to be the father of medicine.
• Promoted that diseases have natural causes and the body has the power to heal itself.

Aristotle

• The father of biology.
• Undertook the classification of plants and animals.

Archimedes

• Discovered the laws of lever and pulley.
• Calculated the value of pi.
• Pi is a geometrical calculation that helps determine the width, or circumference of a circle.

Ptolemy

• Wrote the Almagest, detailing the motion of the planets and the position of the stars.
• Supported geocentric theory.

Democritus

• Proposed that matter consists of atoms.

Pythagoras

• A mathematician that held that numbers were basic to matter, and created the Pythagorean theorem.

Plato

• Addressed the nature of the universe and ascribed geometric forms.

Aristarchus

• Was both a mathematician and astronomer.
• Stated that planets move in their orbits.

Hipparchus

• Discovered the length of the month.

Eratosthenes

• Determined the circumference of the earth to be 28,000 miles.
• That is only 3,000 miles more than what is currently known.

Theophrastus

• The father of plant science and most outstanding botanist in early botany.
• Wrote the History of Plants which described the forms, behavior, morphology, and properties of 500 food and medicinal plants, and Causes of Plants plus medicinal uses of plants.

Persian Contributions

• Persia is the former name of Iran, and the Persian empire was founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century.
• Persian culture is one of the oldest in the Middle East.
• Persian art heritage is one of the richest in the world.
• It encompasses many disciplines including architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and stonemasonry.

Persian Rugs and Carpets

• They have always been a vital part of the Persian culture.
• They are heavy textiles made for a wide variety of utilitarian and symbolic purposes.
• Rugs and carpets are produced in Iran (Persia) for home use or for sale.

Nas'taliq

• It is considered the most beautiful Persian calligraphy style.

Pottery

• The taste and talent of Persian people can be seen through the designs of their earthen wares, ceramic art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials.

Domes

• Domes are an important part of Persian architecture and constructed on the first large scale.
• The outer surfaces are mostly mosaic faced.

Structures

• Mosques, mausoleums, bazaars, and bridges have mainly survived from this period.

Wind Towers

• Wind towers are chimney-like structures positioned above the house to catch the prevailing wind.

Roman Contributions

• Rome is the capital city and known as 'the eternal city'.
• Latin is the language spoken by Romans.
• Roman civilization is characterized by a government headed by emperors.
• Rome had large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Water Power

• Romans used water power and watermills for milling cereals, sawing timber, and crushing ore.
• Wood and coal were exploited for heating purposes.

Infrastructure

• Romans made extensive use of aqueducts, dams, bridges, and amphitheaters.

Science and Technology

• Romans dedicated resources to the study of astronomy, astrology, geography, and other sciences.
• Tools for measuring, and manual drills and metal spikes were used.
• Ancient Romans also used sundials to tell time and even created portable versions.

Glassblowing

• Advanced glass blowing techniques brought window glass, hanging glass oil lamps, and other glass objects to Rome.

Military

• Rome’s military benefited from technological improvements to weapons, shields, armor, and other items.

Roads

• Romans built concrete roads for their military.
• Nearly 30 military highways, all made of stones, exited the great city.
• They made 372 roads and connected 113 provinces.

Notable Roman Scientists

• Galen was a great physician and surgeon.
• Galen influenced the development of anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology and neurology, as well as philosophy and logic.
• Vitruvius was an engineer and also referred to as the first architect.
• Pliny described thousands of species of plants with high medicinal use.

Arabic Contributions

• Arabic civilization originated in the Arabic Peninsula, Saudi Arabia 622 A.D.
• Arabic is the written and spoken language.
• The religion is Islam, which means submission to the will of God.

Achievements

• Ibn Moosaa's work Hisaab-Al Jab-Wal Muquaabala, The Calculation of Integration and Equation, covered Trigonomentry, Sine, Tangent, Co-tangent
• The Astrolabe was invented and used for astronomical observation.

Architecture

• The Great Mosque of Damascus exhibits Arabic innovation.

Hydraulics

• Water wheels and irrigation methods were developed.

Mathematics

• Muhammad bin Moosaa Al-Khawaarizimi is credited with Algebra and Geometry.
• The word Algorithm comes from his town Khwaarizm, now Uzbekistan.

Timekeeping

• Haaroon Ar-Rasheed is credited with the invention of the pendulum and presentation of water clock.

Concepts

• Qaadhi Abu Bkr introduced theory of relativity.

Camera Obscura

• Invented by Ibn Haytham.
• Light from an illuminated object passed through a pinhole into a dark room and that created an inverted image of the original.

Chinese Contributions

• Ancient China was built along the Huang Ho, yellow river, in the north, and the Yangtze in the south
• China is one of the oldest civilizations and the world's most populous country in Asia with a population over 1.35 billion.

Oracle Bones

• This is the earliest form of writing from China was on animal bones.
• These bones were used to tell the future

Abacus

• Abacuses used sliding beads to compute math problems.
• These are ancient calculators.

Inventions

• Kites and lanterns were invented.
• Gunpowder and fireworks were developed
• The magnetic compass was invented.
• The Chinese invented paper and printing using silk rags, wooden strips and silk cloth.
• The crossbow was invented.
• Fans were invented.
• The iron plough was invented for agriculture.
• Silk, a soft and light material was used
• Porcelain
• Wheelbarrows were invented by Chuko Liang.
• The hot air balloon was invented.
• People used umbrellas, and matches.
• Paper money was developed.
• Acupuncture was first developed in China.

Indus-Hindu Contributions

• Early civilization in India emerged in the river valleys of the Indus River.
• Two major cities were Harappa and Mojenjo-Daro.
• Both cities were planned carefully, constructed with mud bricks.
• These civilizations had public wells, a regular supply of water for all inhabitants and personal sanitation with all houses having their own private toilet.

Astronomy

• Aryabhata presented astronomical and mathematical system that took earth to spin on its axis.
• He considered the motions of the planets with respect to the sun's heliocentric orbit.
• Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to go to outer space in 1984.
• Brahmagupta determined that the circumference of the earth was 5000 yojanas and that is 36000 km.

Metallurgy

• Ancient India was an early leader in metallurgy, as evidence by the wrought Iron Pillar of Delhi.

Olmec Civilization (Mesoamerican)

• Olmec means rubber people or people of the rubber country.
• They cultivated cacao, rubber, and salt.
• Human sacrifice and cannibalism was practiced.

Maya Civilizations (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize)

• They used pyramids of limestones
• They developed an accurate calendar; the 260-day Sacred Round, or tzolkin, and the 365-day Vague Year, or haad.

Aztec Civilization

• Tools were made of obsidian and chert.
• Axe blades, bows and arrows were made either with stone or copper.
• Aztec technology was recorded in the Badianus Manuscript.

Inca Civilization

• Machu Picchu are surviving archaeological sites.
• Tawanstinsuyu, Incas called their empire,"The Land of Four Corners".
• Quechua was the official language.
• The Incas were rich in maize (corn), dried Ilama,Coca leaves and alcohol.
• Textiles: The finests grade of cloth called cumpi.
• The month of November was the month of carrying the dead.
• They practiced mummification of individuals.
• Inca calendar was lunisolar