HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

I. ANCIENT TIMES

Transportation- it is significant because people seek for new discoveries

Trade exchange- exchange of products

Weapons and armors- establishment of new alliances with other tribes

a. Sumerian Civilization

-Popularly known today as Southern Iraq.

-not contented with the basic things that life can offer

-Eager to develop many things connected with science and technology

· Cuneiform

o First writing system

o A system that utilizes word pictures and triangular symbols which

are carved on clay using wedge instruments and then left to dry

o Allowed Sumerian to keep records of things with great historical

value or their everyday life.

· Uruk City

o First true city in the world

o 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

o Used 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

o Served as the sacred place of their chief god, where only the priests
were allowed to enter.

o Showcases the remarkable technology used to build it.

 · Irrigation and dikes

o Bring water to farmlands and at the same time control the flooding
of the rivers

o One of the world’s most beneficial engineering works

· Sailboats

o Essential in transportation and trading as well as in fostering

culture, information, and technology.

· Wheel

o First wheels were made for farm work and food processes.

o Mass production was made easier

o Farmers were able to mill grains with less effort in less time.

· Plow

o Dig the earth in a faster pace.

· Roads

o Flow of traffic became faster and more organized.

b. Babylonian Civilization

-Great builders, engineers, and architect

· Hanging Garden of Babylon

o One of the seven wonders of the ancient world

o The great Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II built the gardens for

his wife, Queen Amytis

c. Egyptian Civilization

-North Africa

· Papyrus
 o A plant that grew abundantly along the Nile river in Egypt.

o Less breakable compared as compared to clay tablets

o A major accomplishment in Egyptian record-keeping and

communications

o It was easier to keep records from raiders who often destroy

the records of the nations they invade.

· Ink

o Combination of soot and different chemicals to produce inks of

different colors.

o Used to record history, culture, and codified laws.

· Hieroglyphics

o A system of writing of Egyptians

o Can still be seen today and remains to be as famous as the

pyramids.

o Language that tells the modern world of the history and culture
of the ancient Egyptians

o The records were well-preserved since they were carved at the

walls of pyramids and other important Egyptian structures.

· Cosmetics

o Both for aesthetic and health purposes

o Wore Kohl around the eyes to prevent and cure eye disease

o Believed that a person wearing make-up was protected from

evil and that beauty was a sign of holiness.

· Wig

o Worn for health and wellness rather than aesthetic purposes

o Wigs were used to protect the shaved the heads of the wealthy
Egyptians from the harmful rays of the sun.
 · Water Clock

o Utilizes gravity that affects the flow of water from one vessel to
the other.

o The amount of water remaining in the device determines how

much time has elapsed since it is full.

o Used a s timekeeping device during the ancient times.

d. Greek Civilization

-birthplace of Western philosophy

· Alarm Clock

o Made use of water that is being dropped into drums which

sounded the alarm

o To tell an individual when to stop or when to start.

e. Roman Civilization

- Strongest political social entity in the west.

- Model of legislation and codified laws

· Newspaper

o Engraved in metal or stone tablets then publicly displayed

o It is known as gazettes, contained announcements of the Roman

empire to the people.

· Codex

o Made from papyrus pages bounded together and covered by

animal skin

· Roman Architecture

o One of the most visual contributions of the ancient Roman

Empire to the world.
 o Considered as a continuation of Greek architecture

o Creatively redesigned old architectural patterns to adapt to the

new trends at that time.

o Fully supported and funded by the Roman government so they

were able to implement major projects such as cathedrals and
basilicas, coliseums, amphitheaters, and residential houses.

· Roman Numerals

o Roman number system

f. Chinese Civilization

-oldest civilization in Asia

-famous with their silk trade

· Tea Production

o First tea was drunk by a Chinese Emperor

o Developed when an unknown Chinese inventor created a

machine that was able to shred tea leaves into strips

o A wheel-based mechanism with sharp edges attached to a

wooden or ceramic pot

· Great Wall of China

o Largest and most extensive infrastructure that the nation built.

o Constructed to keep out foreign invaders and control the

borders of China

o Made with stone, brick, wood, etc

o The structure was so massive and strong that it was said to

have literally divided China from the rest of the world.

o Pride of their land and their crowning glory.

o Still continues to be a world attraction due to its historical

significance and architectural grandeur
 · Gunpowder

o One of the most interesting inventions on China

o Originally developed by Chinese alchemists who aimed to

achieve immortality.

o Mixed charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate

o Instead of creating elixir of life, they accidentally invented a

black powder that could actually generate large amounts of heat
and gas in an instant.

o Also used in fireworks during important celebrations in China

II. MIDDLE AGES

Some of the most innovative minds came from this period.

· Printing press

o Johann Gutenberg-utilized wooden machines that extracted juices

from fruits

o Made to address the need for publishing books that would spread
information to many people at a faster rate

· Microscope

o Zacharias Janssen- first compound microscope

o People were able to observe organisms that were normally unseen

by the naked eye.

o Key in discovering new means in preventing and curing various

illnesses.

· Telescope

o Helps in the observation of remote objects

· War weapons
 o Open area battles- people developed cross bows and long bows (in
order to attack the enemies at long ranges)

o Chainmail was also invented

III. MODERN TIMES

· Pasteurization

o Food preservation (dairy products)

o Louis Pasteur- a French biologist, microbiologist, chemist, invented

pasteurization

o Process of heating dairy products to kill the harmful bacteria that

allow them to spoil faster.

· Petroleum Refinery

o Samuel M. Kier- kerosene (illuminating oil)

o used at first in providing lighting to homes

o Used in powering automobiles, factories, power plants

· Telephone

o Alexander Graham Bell

o One of the most important inventions at that time

· Calculator

o Development of more complex processing machines like the

computer

IV. PHILIPPINE INVENTIONS

Philippines- one of the most vulnerable countries in terms in natural disasters

· Salamander Amphibous Tricycle

o H2O Technologies- Dominic N. Chung and Lamberto Armada,

together with chief designer Victor Llave

o Can cross not only flooded streets but also rivers and lakes
· Salt Lamp

o Aisa Mijeno- Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt) lamp

· Medical Incubator

o Dr. Fe Del Mundo- a Filipino pediatrician and the first Asian woman
admitted into Harvard Medical School

o Maintain conditions suitable for a newborn

· Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap System

o 2010- DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute

o Natural ingredients that are lethal to mosquitos but safe for

humans and the environment

· E-Jeepney

o Utilizes electricity and is more environment-friendly since it does

not emit any smoke and noise