Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology PDF

Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology  LESSON OBJECTIVE At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to: 1. Discuss the Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology 2. Explain how Philippine scientific and technological inventions shaped and were shaped by various...

Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology  LESSON OBJECTIVE At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to: 1. Discuss the Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology 2. Explain how Philippine scientific and technological inventions shaped and were shaped by various social contexts. One of the key interests of STS as an academic field is the history of science and technology. As a strand of STS, the history of science and technology focuses on how science and technology have changed across time. An ANTECEDENT is defined as a precursor to the unfolding or existence of something. Thus, historical antecedents in science and technology are factors that paved the way for the presence of advanced and sophisticated scientific and technological innovations today.  ANCIENT PERIOD The rise of ancient civilization paved the way for advances in science and technology. These advances during the Ancient Period allowed civilizations to flourish by finding better ways of communication, transportation, self-organization, and living in general. EXAMPLES OF ANCIENT TECHNOLOGIES DURING ANCIENT PERIOD ANCIENT WHEEL People from Ancient Civilizations used animals for transportation long before the invention of the wheel. Therefore, it is a revolutionary invention that changed the way people lived, worked, and traveled.  PAPER Roughly around 3000 BC, the ancient Egyptians began writing on papyrus. The Papyrus is made from the pith of the papyrus plant cyperus papyrus. It is lightweight, strong, durable, and portable. With the advent of papyrus, documentation and record-keeping became efficient, widespread, and vast.  SHADOOF The Shadoof was an early tool invented and used by ancient Egyptians to irrigate land. It’s invention introduced the idea of lifting things using counterweights. Because of this invention, irrigation and farming became much more efficient. ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM It is discovered in 1902 and retrieved from the waters of Antikythera, Greece. The Antikythera mechanism is similar to a mantel clock. It is widely believed that the Antikythera mechanism was used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes.  AEOLIPILE Also known as Hero’s engine, the aeolipile is widely believed to be the ancient precursor of the steam engine. The aeolipile is a steam-powered turbine which spun when the water container at it’s center heated , thus making it practically the first rudimentary steam engine.  AEOLIPILE It is not clear whether the aeolipile served any practical purpose, but it is believed to be one of the many “temple wonders” at the time. Nonetheless, Vitruvius, a Roman author, architect, and civil engineer, described aeolipile as a scientific invention through which “ the mighty and wonderful laws of the heavens and the nature of winds” may be understood and judged.  MIDDLE AGES During Middle Ages, major advances in scientific and technological development took place. The Middle Ages was not as stagnant as alternate terms such as the “Medieval Period” or “Dark Ages” suggest. In fact, some of humanity’s most important present-day technologies could be traced back to their historical antecedents in the Middle Ages. EXAMPLES OF ANCIENT TECHNOLOGIES DURING MIDDLE AGES HEAVY PLOUGH One of the most important technological innovation during the Middle Ages. Through the invention of heavy plough, it became possible to harness clay soil. The heavy plough stirred an agricultural revolution in Northern Europe marked by higher and healthier agricultural yields and more efficient agricultural practices. GUNPOWDER Around 850 AD, Chinese alchemists accidentally invented black powder or gunpowder. Since its invention, the gunpowder has allowed for more advanced warfare. The gunpowder has prompted foundation for the functionality of almost every new weapon used in war since it’s invention. PAPER MONEY Before the introduction of paper money, precious metals, such as gold and silver were used as currency. However the idea of assigning value to a marked piece of paper did not immediately become popular. In fact, it did not gain immediate success. Later on, the traders and merchants eventually realized the huge advantage of using paper money because it is more convenient compare to previous forms of currencies. MECHANICAL CLOCK The development of Mechanical clocks paved the way for accurately keeping track of time. The sophistication of clockwork technology of the mechanical clock drastically changed the way days were spent and work patterns were established, particularly in the more advanced Middle Age cities. SPINNING WHEEL A machine used for transforming fiber into thread or yarn and eventually woven into cloth on a loom. Prior to the invention of spinning wheel, weaving was done predominantly through the more time-consuming and tedious process of hand spinning. According to White (1974), the invention of the spinning wheel sped up the rate at which fiber could be spun by a factor of 10 to 100 times.  MODERN AGES As the world population steadily increased, people of the Modern Ages realized the utmost importance of increasing the efficiency of transportation, communication, and production. Industrialization took place with greater risks in human health, food, safety, and environment which had to be addressed as scientific and technological progress unfolded at an unimaginable speed. EXAMPLES OF ANCIENT TECHNOLOGIES DURING MODERN AGES COMPOUND MICROSCOPE The invention of the compound microscope is credited to Zacharias Janssen, a Dutch spectacle maker, who developed it in 1590 with the help of his father by combining multiple lenses. This innovation allowed objects to be magnified significantly, marking an important advancement in scientific studies. Today, the compound microscope is an important instrument in many scientific studies, such as in the areas of medicine, forensic studies, tissue analysis, atomic studies, and genetics.  TELESCOPE Galileo Galilei’s telescope, capable of magnifying objects 20 times, revolutionized astronomy by enabling the discovery of craters and mountains on the moon. This breakthrough showed the vastness of the universe, fundamentally altering humanity’s understanding of its scale. For the first time, it became clear that the universe is far larger than previously imagined and the Earth far smaller compared to the entire universe. JACQUARD LOOM The Jacquard loom, invented by French weaver Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1801, revolutionized textile manufacturing by automating complex designs using punch cards. This innovation became a precursor to modern computing, as it demonstrated the use of machines to perform intricate tasks efficient. ENGINE-POWERED AIRPLANE The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, designed and successfully flew the first engine-powered airplane, marking the beginning of modern aviation. Their invention demonstrated that aircraft could achieve sustained flight, paving the way for advancements in aerodynamics and aviation technology.  TELEVISION The Scottish engineer John Logie Baird is credited for inventing the modern television, successfully creating televised images of recognizable human faces in 1925 and moving objects in 1926. Although groundbreaking, Baird’s mechanical television was later criticized for its fuzzy and flickering images compared to later electronic versions. INVENTIONS BY FILIPINO SCIENTIST Throughout Philippine history, Filipinos are responsible for developing many scientific and technological innovations focused on navigation, traditional shipbuilding, textile, food processing, indigenous arts and techniques, and even cultural inventions. ELECTONIC JEEPNEY E-jeepneys are designed to be environment-friendly, eliminating noise and air pollution as they run on electricity. They are also more economical for electricity is far cheaper than ordinary diesel, allowing jeepney drivers to earn more profit. ERYTHROMYCIN One of the most important medical inventions is the Erythromycin. The Ilonggo scientist Abelardo Aguilar invented this antibiotic out of a strain of bacterium called Strptomyces erythreus, from which this drug derived it’s name. ERYTHROMYCIN As with the case of several other local scientists, however, Aguilar was not credited for this discovery by Eli Lilli Co., Aguilar’s US employer, to whom he sent the strain for separation. The US company eventually owned the merit for this discovery. MEDICAL INCUBATOR  MEDICAL INCUBATOR World-renowned Filipino pediatrician and national scientist, Fe Del Mundo, is credited for the invention of the incubator. Del Mundo was the first woman pediatrician to be admitted to the prestigious Harvard University’s School of Medicine. She is also the founder of the first pediatric hospital in the country.  MEDICAL INCUBATOR Del Mundo’s incubator was particularly outstanding as it addressed the state of Philippine rural communities that had no electricity to aid the regulation of body temperature of newborn babies. For this, purpose, Del Mundo’s invention was truly ingenious. MOLE REMOVER In 2000, a local invention that had the ability to easily remove moles and warts on the skin without the need for any surgical procedure shot to fame. Rolando Dela Cruz, is credited for the invention of a local mole remover that made use of extracts of cashew nuts, which are very common in the Philippines.  MOLE REMOVER The indigenous formula easily caught on for it’s accessibility, affordability, and painless ad scarless procedure. Dela Cruz won a gold medal for this invention in the International Invention, Innovation, Industrial Design, and Technology Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2000. BANANA KETCHUP  BANANA KETCHUP Filipino food technologist, Maria Orosa, is credited for the invention of banana Ketchup, a variety of ketchup different from the commonly known tomato ketchup. Her invention appeals particularly to Filipinos who love using condiments to go along with their food.  BANANA KETCHUP Historical accounts states that Orosa invented the Banana Ketchup at the backdrop of World War II when there was a huge shortage of tomatoes. As a result, Orosa developed a variety of ketchup that made use of mashed banana, sugar, vinegar, and spices, which were all readily available. Orosa’s banana ketchup is brownish-yellow in natural color, but is dyed red to resemble the color to the most love tomato ketchup. THANK YOU