Ata, Jamaica G.

CAS 02 TF 9:00am – 10:30am

Interaction Between Science, Technology and Society

What is the invention?

- Ancient Wheel
- The oldest wheel found in archeological excavations was discovered in what
was Mesopotamia and is believed to be over 5,500 years old. It was not used for
transportation, though, but rather as a potter's wheel. The combination of the
wheel and axle made possible early forms of transportation, which became more
sophisticated over time with the development of other technologies.

What are the precursors of your chosen invention? What tools existed to it or how did
people carry out activities before its inventions?
- Precursors of wheels, known as "tournettes" or "slow wheels", were known in
the Middle East by the 5th millennium BC. One of the earliest examples was
discovered at Tepe Pardis, Iran, and dated to 5200–4700 BC. These were made
of stone or clay and secured to the ground with a peg in the center, but required
significant effort to turn. True potter's wheels, which are freely-spinning and have
a wheel and axle mechanism, were developed in Mesopotamia (Iraq) by 4200–
4000 BC.
- Thousands of years before the invention of the wheel, people were making
vessels for drinking, eating, and storage by pinching, rolling, or coiling clay into
shape and baking it until hard. The oldest crude ceramic vessels come from
China and date back 20,000 years. The invention of the wheel allowed for the
rise of wheel-thrown pottery.

What were the social, political, cultural and economic contexts in which the invention
was made?
- In the same dialogue headed by Caso, Stirling suggests a notion of technology
that is exclusively focused on efficiency and progress. He states: “It seems
unbelievable that having known for five centuries the principle of the wheel no
one would have thought of using it more generally.
What were the social, political, cultural and economic impacts of your chosen invention?
- Impact on Society The wheel impacted our society in many ways.
In Ancient Civilization the wheel allowed societies to win battles and takeover
land. Chariots allowed transportation for supplies and people. As civilizations
advanced the wheel also advanced, helping with trading items and goods. This
allowed societies to progress.

References:
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-invention-of-the-wheel-1992669
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/534090/things-invented-before-the-wheel
https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/home/the-concept-of-the-wheel-in-ancient-
mesoamerica
https://innovationofthewheel.weebly.com/how-the-wheel-impacted-society.html