Sumerian Innovations and Advancements

• Science and technology affect society and the environment.
• Inventors and discoveries changed the world throughout history.
• Scientific and technological advancements occurred in the Philippines.
• Science is systematic knowledge discussing the physical world and phenomena without biased observation or systematic experimentation

What is Science?

• Science involves pursuing knowledge covering general truths or fundamental laws
• Science involves experimentation that shows consistency

What is Technology?

• Technology applies scientific knowledge to practical human aims
• Technology involves changes and manipulation of the human environment

What is Society?

• Society originates from the Latin word "societas,", implying connection of friendship
• Society is defined as a "bigger collection of individuals who associate with each other

Relationships Between Science, Technology and Society

• Society impacts science
• Demands more from science
• Benefits from technology
• Science impacts society
• Seeks to improve it
• Technology impacts society, and also impacts science
• Informs technology
• Makes life easier
• Demands more from Science

Negative Effects of Science and Technology

• Pollution
• Imbalance of Ecosystem
• Effects on different aspects of life

Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Studies

• STS is an interdisciplinary field examining science and technology as social constructs
• STS also considers societal influences, and addresses related epistemological, political, and ethical questions
• STS also studies how society, politics, and culture affect scientific research and technological innovation
• And vice versa

Historical Antecedents

• In ancient times, people were concerned with transportation, communication, mass production, security, health,, and architecture
• Constant innovation in science and technology aims to improve lives and make work more efficient.
• Ancient civilizations continuously created technologies that have been modified and are still in use today.

Problems Encountered During Ancient Times

• Ancient people faced challenges related to:
• Transportation
• Navigation
• Communication
• Record-keeping
• Mass Production
• Safety and Protection
• Health, Architecture, Engineering, and Aesthetics.

Major Technological Advancements

• Sumerians
• Babylonians
• Egyptians

Sumerian Civilization

• Sumeria was located at the southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia
• Sumerians were known for cooperation and ambition, leading to developments in science and technology

Cuneiform

• Sumerians invented writing called cuneiform script, using reeds to mark clay tablets.
• Cuneiform is a system that uses triangular symbols carved on clay with wedge instruments, then dried.
• Cuneiform allowed Sumerians to record history and traditions, passing on their culture and legacy

Uruk City

• The City of Uruk is the first true city in the world, its construction a great feat
• Sumerians used mud or clay from the river mixed with reeds to create sunbaked bricks.
• They then built houses and defensive walls which protected them from the harsh weather

Great Ziggurat of Ur

• The Great Ziggurat of Ur is another engineering achievement by by the Sumerians
• Also called the mountain of god, the ziggurat construction style was similar to the City of Uruk
• The structure which consists of only sunbaked bricks, served as a sacred place for chief gods, and only priests could enter

Irrigation and Dikes

• As populations and food demand increased, mass production of flood control became a challenge
• Limited water
• River flooding
• Sumerians built dikes and irrigation canals to bring control of water to the farmland to help wuth flood control

Sail Boats

• A transportation challenge to the Sumerians was how people needed easier remote water travel
• Traditional boats were not enough to accommodate people, and required too many human resources.
• Sailboats helped with transportation of goods, and aided trade, culture, information, and technology

Wheel

• Eventually Sumerians were able to invent the wheel with specialized tools
• First wheels were intended for farm work and food processing, rather than transportation.
• Wheels and axles made mass production of grain milling easier for farmers

The Plow

• Another Mesopotamian tool that was invented for digging, was the plow
• The farmer was then able to just drop seeds in the broken-soil ground, making farm work effortless

Roads

• Sumerians developed the first roads for faster, easier travel, organizing traffic flow
• Roads were made using the same sunbaked brick technology
• Sumerians were able to build buildings, roads, and infrastructure without any formal architecture or engineering degrees

Babylonian Civilization

• Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• Babylonians were engineers, builders, and architects who emerged near the river because of water necessity
• Rivers brought food, energy, beauty, and travel

Hanging Garden of Babylon

• One of the major contributions of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon is it being a wonder among 7 in the ancient world
• It's described as layers of gardens with plants, trees, and vines, it existence hasn't been verified due to lack physical evidence

Egyptian Civilization

• The Egyptian civilization located in North Africa is renown for engineering and infrastructure feats under the Pharaohs

Paper or Papyrus

• Egyptians developed a writing system that created paper or papyrus
• They found clay tables to be too fragile, heavy, and delicate.
• By processing thin sheets of papyrus they created a welcome development

Ink

• As papyrus paper became mainstream, engraving was no longer needed, Egyptians invented ink
• Ink combined chemicals and soot to create all differernt colors

Hieroglyphics

• Egyptians developed a writing systems using glyphs
• Some believe it was adapted from Mesopotamia as a result of trade
• The egyptians believed it was provided by the gods
• Historians use hieroglyphics to understand aspects of ancient Egyptians society, but they require extra care because they are also illustrations that can mislead their data or meaning

Cosmetics and Wig

• Egyptians are credited for inventing cosmetics
• In modern times are used to improve and highlight the facial features
• Egyptians used these for aesthetics as well as health

Water Clock/Clepsydra

• The Egyptians invented an important ancient clock contribution, the water clock
• This clock uses a gravitational force to move water and measure time
• It then leads to our modern day clock by the succeeding civilization

Greek Civilization

• Greece is an archipelago in southeastern Europe, and difficult to conquer.
• Europe is the birthplace of western ideas
• Greek Civilization contributed to the world in science and technology

Greek Civilization Advances

• Leucippus and Democritus created the first Atomic Theory
• Pythagoras constructed a system of mathematics called the Pythagorean Theorem

Alarm Clock

• The alarm clock was invented in ancient greece
• They would alarm the time to tell an individual when to start or stop
• It is similar to the system developed by the Egyptians but this is more accurate

Water Mill

• One of the biggest contributions comes in the for of Watermills
• That assisted agriculture for food processing
• Mass producing rice, cereais and flowers

Roman Civilization

• The Roman empire was a strong political and social entity in the west
• It followed its own principles on governance, and had very complex laws
• This made it a complex and stable empire

Roman Civilizations Innovations

• Newspaper
• Bound Books or Codex
• Roman Architecture
• Roman Numerals
• Most of the above are still in use globally today, especially the newspaper

Chinese Civilization

• The Chinese civilization could possibly be the oldest in Asia/the world
• It's middle kingdom created famous silk trades to other civilizations, as well as internal silk industry, tea production, worlds famous Great wall of China, Gun powder
• China controls nearly all production of goods from: Gadgets, furniture, weapon, medicine, basic necessities,
• This economic control has extended its global political influences

Medieval/Middle Ages

• Massive wars of invasion were prevalent during the middle ages
• Great technology was needed for weaponry, food production, health, navigation
• A goal was to control trade and commerce among different cultures

Printing Press

• Johann Gutenberg was able to invent a printing press, a reliable way of printing
• This type printing evolved it into the mechanical printing press used all over the world.
• This addressed the need for publishing books to easily spread the information faster

Microscope

• Growing population caused migration and more people got sick
• Microscopes allowed experts understand the sickness through investigation to magnify even the smallest diseases

Telescope

• As the Middle Ages become an Age of Exploration, so did the need for nautical inventions
• Ship captains could navigate, avoid dangers with them, and see over the horizon

War Weapon

• Close range weapons like bows and arrows were developed due to widespread war

Modern Times

• Transportation, Communication, the needs of the population boomed exponentially
• Faster and cheaper means for these industries to communicate
• Birth of various new industries, alongside new complicated industrialization problems

Pasteurization

• Protecting manufacturing products became prioritized
• This would kill toxins that would have become an immediate food poisoning crisis
• Louise Pasture developed the pasteurization heating dairies to kill bacteria

Petroleum Refinery

• Samuel M, Kier created kerosene by refining petroleum
• Kerosene was lighting for homes and still applies to factories, automotives, and power plants

Telephone

• Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone
• The first words were "Mr. Watson come here, I want to see you"
• Although the connection was limited, it paved the way for modern communication and easy necessity

Calculator

• An early version already existed, but circumstances in modern times requires calculating at a greater scale
• Eased arithmetic calculations, complex processing, as well as the development of computers

Philippine Inventions

• Despite being a developing country, Philippines contribute to science and technology.
• Aimed to remedy consumer needs by inventing useful machines for everyday living
• With the help from the DOST they have contributed;
• Videoke
• Salamander Amphibious Tricycle
• Salt Lamp, Medical Incubator
• Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap System
• Ejeepney

Philippine Inventions Society

• Philippine innovation has been a world force.
• The innovators of the Filipino Inventors Society continue to create resources, apply knowledge, and discover global solutions

Explore the Sumerian civilization's advancements in science, technology, writing (cuneiform), and architecture, including the construction of Uruk and the Great Ziggurat of Ur. Understand the impact of these innovations on Sumerian society and subsequent civilizations, and the challenges they addressed.