Historical Antecedents of STS PDF

GENERAL EDUCATION SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY LEARNING OBJECTIVES At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to: 1. discuss how scientific and technological developments affect society and environment; 2. explain how intellectual revolut...

GENERAL EDUCATION SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY LEARNING OBJECTIVES At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to: 1. discuss how scientific and technological developments affect society and environment; 2. explain how intellectual revolution transform society; and 3. demonstrate understanding on the historical antecedents towards the development of Science and Technology in the Philippines.  Historical Antecedents in Science and Technology Science and Technology is a field which examines how understanding of the natural world (Science) and ability to manipulate it (Technology) have changed over the centuries. The development in this field are not just products of people’s imagination or one-time thought process; they are also brought about by gradual improvements to earlier works from different time periods. ANCIENT TIMES Peope during this time were concerned with transportation and navigation, communication and record-keeping, mass production, security and protection, as well as health, aesthetics, and architecture. Ancient technology were divided into six civilizations: 1. Sumerians, 2. Babylonians, 3. Egyptians, 4. Greek, 5. Romans, and 6. Chinese. Each civilization gives us ideas on the different major technological advancements that has been introduced and serves as a basis for the innovations on our modern technologies. Sumerian Civilization Sumer was the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia which is generally considered the cradle of civilization. Living along the valleys of Tigris and Euphrates, Sumerian farmers grew an abundance of grain and other crops, the surplus from which enabled them to form urban settlements. The Sumerians’ innovations gradually spread and led to the development of the modern technology-advanced world that we live in today. Here are some of the areas where the Sumerians left their mark:  1. The most important archaeological discoveries in Sumer is a large number of clay tablets written in cuneiform script. Sumerian cuneifrom writing was considered as their great milestone and one of their major contributions to Science. It is a system that utilizes word pictures which are carved on clay using wedge instruments. 2. The Great Ziggurat of Ur is the most famous architectural building in Sumeria. These place serves as the sacred place for their chief god. It is commonly called as the Mountain of God. 3. The first wheel was built for farm works and food processing. It was not oringinally used for transportation. The first wheel was a circular section of logs which was used to carry heavy objects. Later on, they added some sledge and then combined the two together. With the use of the wheel and axle, mass production was made easier. 4. When the wheels were not yet invented, the main mode of transporation during the Sumerian civilization was through rivers and seas. Sailboats were invented in order to expand Sumerian trade. The first sailboats were made of wood and papyrus to make it easier to move on water.  5. The study of Astrology was first established during the Sumerian civilization. The first astronomers were the Sumerians. They were the ones who first mapped the stars into different constellations. They used astrological symbols to predict future battles and future city-states. They were also able to identify the planetary systems. 6. The Sumerian Code of Ur-Nammu is the oldest surviving law in the world. Here, laws were listed as well as the corresponding punishments. This code gives us a glimpse of the societal structure of Sumerian civilization. It was created three centuries before the Code of Hammurabi. 7. Another technology invented by the Sumerians is the plow. Farmers needed some form of technology that would help them dig the grounds where seeds would be planted. With this tool, the farmers were able to mass produce food without so much efferot and time. Babylonian Civilization Babylonia is an ancient cultural region occupying southeastern Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Babylonians were great builders, engineers and architects.  1. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The structure was made up of layers upon layers of gardens containing a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, resembling a large green mountain constructed of mud bricks. 2. An ancient Babylonian cartographer created the world’s first map which was made on a clay tablet. The map was used as a tool for navigation, showed trade routes and it was also used for military campaigns, hunting and exploration. The Babylonian Map of the World is circular and depicts mountains, rivers, canals, and swamps. The seven small circles on the map represent the seven Babylonian cities. 3. The concept of the horoscope was introduced by the Babylonians. People during this time believed in the divinity of celestial bodies which direct people’s lives. They make use of the position of the astronomical bodies to foretell their daily lives especially those of the king. They also observed that constellations determine the weather, climate, seasons thus helping the farmers decide which crops whould be sown when. 4. The Babylons devised system of dividing time into 60 sections. They estimated the earth’s movement around the sun. This current system of time has been in use up to this present time. Egyptian Civilization Ancient Egypt was a civilization of ancient North Africa. Egyptians have contributed several achievements in the history of Science and Technology. Examples of these are quarrying, surveying and construction techniques. 1. The ancient pyramids are among the most astonishing structures in the world. Made with solid geometrical shapes with a square base and four equal triangular sides. It is not just a structure but it plays an important part of Egyptian civlization. The pyramids were built as tombs for kings and were used as religious temples. 2. At present, wigs are used to enhance the apperance of people especially those who are balding. But for Egyptians, shaving their heads was a way to keep them clean. During Egyptian times, wigs were worn for health and wellness purposes. Wearing wigs was better than putting on a scarf to protect their heads from the harmful rays of the sun.  3. The Egyptians were so advanced that were the first to have the idea of calculating time therefore inventing the sun clock (sundial). The sundial made it possible to differentiate between and predict morning, afternoon and night. 4. The ancient Egyptians also invented the use of cosmetics. It was worn by both men and women regardless of their social status. In Egypt, wearing cosmetics was for both health and aesthetic reasons. They believed that a person wearing make-up was protected from evil and that was also a healing procedure for the sick.  5. The ancient Egyptians believed in afterlife and in plenty of gods and goddesses which made them to start the process of mummification (to prevent the human body from decaying). The process included mixing of water and palm wine to clean the bodies. They carefully removed the internal organs except the heart and placed them in jars. 6. Ancient Egyptians are credited for the creation of the first kind of calendar called the solar calendar. The calendar was based on the position of the Earth as it rotates around the sun. Calendars play an important role during the Egyptians civilization because they used it as their basis for farming, and as a way for keeping an eye on the annual flooding of the Nile. 7. Although the Egyptians were not the first to develop the system of writing, they were able to make writing easier. One of the earlier contribution of Egyptian civilization was the paper of papyrus. Papers were made from a papyrus plant which is lighter and thinner compared to clay tablets. The Egyptian invention of paper or papyrus was a welcome development. People then were able to send letters anywhere in the world since the pieces of paper were very light that they could be carried by the birds. This invention was also considered as a major accomplishment in Egyptian record- keeping and communication. After the invention of the papyrus or paper, ink was invented by the Egyptians. This ink was very black like carbon black and could not deteriorate when been applied over the papyrus to write. Ink was made by combining soot with different chemical to produce different colors. 8. Egyptians were also one of those who developed a system of writing using symbols and it was known as hieroglyphics. Most of their writing were in codes. Egyptians believed that this writing system was provided to them by their gods. Hieroglyphics was the language that told the history and culture of the ancient Egyptians. Greek Civilization Greece is known as the birthplace of western philosophy. Some of the major achievements of Greeks include the areas of astronomy, geography, and mathematics made them pioneers in the field of Science. They also got hailed as the fathers of science, medicine, zoology, and many other areas. Remarkable leaders like Alexander the Great and Pericles, and their innovative and philosophical ideas have motivated thousands of other intellectuals throughout history.  1. Water mills were considered as one of the most important contribution of the Greeks to the world. They were commonly used in agricultural process like milling of grains. Because milling was possible by the use of watermills, it increase the mass production of products such as rice, cereals, flours and so on. 2. One of the most commonly used gadgets these days is the alarm clock, and it too had its origins in ancient Greece. The purpose of the alarm clock is to tell an individual when to stop or when to start. The ancient alarm clocks made use of water. Over time, the alarm clock has undergone a number of changes and improvements from the mechanical alarm to modern gadgets like cell phones, which come with an inbuilt alarm. 3. The modern Olympics is one of the greatest sporting spectacles of the modern age. But when Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the international Olympic committee, started the first modern Olympics in 1896, he was inspired by the ancient Olympics that were held in Greece more than 2,700 years ago. According to historical records, the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC. They were dedicated to the Olympian gods and were staged on the plains of Olympia.  4. Geometry is described as one of the oldest branches of mathematics which was introduced 1. during the Greek Civilization. The Egyptians, Babylonians, and the Indus were among the first to incorporate and use many such techniques but they never worked out the rules and axioms governing geometry. Back then, ancient people believed that diseases were punishments from God. Remedies were all made superstition. Hippocrates, a Greek physician was considered one of the most outstanding personalities in the history of medicine. He was referred to be called as the father of medicine. He collected data and conducted several experiments to know the natural causes of diseases. The field of medicine was introduced during Greek civilization. Based on Hippocrates’ experiment, diseases were cause by natural reactions of the body. Roman Civilization The Roman civilization was considered to be the cradle of politics and governance during ancient times. But aside from politics, Romans were prodigious builders and expert civil engineers, and their thriving civilization produced advances in technology, culture and architecture that remained unequaled for centuries. 1. The Romans enjoyed many amenities for their day, including public toilets, underground sewage systems, fountains and ornate public baths. None of these aquatic innovations would have been possible without the Roman aqueduct. These aqueducts used gravity to transport water along stone, lead and concrete pipelines and into city centers. Aqueducts promotes public health and sanitation. 2. The Romans first began building with cement and concrete. Roman concrete was considerably weaker than its modern counterpart, but it has proved remarkably durable thanks to its unique recipe, which used slaked lime and a volcanic ash known as pozzolana to create a sticky paste. 3. One of the most important contributions of Romans is the newspaper. The first newspaper, known as gazettes which contain announcements of the Roman Empire to the people. 4. With the invention of the paper, everything has been put into records. Record-keeping was much easier since paper did not easily break. The Romans streamlined the medium by creating the codex, a stack of bound pages that is recognized as the earliest incarnation of the book. The first codices were made of bound wax tablets, but these were later replaced by animal skin parchment that more clearly resembled pages. 5. Roman engineers improved on arches by flattening their shape to create what is known as a segmental arch and repeating them at various intervals to build stronger supports that could span large gaps when used in bridges and aqueducts. 6. The modern Gregorian calendar is modeled very closely from a Roman version that dates back more than 2,000 years. But because the Romans considered even numbers unlucky, they eventually altered their calendar to ensure that each month had an odd number of days. Chinese Civilization Chinese civilization is considered as the oldest in Asia. The ancient Chinese were innovative and determined. They have given us four of the greatest inventions in the world – the compass, gunpowder, paper, and printing, but the list does not stop there. Chinese also invented lots of other things during the medieval period, and that is why two very important inventions from this period have also been included. Chinese civilization became famous because of its silk trade. 1. One of the things that connected Chinese to the world is silk. Apart from clothing, silk was widely used in a variety of sectors including writing, fishing, and for musical instruments. Silk was dominantly used by emperors and high-class society but later it spread to the rest of the population. Silk production resulted in the creation of a product for trade. This resulted in an economic boom and Chinese silk started to decrease in value and exports. 2. Tea was discovered in ancient China. Tea is a beverage produced by pouring hot or boiling water over crushed dried tea leaves. Tea production was developed by the ancient Chinese thus, making China became known for its tea exports aside from silk. 3. Chinese kites are made up of papers and others are made of silk. The first kites were being used to carry messages for rescue missions. Aside from this, kites were also used to test the wind, measure the distance and for military communication. 4. The Great Wall of China was once considered the only man-made structure that could be seen from the outer space. It is the largest and the most extensive infrastructure that the nation built. It is estimated that millions of people worked to build the Great Wall over a period of 1,000 years. Glutinous rice flour was used as a binding material to bind the bricks. The Great Wall continues to be a world attraction due to its historical significance and architectural grandeur. 5. The gunpowder is one of the most interesting inventions in China. The first chemical explosive known as a gunpowder or black powder was made from sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). The Chinese used gunpowder and gunpowder-based weaponry as a military defense. It is also used in fireworks during important celebration in China. Medieval/Middle Ages Middle Ages was marred by massive invasion and migrations. The period saw major technological advances, including the adoption of gunpowder, the invention of vertical windmills, spectacles, mechanical clocks, and greatly improved water mills, building techniques (Gothic architecture, medieval castles), and agriculture in general (three-field crop rotation). As such, great technology was needed in the field of weaponry, navigation, mass food production as well as health. C  1. German Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press which was made of wooden machines. The printing press was invented to address the need for publishing books that would help spread information to the people. 2. Eyeglasses were said to be invented during the Medieval period. It is considered as one of the most useful medieval inventions which help correct vision problems and have a great benefit to hundreds of millions of people today. 3. The spinning wheel reached Europe via Middle East in European Middle Ages. It replaced the hand spinning method. 4. Since the hourglass was one of the few reliable methods of measuring time at sea, it has been speculated that it was in use as far back as the 11th century, where it would have complemented the magnetic compass as an aid to navigation. The earliest written records come from the same period and appear in lists of ships stores. 5. Another invention of Middle Ages is the microscope. Microscopes are used to investigate objects which are invisible to the naked eye. This instrument paved way for the discovery of new means in preventing, curing various illness. 6. Middle Ages was also known for Age of Exploration. The invention of telescope helps in the observation of remote objects. It helps to see far and wide objects especially for those navigating the sea to avoid dangers. Modern Times The modern-day world has made a remarkable innovation in the field of science and technology. There is a high demand of production, transportation, faster and easier ways of communication, and upgrading of machines. Because of these needs, it resulted in the development of industries.  1. Although an earlier version of calculating machine called Abacus had already been developed, the creation of modern calculator which are number-patterned was introduced. This mechanical machine gave foundation of modern-day computing is based. 2. Cameras are considered as time machines for it captures moments of the past. With the advancements of camera technology, it has helped bring high quality pictures. For this reason, it is considered as one of the most amazing inventions in the modern times. 3. Thomas Alba Edison’s mastermind guided to this amazing invention that changed the world. With the electrification of the modern world, the light bulb invented in the year 1879 profoundly changed human life by illuminating the night. The first electric bulb made it possible for all human lives hospitable to a wide extent of modern day activities.  Radio is regarded as one of the remarkable inventions of the 20th century. It made the one- way communication easier and spread wide over to the world in no time. It became popular for it 1. provided news bulletins, music, as well as game commentary which still make its presence unaffected by the television which dazed the world. Television can be a great source of amusement and knowledge as well as a great way of communication in a real-time visualized way. Internet is one of the finest inventions of modern days. It is like brain at the finger tip. Anything that is required for work, music, or fun is made available in the internet. Exchanging emails, photos, documents, online conferencing has made communication even more faster and efficient with minimal amount of restrictions.  Electricity has laid foundations for several development process and given ideas to 1. other inventions as well. Each and every gadgets, and most of our daily used appliances require the use of electricity that keeps it at the top of the list as the best modern day inventions. 2. Communication is very important for most people to be connected by trade and explorations. Thus, the development of the Telephone by Alexander Graham Bell was one of the most important inventions. Philippine Inventions The Philippines is considered as one of the developing countries in Asia. Despite as being one of the developed countries, it also contributes to the global advancements in the field of Science and Technology. Filipinos have accumulated knowledge and developed technology stemmed from necessities; from naval navigation knowledge, traditional shipbuilding technology, textile techniques, food processing to Architecture, indigenous arts and techniques, cultural inventions, scientific discoveries - both ancient and modern state of the Philippines.  Because of the frequent flooding during rainy season, Filipino scientists were able to invent the Salamander. It is an amphibious tricycle that 1. has the ability to cross flooded streets. Electricity is especially important to power various types of machines, including light bulbs. Many rural areas in the Philippines do not have electricity thus many activities are affected especially during nighttime. Filipinos resorted in using kerosene and candles. Fortunately, A young inventor named Aisa Mijeno was able to invent the SALt lamp (Sustainable Lighting Lamp). This system utilizes salt water to source light. Because of the mortality rate of newborn babies in the Philippines, Dr. Fe del Mundo devised a medical incubator which is made up of indigenous materials. Hot water bottles were inserted to provide warmth. Its main purpose was to maintain conditions suitable for the newborn (usually a pre-term baby). Here in the Philippines, jeepneys dominate the streets and are considered the primary mode of transportation. However, high emission of black smoke contributes to air pollution. To address this issue, electronic jeepney (eJeepney) was developed. This modern type utilizes electricity instead of diesel. And most of all it is now environment-friendly since it does not emit smoke and noise.