CHAPTER | Historical Antecedents in the Course of Science and Technology fe LEARNING OUTCOMES ‘At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to: 1. explain how science and technology affected the society and environment and vice versa; 2. identify inventions and discoveries that changed the world over the course of history; and 3. discuss the scientific and technological developments in the Philippines. Science and technology indeed play major n the everyday life. They make difficult and cated tasks easier and allow people to do more with so little effort and time. The developments in this field are not just products of people’s imagination or a one-time thought process; they are also brought about by gradual improvements to earlier works from different time periods. The driving force behind this continuous progress is the desite to raise the quality of life of the people. HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ANCIENT TIMES In the ancient times, people were concerned with transportation and navigation, communication and record~ keeping, mass production, security and protection, as well a3 health, aesthetics, and architecture. Transportation was significant during that time because people were trying to go places and discover new horizons. ‘They travelled to search for food and find better locations for their settlements. They also travelled to trade their surplus goods in exchange for things that they lacked. Navigation assisted them in their journeys to unfamiliar and strange areas in the world. It allowed them to return home after they discovered new places or completed an important trade with another group of people. Communication was also essential in their endeavors to discover and occupy new places. 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 The increase in size and number of nations connoted increased demand for food and other basic necessities. This condition also implied that people must be able to produce food at a given time and space since resources were getting scarcer as more people struggled to share the basic necessities. The people thus needed a form of technology that would enable them to increase food supplies and other needs without the ig more or working trav© geyvenat CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY Ae Wea ons and armors were important as well in the ane of new places or the establishment of new vith other tribes. At that time, there was always a araLof conflict when people met others with different culture nd orientations. Conflicts were common especialy if different groups struggled to control vital resources. Stronger nations aided to invade weaker ones so they could take much needed fecources, As such, the development of weapons and armors for security and protection was considered a major achievement. 'A primary challenge they faced was the conservation of life, The early people might have been successful in harnessing. the rich resources that the world could provide, but their survival posed a great problem. Different illnesses and diseases, both natural and man-made, hampered the full potential of a human being, Given this predicament, science and technology played a major role in the discovery of cures to, if not the prevention of, illnesses. Moreover, in order to integrate their needs—for better transportation, establishment of structures for protection from human attacks and natural disasters, and construction of bigger and stronger infrastructures—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, The development in engineering also ushered in the introduction of architecture. Others might sce architecture as a ‘mere style but during the ancient times, elaborate architectural designs were signs of technological advancement of a particular civilization. In the generations to come, architecture would be considered 2 status symbol among nations of how advanced their technology is. It may also establish the identity of a nation. Hi unane ISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND TecHNOLOGY The people were not contented on infrastructures and surroundings. Bi life with the mass product ied technalogyt well re seanecmen of making complicated and difficult taske eater, harane Lae, on developed the technology to improve how they lack “they discovered that people looked mote visually presentable and sppealing by adding some features and decorations in their iy. beautifying only their feing able to prolong With all these in mind, one can conclude that the developments in science and technology, aside from affecting the lives of the people, were the results of many prior antecedents. Out of necessity, people in ancient times were able to discover and invent things that would impact the lives of the modern people. The following discussions will tackle the different major technological advancements during the ancient times, which include some of the achievements of the early civilizations such as the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians. It will continue to describe the gradual application of knowledge up to the contemporary time. SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION Sumeria is located on the southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia. 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 cunciform. It is a system that utilizes wordny SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY GENERAL CONCEPTS |! triangular symbols which are carved on wedge instruments and then left to dry. lowed the Sumerians to keep records of things with great historical value or their everyday life. pictures and clay using Cuneiform al Uruk City Another important contribution of the Sumerians is the City of Uruk. It is 2 great wonder not only because it js considered to be the first true city in the world but also for the way it was erected, There were no building stones in the location of this city and lumber was limited, making the construction a big challenge. The Sumerians were able to build the city using only mud or clay from the river, which they mixed with reeds, producing sun-baked bricks—a true engineering feat. 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 Zi i H iggurat of Ur. The ziggurat, also called the mountain of god, was built in the same manner that Historical ISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Figure 1.2 Ziggurac of Ur (econstruction) they constructed the City of Uruk. Without much buildi materials, the structure was constructed using sun baked ee ‘The ziggurat served asthe sacred place oftheir chief god, where only theie priests were allowed to enter. The temple showcases not only the elaborate and intricate Sumerian architecture but also the remarkable technology use to bil. As such, een until today, people still enjoy and ‘ snl oy ep nioy and marvel a the preserved Great Irrigation and Dikes As population increased, so did the demand for food. The Sumerians were challenged to mass produce food items but Figure 1.3 Sumerian fieldsiceprs In SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY Ni A GENERAL cor ‘y vironment seemed uncooperative. It the elements in th ee fgom the rivers, thus they could not was difficult © Brjq. Some groups had scarce water supply, maincain far roblems with flooding caused by the river. while others had FI jilemma, the Sumerians created dikes As a solution (0 re > bring water to farmlands and at the and irigation cone flooding ofthe rivers. This method was same time conve of the world’s most beneficial engineering considered 25 One dikes and canals, the Sumerians were able ch the works. ae dong farming and harvesting, which increased to enjoy year-long their food production Sailboats “Another challenge to the Sumerians was transportation, ‘At that time, the wheel was not yet invented; the main mode of transportation was through waterways such as Hivers and seas, 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 p and. products. Figure 1.4 Mesopotamian sailboat HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ‘They needed a mode of trans much human resource. Some 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 Figure 1.5 production was made easier. Farmers Mesopotamian wheel were able to mill grains with less effort in less time. The Plow Another farm technology invented by the Mesopotamians is the plow. Humans evolved from being food gatherers to farm cultivators. 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. As the plow breaks the ground, the farmer would just drop the seeds and farm work would already be done. With this tool, farmers could cultivate larger parcels of land faster, enabling them to ‘mass produce food without taking so much effort and time.ND SOCIETY CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY Al |ENERAL CO} é a sl, the Sumeriar > c .d easier travel, the Sumerians developed the Fire onde Manized. They made the roads with became fas Figure 1.6 Mesopotamian plow in making the sun-baked bricks Jogy they used in making ¢ a ee down on the ground. They ater poured bitumen, that ; a black sticky substance similar to asphalt roads. The invention of roads was very wsefl especially during the rainy season when traveling in soft and muddy roads pr to be too difficult. BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, The Babylonians were great_ builder, engineers, and architects. One of their major contribution D the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders the ancient world. MISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS Ww THE COUR OF SCIENCE ANO TECHNOLOGY 1 Hanging Gardens of Babylon Today, people can only Hanging Gardens of Baby paintings that marvel at the beauty: lon from stories of Portray the place. It was said to S upon layers of gardens that Mts, trees, and vines, According to. ian King Nebuchad; bu for his wife, Queen Amytis, Howeres wy one! immemorial, people have been debating about the existence of the said mythical place. Many said it was just 4 product of the crei ‘agination of the great King because it lacked or archaeological evidence. On. the other it really existed, it must have been destroyed by wan, crosion, or an earthquake. True or not, hearing the stories and description of the place would be enough to inspire awe to anyone, One can imagine the thick greenery decorated by beautiful flowers coming from different places in the garden. and complicated design of the infrastructure. Ifthe stories were true, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon may be considered asA 2 PAgenena CONCEPTS IN S FAG > @ ae SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY x EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION jvilization famous for its legacy is the ilizati is frica. Many stories ian civilization located in North Africa. 0 mise the engineering feats of the Egyptians especially regarding the infrastructures established by the pharaohs. Aside from engineering technology, the Egyptians have contributed other practical things that the world now considers as essential. Jt is thus safe to say that the pyramids are not the only contribution of the Egyptian civilization to the modern world, Another early ci Paper or Papyrus ‘One of the earlier contributions of Egyptian civilization was the paper or papyrus. Although Egypt was not the first to develop a system of writing, they were able to make writing easier for the world. Before the Egyptian innovation, clay tablets were used. However, safe-keeping and transporting them were a major problem. Clay tablets were very fragile, heavy, and delicate to handle. So, bringing them to places was a major challenge. Hence, the Egyptian invention of the paper or papyrus was a welcome development. Papyrus was a plant that grew abundantly along the Nile River in Egypt. They were able to process the plant in order to produce thin sheets on which one could write down things. Since papyrus was lighter and thinner than clay tablets, it was easy to carry and store. The sheets were also less breakable as compared to clay tablets. This invention was a major accomplishment in Egyptian record-keeping and communications. People then were able to send letters or correspondences anywhere in the world since the pieces of plpersjere very light that they could be carried and deli credby bi is, Morcover, record-keeping was no longer a fife ae Gnents would not take huge storage spaces. 8 Te 1s} Gisier to keep them away from raiders who it) tfo¥ed.recdrds of the nations they invaded. Yes * RA NLR, His TORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY by authorities. Hieroglyphics Like the Sumerians, the Egyptians also developed a system of writing using symbols, known as hieroglyphics. Although some say that hieroglyphics was adapted from the early writing system established in Mesopotamia asa result of trade between civilizations, the Egyptians believed that this writing system was provided to them by their gods. This form of writing can still be seen today and remains to be as famous as the pyramids Figure 1.8 Ancient Egyptian papyrusOLOGY, AND SOCIETY 4 \GENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHN’ where they were found. Hier ‘he modern world of the ns. Their records wet caved at the walls of pyramid structures. C7 RE ToS re we is and other important Egyptian Eg) RSCA Figure |.9 Egyptian hieroglyphics Cosmetics her eyes THE Course Tecunotocy 15. eye diseases. Kohl mineral galena, Bg make-up was prote 4 person wearing eauty was a sign try is a booming Figure 1.11 Egyptians wearing wig Another cosmetic invention of ancient Egyptians is the wig. At present, wigs are used to enhance the appearance of people ing or those who want to try new hair trends. during the ancient Egypt worn for health and wellness rather than forin “46 generar CONCEPTS SCIENCE, TEEHNOLOGY. AND SOCIETY x “The wigs were used to protect the shaved heads of the wealthy q 1e igs om the harmful rays of the sun. ‘Wearing a wig was gyptians y other head cover since a better than putting arf or an} 'n putting on a scarf or any 0 ; wig owe "iRicat to escape. Moreover, it was considered cleaner ig ve ae tural hair because it prevented the accumulation of head lice. Water Clock/Clepsydra ‘Another important ancient Egyptian contribution is the water clock. This device utilizes gravity that affects the flow of water from one vessel to the other. The amount of water (or its height, depending on the method used) remaining in the device determines how much time has elapsed since it is full. In the process, time is measured. The water clock was widely used as a timekeeping device during the ancient times. Figure 1.12 Egyptian Water Clock 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 oe oF the moe wi that was invented is the alarm clock “Aes fee clock during that time did not eet present-day alarm clock, the purporr ese the same—to tell an individual shes Oa or when to start. The ancient Greeks oe clocks used large complicated mecharinta nt time the alarm. They made use of water (g sometimes small stone or sand) tat droppod into drums which sounded the alarm, Fie was believed to have utilized an alarm clock to signal the start of his lecture. His version used four water vessels lined up vertical The upper vessel supplied the water which dropped to the vessel below it, which was set to be filled in a given time. After i was full, water was siphoned off ata faster rate into the third vessel which would cause the expulsion ized gadgets today of contained air, creating a whistling noise. Figure 1.13 An Afterwards, this vessel would empty towards _ilistraton of the bottom vessel for storage and reuse. Plato's alarm, dock Water Mill Watermills were also considered as one of the most important contributions of the Greek civilization to the world. 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. Watermills were considered better than mills powered by farm animals because they required less effort and time to operate since the farmer did not have to raiseyenat CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND society @ . > ivers of flowing water ‘ red access to rivers or flowing wa animals. They on) er arge wheel with small “buckets” of where a mechani installed. water attached to it could be install ROMAN CIVILIZATION i ved to be the strongest The Roman Epi inthe west Tewas considered to gee site of politics and governance during that period. Meat the Ronan Emp was so age other Tooked up t0 it as their model in terms of legislation and codified laws. Aside from their contributions in pi discoveries and inventions to the Roman Empire. Newspaper Figure |.14 Roman Newspaper HistoRicaL ante ceDots, OF Science before the invention of paper, metal or stone tablets and then publi was invented, it became easier for the, matters that needed the fact, with the advent of p Roman senate were done i edited and published on the same day that they-mare, This way, the Romans enjoyed coy ° information the same way we benefit from newspapers, Bound Books or Codex ag With the invention of paper, it became izations to write down everything break, was lightweight, and did not occupy much space. As a result, civilizations became fond of record-keeping, especially Figure 1.14 Bound booksSOCIETY CEPTS IN science, TECHNOLOGY. AND SOCIE ; i and newly legislated laws, ee aoe also changed form from clay tablets Fpaper. Accoeding to sources, Julius Caesar ceo up papyrus to form pages of a serch eral peo prvide covers protect che oo etre earlier covers were made of wax but were later on replaced by Me val skin which proved to be stronger and longer- lasting, With the papyrus pages bound together and covered by animal skin, the ancient Roman Empire was able to produce the first books or codex. to parchments 0 Roman Architecture Roman architecture is one of the most visual contributions of the ancient Roman Empire to the world, Roman architecture was considered a continuation of Greek architecture, hence, the resemblance. However, Roman architecture was still regarded 4s pioneering since the Romans were able to adapt new building and engineering technology on architectural designs established in the past. In this manner, and elaborate architectural de sturdier and stronger infrastecs able to creatively redesign old architectural patterns the new trends at data The coe rent in. engineering and architecture was fully spread by the Roman government so they were she to iy major projects such as large churches (athedcals and bellies aqueducts, coliseums, phic and pa side oh houses. The quality of these majestic Roman seructures ante seen by the way they withstood time an the harsh elements of the environment. Today, people of th i these marvels. These structures ae pros of iene Ro, they were able to prese Figure 1.16 Clock with 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 nce the Roman Empire was expanding, it to the increasing rate of communication and trade among : hada) AND SOCIETY NOLOGY. 7 L aL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TEC STORICAL Anteceoswrs iw THE Counsés) 7 ann ; in i this reason, intain its power. For with many nations to malt ceteea aaa their own number system speci ically to the i xd that would ae ced for a standard counting metho adress te eed ng communication and tae COnEEInS ‘Although the Roman numeral is no longer Wi ly sed ay due to its inherent limitations, quite @ rues of end ana trould ail use it over other more popular number s)emss[¢ the Hindu-Arabic system, due to its aesthetic and historical value. CHINESE CIVILIZATION ‘The Chinese civilization is considered to be the oldest wilization in Asia, if not the world. Also known as the middle kingdom, China is located on the far east of Asia. It was famous among other ancient civilizations because of its silk trade. Not a great amount was written about ancient China partly due to its distance from the other civilizations. Despite its less popular status among the early civilizations, one cannot discredit the significant contributions of Chinese civilization to the world. Silk, One of the things that connected Far East China to the world is silk. Although silk is naturally produced by silk worms, the Chinese were the ones who developed the technology to harvest the silk and process it to produce paper and clothing. 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 Bap between the western world and the middle kingdom. ‘OF SCIENCE AND TeckNoLocy 23 Photo crectColegota, Kota brates, ese un CEASA 1s fcommons wikimedia org Fil Kotor brie eda 38 pg Figure 1.17 Si weaving in Tea Production Tea is a beverage produced by pouring hot or b ‘over crushed or shredded dried tea leaves. It was b the first tea was drunk by a Chinese emperor. Tea production was developed when an unknown Chinese inventor created 18 Chinese teaR LOGY, AND SOCIETY 24 Sigenenar concerTs IN SCIENCE ‘TecHNo Pee ~! ° a machine that was machine was done u! edges attached to @ invention, the Chinese ther nati able to shred tea leaves into strips. This based mechanism with sharp ine tien of ceramic pot. Because of this vere able to increase their production “ons. China thus became known ilk products. Tea production have resulted in making he world today. ising a wheel for its tea exports asi 3 5 developed by the ancient Chinese may hi tea as one of the most popular beverages in tl Great Wall of China .e only man-made structure that could be t Wall of China is said to be the that the nation built. Once considered the seen from outer space, the Great largest and most extensive infrastructure It was constructed to keep out foreign invaders and control the borders of China. Made with stone, brick, wood, earth, and other materials, it showcased the extent of Chinese engineering Figure 1.19 The Great Wall of China in 1907 Histon A ANTECEDENTS INTHE Couns CIENCE AND TeCHNOLOGS technology at that tim 4 time. The strong that it was said to have liege 2s 8 Massi rca Gee. nave, literally divi ie re ld. The wall coe Ch om the the nation amon 8 the ancient times. It hed cir crowning glor h the powerful civilizati the pride of their land end ‘he cn some sections already in to be a world attraction due architectural grandeur, Gunpowder is one of the most interesting i ting inventi vs developed iby Chinese alchemists jortality. They mi f y mixed ch and potassium nr, butinsead of ceing nly of IM they accidentally invented a black powder that could ly generate large amounts of heat and gas in an tae nt. Figure 1.20 Earliest known gunpowder formula pa 25,= 26 sy, AND SOCIETY GENERAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE: TECHNOLOG' 7 it ing life, gunpowder is widely used Ironically, instead of prolonging te ore ee cuties and can to prope bullets or Be propelled weapons ar prefered by crane ho plan to atack ata distance. The same Weapons are i f invasion. On the other dissipate any attempts of On celebrations in China. 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. The wars have resulted in population decline, but during the latter part of the period, there was a significant rise in population. Trade and commerce among nations increased, which resulted in greater demands for transportation technology. Some of the most innovative minds came from this period. PRINTING PRESS Figure |.21 The Gutenberg Press Historical ‘CAC ANTECEDENTS IN THE CouRse SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY that extracted juices from fruits impression of the leters, and prese a piece of paper, which then made a This general invention soon e1 printing press which was eventu; ‘The printing press was invented to _ address the n publishing books that ‘Would spread information to ae at a faster rate, This invention also made works accessible te individuals who could not even write Sueissguth, 1997) attached to them a metal 4 firmly the cast metal into exact impression on paper. volved to be the mechanical ally used all over the world. 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.To develop the Proper medicines for illnesses, experts must understand the sickness through an investigation. Thus, they needed a device that could magnify things invisible to the eye. Guided by the principles used for the invention of eyeglasses in earlier years, Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the first compound microscope. With this device, people Were able to observe organisms that Figure 1.22 Reproduction of an early microscope Ze 277 28 A GenENAL CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY ETS I . SS ‘were normally unseen by ey in discovering new me: ies (Davidson, 2015). ¢ naked eye. The microscope was ‘in preventing and curing various TELESCOPE Figure 1.23 Sketch of Galileo's refractor Since the Middle Ages was also known as the Age of Exploration, the need for nautical inventions was high. Considering the vast and empty oceans that separated lands, ship captains needed to see far and wide for them to navigate or to avoid dangers at sea. The invention of the telescope, an optical instrument that helps in the observation of remote objects, was 2 great help for navigators during this time. Together with the telescope, the invention of the compass, 025, and rudders made sea travelling easier and safer (Helden, 1989). ‘WAR WEAPONS Since wars were widespread during the Middle Ages, grett development in the weaponry technology also occurred. All sides must develop weaponries not only as offensive tools but Hist FORICAL, ANTECEDENTS In, THE Cours?) OF SCIENCE ANO Techno to protect themselves, a nee body armors. However, MODERN TIMES The booming world population during the nineteenth century onwards demanded that more goods be produced at a faster rate, People needed efficient means of transportation to trade more goods and cover a larger distance. Machines thar required animals to operate must thus be upgraded. 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. These goods needed to be consumed almost immediately after production or they would cause illness like diphtheria, food poisoning i typhoid fever, Since transporting these products would also ta time, it would be impossible to trade them.