Lesson 5: Evidence of Science and Technology

during Pre-Columbian Times

I. Olmec Civilization

Location: The first great Mesoamerican civilization. They thrived along Southern gulf coast of
Mexico, mainly in the present-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco, from about 1200 to 400 B.C.
Culture was greatly influential on later societies, such as the Maya and the Aztec.

Science and Technology Development:

The name "Olmec" means "rubber people" in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec. The
term "rubber people" refers to the ancient practice, spanning from ancient Olmecs to Aztecs,
of extracting latex from Castilla elastica, a rubber tree in the area. The juice of a local vine,
Ipomoea alba, was then mixed with this latex to create rubber as early as 1600 BCE.
Olmecs constructed permanent city-temple complexes at San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, La
Venta, Tres Zapotes, and Laguna de los Cerros. The principal architectural structure found in
La Venta ruins was the vast clay pyramid decorated with elaborate carvings. Common among
places is the colossal heads that is made from basalt which symbolizes thrones. %ere are also
monuments and other major pieces' of Olmec art such as mask and figurines.
Olmecs are known to cultivate cacao, rubber, and salt. It is also observed that they are
using an elaborate water and drainage system. They manufacture chocolate drinks. There are
evidences that suggest the Olmec practiced human sacrifice and cannibalism; The calendar
used in Mexico may also have originated from the Olmec.
They also studied astronomy since they are obsessed with the timing of religious ritual.
Animal gods were features of Olmec culture.
Olmec traded goods such as obsidian, ceramics, jade, serpentine, mica, rubber, pottery,
feathers and polished mirrors of limenite and magnetite.
La Venta went into decline around 400 B.C. and the Olmec civilization vanished along with
it.

II. Maya Civilization

Location: The ancient Mayans are a diverse group of indigenous people who lived in parts of
present-day Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. It is regarded as one of the
most important pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. Mie Mayas are credited with a number
of remarkable scientific achievements in various scientific fields such as astronomy, engineering,
medicine, and mathematics.

Science and Technology Development:

a. Mayan not only made the great progress in agriculture, but also made a big break in
technology.
 b. The architectural and engineering skills were manifested in the grandeur of their tall
pyramids of limestones, with small temples on the top constructed like an arch supported
by two side walls bridged by a row of flat stones and ornamented by steeples or roof
combs. They are usually made of cherts, obsidian, silicified limestone, and jade.
c. As far as astronomy was concerned, they tracked the movement of the stars and planets
across the sky, and were able to accurately predict celestial events such as eclipses. To
the Mayan, Venus was the most important astronomical object.
d. The Mayans also discovered an accurate calendar. The ritual calendar that developed in
Mesoamerica used a count of 260 days. This calendar gave each day a name, much like
our days of the week. There were 20 day names, represented by their respective symbols.
e. The written language of the Mayan was made up of about 800 glyphs, or symbols. Each
one represented a word or a syllable, and could be combined with the others in an almost
infinite number of ways. As a result, there were three or four different ways to write
almost every word in the Mayan language.
f. The Mayans were also talented in building elaborate temples and great cities without the
essential tools like metal. It is believed that Mayans were producing rubber products.

III. Aztec Civilization

Location: The Aztecs established their city of Tenochtitlan, present-day Mexico City in 1325 A.D.
The Aztecs are best known as a violent people who expanded their empire through ruthless
warfare. They also had a reputation of making human sacrifices in elaborate rituals that often
involved the removal of beating hearts, to appease their many gods. They practiced a highly
organized system of government and a language –Nahuatl
Science and Technology Development:
a. The advances demonstrated in Aztec technology are so remarkable that they are still
looked upon adoringly to this day. Just a few of the Aztec accomplishments have been
the development of mathematics, the canoe, the highly specialized Aztec calendar, and
remarkably helpful forms of medicine.
b. Aztec tools were made with obsidian and chert. Near the time they were overcome by
Spanish conquistadors, advances in Aztec technology led to the experimentation of making
tools with copper. Axe blades, bows and arrows were being made with either stone or
copper. Aztec technology was so advanced that they even made drills which were made
of reed or bone.
c. Aztec technology were familiar with the wheel. The wheel, however, was only used in
toys.
d. Aztecs developed dugout canoes with which they transported themselves and their goods
throughout the many canals, lakes, and waterways found in the Valley of Mexico.
e. The Aztecs were very advanced scientific thinkers and mathematicians. The Aztec number
system was far more advanced than other cultures at the time.
f. Aztec astronomv was also an important component of their calendar, which reflected
heavily on their gods.
g. The Aztecs were also advanced in the development of medicine. In fact, Aztec medicine
was found in many forms, such as ointments, drinks, and salves.
 h. This spectacular area of Aztec technology has been recorded in the Badianus
Manuscript, which was created by Aztec artists in 1552.

IV. Inca Civilization

Location: Flourished in the Andean region of South America from the early 15th century A.D.
up until its conquest by the Spaniards in the 1530s. One of the Inca civilization's most famous
surviving archaeological sites is Machu Picchu, which was built as a retreat place for an Incan
emperor. The Incas called their empire Tawantinsuyu, the "Land of the Four Corners," and
its official language was Quechua; it was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The
Inca Empire originated at the city of Cuzco in what is today Peru. To support this empire, a
system of roads stretched to almost 25,000 miles.
Science and Technology Development:
a. They are rich in maize (corn) and dried llama, coca leaves and alcohol; Other
consumable goods include sweet potatoes, quinoa, beans and chili peppers. Coca leaves
were used in moderate amounts to lessen hunger and pain during work, but were mostly
used for religious and health purposes as well as during surgeries as an anesthetic.
b. Mummification of individuals was an important part of Inca funerary rites.
c. November is described as being the "month of carrying the dead," a time when people
would try to feed the mummies of their ancestors.
d. Striking artistry were its textiles; finest grade of cloth was called cumpi, being reserved
for the emperor and nobility. Clothes were woven out of wool from dried llamas and
alpaca or vicuna wool and cotton.
e. Objects were made out of gold and silver. Inca stone-working was also considered to
be very fine. Their craftsmen fitted building stones together perfectly without using any
mortar, such that an object as thin as a razor blade could not be inserted between the
stones.
f. Inca calendars were strongly tied to astronomy. Inca calendar was essentially lunisolar,
as two calendars were maintained in parallel, one solar and one lunar. Twelve lunar
months fall Il days short of a full 365-day solar year. Equinoxes, solstices, and Venus
cycles are observed.
g. The Inca used assemblages of knotted strings, known as Quipu, used as mnemonic
devices or to record numerical data and also believed to record history and literature.
h. The Inca made many discoveries in medicine. They performed successful skull surgeries,
which involved cutting holes in the skull in order to alleviate fluid buildup and
inflammation caused by head wounds.
i. Physical measures employed by the Inca were based upon human body parts. Fingers,
the distance between thumb to forefinger, palms, cubits, and wingspans were among
those units used. The most basic unit of distance was thatkiy or thatki, or one pace.
j. The Inca weaponry included: Bronze or bone-tipped spears; Two-handed wooden
swords with serrated edges; Clubs with stone and spiked metal heads; Wooden slings
and stones; Stone or copper headed battle-axes; Bolas (stones fastened to lengths of
cord).
Reference:

Aldea, K.I., Caronan, H. P., Candido, M.B. (2018), Science, Technology, and Society (OBE
Ready). Philippines. Books ATbp. Publishing Corp.