Historical Antecedents in Science and Tech PDF

HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Ancient Times Middle Ages Modern Times Philippine Invention  ANCIENT TIMES In the ancient times, people were concerned with transportation, navigation, communication and record keeping,...

HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Ancient Times Middle Ages Modern Times Philippine Invention  ANCIENT TIMES In the ancient times, people were concerned with transportation, navigation, communication and record keeping, mass production, security and protection, as well as health, aesthetics, and architecture. Transportation- was significant that time because people were trying to go places and discover new horizon.  ANCIENT TIMES Communication- was also essential in their endeavors to discover and occupy new places. They needed to communicate They needed a way to communicate with the natives of the areas they visited so as to facilitate trade and prevent possible conflicts. Record-keeping was also important since they needed to remember the places they had been to and document the trades they made with each other. It was also vital to keep records of their history and culture so they could establish their identities as they tried to relate with other cultures and civilizations.  ANCIENT TIMES Weapons and armors were important as well in the discovery of new places or the establishment of new alliances with other tribes. At that time, there was always a risk of conflict when people met others with different culture and orientations. Conflicts were common especially if different groups struggled to control vital resources.  ANCIENT TIMES People ventured into what is now known as the field of engineering. The development in this field allowed humans to build structures that would address their specific needs and wants. Some of the structures built during the ancient times still exist today and continually awe people.  ANCIENT TIMES Others might see architecture as a mere style, but during the ancient times, elaborate architectural designs were signs of technological advancement of a particular civilization.  ANCIENT TIMES The development in engineering also ushered in the introduction of architecture. In the generations to come, architecture would be considered a status symbol among nations of how advanced their technology is. It may also establish the identity of a nation.  SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION Sumeria is located on the southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia.  SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION Sumerians are known for their high degree of cooperation with one another and their desire for great things. They are not contented with the basic things that life can offer. This desire pushed them to develop many things connected with science and technology.  CUNEIFORM One of the major contributions of the Sumerians is the development of the first writing system known as cuneiform. It is a system that utilizes word pictures and triangular symbols which are carved on clay using wedge instruments and then left to dry. Cuneiform allowed the Sumerians to keep records of things with great historical value or their everyday life.  URUK CITY Another important contribution of the Sumerians is the City of Uruk. It is a great wonder not only because it is considered to be the first true city in the world but also for the way it was erected.  URUK CITY There were no building stones in the location of this city and lumber was limited, making the construction a big challenge. They used the bricks to make houses that protected them from the harsh weather and to build a wall around the city that prevented wild animals and neighboring raiders from entering.  THE GREAT ZIGGURAT OF UR Another engineering and architectural feat of the Sumerians is the Great Ziggurat of Ur. Without much building materials, the structure was constructed using sun baked bricks. The ziggurat, also called the mountain of god, was built in the same manner that they constructed the City of Uruk. As such, even until today, people still enjoy and marvel at the preserved Great Ziggurat of Ur.  IRRIGATION AND DIKES The Sumerians were challenged to mass produce food items but the elements in the environment seemed uncooperative. As a solution to this dilemma, the Sumerians created dikes and irrigation canals to bring water to farmlands and at the same time control the flooding of the rivers.  SAILBOAT At that time, the wheel was not yet invented; the main mode of transportation was through waterways such as rivers and seas. Another challenge to the Sumerians was transportation. Boats were used to carry large quantities of products and were able to cover large distances. However, they wanted to discover faraway lands to settle since the population was getting larger, and boats were not enough to accommodate more people and products.  WHEEL In the latter part of their history, the Sumerians were able to invent the wheel since the specialized tools needed to create it were already available. The first wheels were not made for transportation but for farm work and food processes. With the use of the wheel and axle, mass production was made easier. Farmers were able to mill grains with less effort in less time.  THE PLOW Another farm technology invented by the Mesopotamians is the plow. However, farmers needed a technology which would enable them to dig the ground where seeds would be planted. The plow was invented to dig the earth in a faster pace. Humans evolved from being food gatherers to farm cultivators.  BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The Babylonians were great builders, engineers, and architects.  HANGING GARDEN OF BABYLON The Hanging Gardens of Babylon made up of layers upon layers of gardens that contained several species of plants, trees, and vines.  HANGING GARDEN OF BABYLON According to legends, the great Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II built the gardens for his wife, Queen Amytis. However, no physical evidence has been found to prove the existence of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Its exact location is also unknown. Since time immemorial, people have been debating about the existence of the said mythical place.  EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION Another early civilization famous for its legacy is the Egyptian civilization located in North Africa. Many stories tell about the engineering feats of the Egyptians especially regarding the infrastructures established by the pharaohs.  PAPER OR PAPYRUS One of the earlier contributions of Egyptian civilization was the paper or papyrus. Before the Egyptian innovation, clay tablets were used. Hence, Egyptian invention of the paper or papyrus was a welcome development. Although Egypt was not the first to develop a system of writing, they were able to make writing easier for the world.  INK When the Egyptians invented the papyrus or the paper, engraving ceased to be used in writing. As a result, the Egyptians invented ink by combining soot with different chemicals to produce inks of different colors. The ink must withstand the elements of nature since it was used to record history, culture, and codified laws.  HIEROGLYPHICS Like the Sumerians, the Egyptians also developed a system of writing using symbols, known as hieroglyphics. It was adapted from the early writing system established in Mesopotamia as a result of trade between civilizations. They believed that this writing system was provided to them by their gods.  COSMETICS In ancient Egypt, the use of cosmetics is both for health and aesthetic reason. What is the purpose of cosmetics in the modern times? Egyptian wore Kohl around to prevent and even cure eye diseases. Egyptians also believed that a person wearing make-up was protected from evil and beauty was a sign of holiness.  WIG During the ancient Egyptian times, wig were worn for health and wellness rather than aesthetic purposes. The wigs were used to protect the shaved heads of the wealthy Egyptians from the harmful rays of the sun. Moreover, it was considered cleaner that natural hair because it prevented the accumulation of head lice.  GREEK CIVILIZATION Greece is an archipelago in the southeastern part of Europe. Known as the birthplace of western philosophy, some of the major achievements of the Greeks include in-depth works on philosophy and mathematics. More than coliseums and the Olympics, the Greek civilization has contributed much to the world especially in the fields of science and technology.  ALARM CLOCK One of the most utilized gadgets today that was invented by the ancient Greeks is the alarm clock. Although the alarm clock during that time did not resemble the present-day alarm clock, the purpose was just the same to tell an individual when to stop or when to start. ALARM CLOCK  WATER MILL They were commonly used in agricultural processes like milling of grains which was a necessary form of food processing during that time. Because milling was made possible by the use of watermills, the mass production of rice, cereals, flours, and the like became common.  ROMAN CIVILIZATION The Roman Empire was perceived to be the strongest political and social entity in the west. It was considered to be the cradle of politics and governance during that period. Because the Roman Empire was so large, other civilizations looked up to it as their model in terms of legislation and codified laws.  NEWSPAPER One of the major contributions of the Romans is the newspaper. The first newspapers, known as gazettes, contained announcements of the Roman Empire to the people. Made before the invention of paper, these gazettes were engraved in metal or stone tablets and then publicly displayed. When paper was invented, it became easier for the Romans to "publish" matters that needed the attention of the Roman citizens.  BOUND BOOKS OR CODEX With the invention of paper, it became easier for civilization to write down everything that happened in their time. Record keeping was much easier since paper did not easily break, was lightweight, and did not occupy much space.  ROMAN ARCHITECTURE It is one of the visual contributions of the Roman Empire to the world. It is said to be the continuation of Greek architecture. Romans were able to adapt new building and engineering technology on architectural designs established in the past.  ROMAN NUMERALS Although other number systems had already been established before the Roman numeral, these old systems could not keep up with high calculation requirements due to the increasing rate of communication and trade among nations.  CHINESE CIVILIZATION The Chinese civilization is considered the oldest civilization in Asia, if not the world. It was famous among other ancient civilizations because of its silk trade. Bonus activity: Take a selfie with the oldest technology you can find at your home and send it to the group chat. The first 3 students who’ll comply will be credited a plus 5 points in our 1st quiz.  SILK Silk production resulted in the creation of a product for trade. The silk trade opened China to the outside world, making way for cultural, economic, and scientific exchanges. It bridged the gap between the western world and the middle kingdom.  TEA PRODUCTION Tea is a beverage produce by pouring hot or boiling water over crush or shredded dried tea leaves. It was believed that the first tea was drunk by a Chinese emperors.  GREAT WALL OF CHINA Once considered the only man- made structure that could be seen from outer space, the Great Wall of China is said to be the largest and most extensive infrastructure that the nation built.  GUN POWDER They mixed charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate, but instead of creating an elixir of life, they accidentally invented a black powder that could actually generate large amounts of heat and gas in an instant.  MEDIEVAL/MIDDLE AGES The start of the middle ages was marred by massive invasions and migrations. Wars were prevalent during this time. As such, great technology was needed in the fields of weaponry, navigation, mass food and farm production, and health.  PRINTING PRESS After the Chinese developed woodblock printing, Johann Gutenberg was able to invent the printing press, a more reliable way of printing using a cast type.  MICROSCOPE Another invention in the Middle Ages is the microscope. Growing populations caused massive migration and urbanization during the period. More and more people transferred to polluted and populated urban areas which resulted in more people getting sick and needing medical attention.  TELESCOPE The invention of the telescope, an optical instrument that helps in the observation of remote objects, was a great help for navigators during this time. Together with the telescope, the invention of the compass, oars, and rudders made sea travelling easier and safer.  WAR WEAPONS Since wars were widespread during the Middle Ages, great development in the weaponry technology also occurred. All sides must develop weaponries not only for offensive tools but also as defensive instruments.  MODERN TIMES Faster and easier means to communicate and compute should be developed to establish connections between and among nations. All these needs resulted in the development of industries. However, due to massive industrialization, the modern times again faced more complicated problems. Food processing and medicine posed some of the bigger challenges since health was of great concern.  PASTEURIZATION As people were able to develop better means of production to meet the needs of the population, food preservation and food safety became an issue. The challenge to keep manufactured food from deteriorating was greater for dairy products, especially milk, since they usually spoiled faster.  TELEPHONE The more people got connected by trade and exploration, the more they needed a way to easily maintain these connections and communicate with each other in real time.  CALCULATOR The creation of modern calculators did not only pave the way for easier arithmetic calculations, but also resulted in the development of more complex processing machines like the computer.  PHILIPPINE INVENTIONS The Philippines is known to be one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of natural disasters. Many of the discoveries and inventions made by the Filipinos were therefore built from indigenous materials or created to adapt to the harsh tropical environment.  SALAMANDER AMPHIBIOUS It TRICYCLE has become ordinary for Filipinos to convert transport vehicles into something more useful. Another Filipino innovation is the addition of a sidecar to a motorcycle transforming it into a tricycle to accommodate more passengers.  SALT LAMP One of the major needs in the Philippines, as a developing nation, is electrification. Electricity powers various types of machines, including light sources. In many rural areas in the country, activities would cease when it gets dark. It also becomes more dangerous to travel.  MEDICAL INCUBATOR Dr. Fe del Mundo, a Filipino pediatrician and the first Asian woman admitted into Harvard Medical School, devised a medical incubator made from indigenous and cheap materials which did not run on electricity. Dr. del Mundo's incubator was made by placing a native laundry basket inside a bigger one.  MOSQUITO OVICIDAL/LARVICIDAL TRAP SYSTEM In 2010, the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) was able to introduce the Mosquito Ovicidal Larvicidal Trap System, also known as OL Trap. This trap system is made of natural ingredients that are lethal to mosquitos but safe for humans and the environment.  E-JEEPNEY This modern type of transportation utilizes electricity instead of the more expensive diesel. It is environment-friendly since it does not emit any smoke and noise. The items discussed in this chapter are only some of the great inventions and developments during the different time periods.