Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology | Lesson 2

CHAPTER I: General Concepts and STS Historical Developments

Lesson 2
Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology

Introduction
This lesson tackles how social contexts shaped and were shaped by science and technology across
three historical periods. By introducing the historical antecedents of science and technology, the lesson
explores the dynamic interactions between different societal factors and science and technology. Along with
the discussion of these antecedents during the ancient period, Middle Ages, and modern ages, this lesson
also includes a discussion on important Philippine inventions and innovations. It emphasizes the various
social, cultural, economic, and political impacts of scientific and technological innovation throughout history.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

a. discuss the historical antecedents of science and technology across time; and
b. explain how Philippine scientific and technological inventions shaped and were shaped by various social
contexts.

Content

An antecedent is defined as a precursor to the unfolding or existence of something. Thus, historical

antecedents in science and technology are factors that paved the way for the presence of advanced and sophisticated
scientific and technological innovations today. Knowledge of the history of science and technology is useful in
appraising these innovations today. By understanding how previous generations influenced and were influenced by
developments in science and technology, today’s generation can come up with informed decisions on the proper
application of science and technology to daily life.

Ancient Period

The rise of ancient civilizations paved the way for advances in science and technology. These advances
during the Ancient period allowed civilizations to flourish by finding better ways of communication, transportation, self-
organization, and of living in general.

Figure 1. Sumerian Wheel Figure 2. Potter’s Wheel

• Ancient Wheel
People from ancient civilizations used animals for transportation long before the invention of the
wheel. No one knows exactly who invented the wheel and when. There is, however, a general agreement that
the ancient wheel grew out of a mechanical device called the potter’s wheel - a heavy flat disk made of
hardened clay which was spun horizontally on an axis. It is believed that the Sumerians invented the potter’s
wheel shortly after 3500 BC. The invention of the ancient wheel is often credited to the Sumerians since no
other ancient civilization used a similar device at the time. It could be that a potter thought of shifting the
potter’s wheel to a 90-degree angle for the purpose of transportation or the wheel was reinvented for this
purpose. Nonetheless, it would not be until 1000 to 1500 years later that the wheel was first used on carts.
Today, wheels are used in cars, carts, airplanes, wheelchairs, bicycles, trains, caravans and
skateboards, in addition to many more devices. Wheels are usually used in pairs, connected by a rod of wood
or metal known as an axle.

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• Paper
Roughly around 3000 BC, the ancient Egyptians began writing on papyrus, a material similar to thick
paper. Papyrus is made from the pith of the papyrus plant cyperus papyrus. It is lightweight, strong, durable,
and most importantly, portable. Before the Egyptians invented the papyrus, writing was done on stone.
Because of the difficulty of writing on stone, writing was reserved only for very important occasions. With the
advent of the papyrus, documentation and record-keeping became efficient, widespread, and vast. Through
its use, information dissemination became exponentially faster. Records were kept and stood the test of time.

Figure 3. The Edwin Smith Papyrus

• Shadoof
The shadoof was an early tool invented and used by ancient Egyptians to irrigate land. Among
Egyptians who lived near the Nile River, irrigation was necessary to water their crops. The shadoof, also
spelled as shaduf, is a hand-operated device used for lifting water. Its invention introduced the idea of lifting
things using counterweights. Because of this invention, irrigation and farming became much more efficient.
The shadoof is also believed to be an ancient precursor of more sophisticated irrigation tools.

Figure 4. Shadoof
• Antikythera mechanism
Even before the invention of the antecedents of the modern computer, the Greeks had already
invented the ancient world's analog computer orrery. Discovered in 1902 and retrieved from the waters of
Antikythera, Greece, the Antikythera mechanism is similar to a mantel clock. Upon its discovery, the bits of
wood seen on its fragments suggest that it must have been housed in a wooden case. It is akin to a clock in
the way that the case has a circular face and rotating hands. A knob on the side makes it possible for it to be
wound forward or backward. As this knob moves forward or backward, its mechanism allows it to display
celestial time. Thus, it is widely believed that the Antikythera mechanism was used to predict astronomical
positions and eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes. It is also believed that the Antikythera
mechanism, which is one of the oldest known antecedents of modern clockwork, was invented by Greek
scientists between 150-100 BC.

Figure 5. A fragment of the Antikythera mechanism

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• Aeolipile
Also known as the Hero's engine, the aeolipile is widely believed to be the ancient precursor of the
steam engine. Hero of Alexandria is credited for the demonstration of the use of the aeolipile during the 1st
century AD. The aeolipile is a steam-powered turbine which spun when the water container at its center was
heated, thus making it practically the first rudimentary steam engine. It is not clear whether the aeolipile served
any practical purpose, but it is believed to be one of many "temple wonders" at the time. Nonetheless,
Vitruvius, a Roman author, architect, and civil engineer, described the aeolipile as a scientific invention
through which "the mighty and wonderful laws of the heavens and the nature of winds” may be understood
and judged.

Figure 6. An illustration of Hero’s engine

Middle Ages
Between the collapse of the Roman Empire in 5th century AD and the colonial expansion of Western Europe
in late 15th century AD, major advances in scientific and technological development took place. These include steady
increase of new inventions, introduction of innovations in traditional production, and emergence of scientific thinking
and method. The Middle Ages was not as stagnant as alternate terms such as the 'Medieval Period' or 'Dark Ages'
suggest. In fact, many medieval universities at the time stirred scientific thinking and built infrastructures for scientific
communities to flourish. As such, some of humanity's most important present-day technologies could be traced back
to their historical antecedents in the Middle Ages.
• Heavy Plough
Perhaps one of the most important technological innovations during the middle ages is the invention
of the heavy plough. Clay soil, despite being more fertile than lighter types of soil, was not cultivated because
of its heavy weight. However, through the invention of the heavy plough, it became possible to harness clay
soil. Professor Thomas Bernebeck Andersen of the University of Southern Denmark succinctly describes the
impact of the invention of the heavy plough: "The heavy plough turned European agriculture and economy on
its head. Suddenly, the fields with the heavy, fatty, and moist clay soils became those that gave the greatest
yields." Because of this, Europe, particularly its northern territories, rapid economic prosperity. The heavy
plough stirred an agricultural revolution in Northern Europe marked by higher and healthier agricultural yields
and more efficient agricultural practices.

Figure 7. An impression of the heavy plough

• Gunpowder
Around 850 AD, Chinese alchemists accidentally invented black powder or gunpowder. Multiple
accounts suggest that the gunpowder might have been an unintended byproduct of attempts made by the
Chinese to invent the elixir of life, which is why the Chinese called it huoyao, roughly translated as “fire
potion.” Prior to the invention of the gunpowder, swords and spears were used in battles and wars. Towards

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the end of the 13th century, the explosive invention crept into most parts of Europe and Asia. Since its
invention, the gunpowder has allowed for more advanced warfare. From fiery arrows to cannons and
grenades, the gunpowder has prompted foundation for the functionality of almost every new weapon used in
war since its invention. It ushered in an unprecedented advancement in warfare and combat throughout the
Middle Ages.

Figure 8. Gunpowder

• Paper Money
Although it was not until the 17th century that the bank notes began to be used in Europe, the first
known versions of paper money could be traced back to the Chinese in 17 th century AD as an offshoot of the
invention of block printing, which is similar to stamping. Before the introduction paper money, precious metals
such as gold and silver were used as currency. However, the idea of assigning value to a marked piece of
paper did not immediately become popular. In fact, when the Mongols attempted to introduce paper money
into the Middle East market in the 13th century, it did not gain immediate success. Nonetheless, trader and
merchants eventually realized the huge advantage of using paper money because it was easier to transport
around compared to the previous form of currencies.

Figure 9. The Chinese are credited for the invention of paper money

• Mechanical Clock
Although devices for timekeeping and recording sprung from the ancient time, such as the
Antikythera mechanism, it was not until the Middle Ages that clockwork technology was developed. The
development of the mechanical clock paved the way for accurately keeping track of time. The sophistication
of clockwork technology of the mechanical clock drastically changed the way days were spent and work
patterns were stablished, particularly in the more advance Middle Age cities.

Figure 10. A medieval mechanical clock found in Prague, Czech Republic

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• Spinning Wheel
Another important invention of the Middle Ages is the spinning wheel, a machine used for
transforming fiber into thread or yarn and eventually woven into cloth on a loom. Although no consensus could
be made regarding the origin of the spinning wheel, it is theorized that the Indians invented the spinning wheel
between 6th and 11th century AD. Prior to the investigation of the spinning wheel, weaving was done
predominantly through the more time-consuming and tedious process hand spinning. According to White
(1974), the invention of the spinning wheel sped up the rate at which fiber could be spun by a factor of 10 to
100 times. Thus, White argued that this invention ushered in a breakthrough in linen production when it was
introduced in Europe in 13th century AD.

Figure 11. Spinning Wheel

Modern Ages
As the world population steadily increases, people of the Modern Ages realized the utmost importance of
increasing the efficiency of transportation, communication, and production. Industrialization took place with greater risk
in human health, food safety, and environment which had to be addressed as scientific and technological progress
unfolded at an unimaginable speed.

• Compound Microscope
A Dutch spectacle maker named Zacharias Janssen is credited for the invention of the first
compound microscope in 1590. Together with his father Hans, Zacharias began experimenting with lenses
by putting together several lenses on a tube. This led to an amazing discovery that an object, when place
near the end of the tube, can be magnified far larger than what a simple magnifying lens can do. Janssen’s
compound microscope was an important progression from the single lens microscope. It was capable of
magnifying objects three times their size when fully closed and up to ten times when extended to the
maximum. Today, the compound microscope is an important instrument in many scientific studies, such as
in the areas of medicine, forensic, studies, tissue analysis, atomic studies and genetics.

Figure 12. Janssen’s compound microscope

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• Telescope
Perhaps the single, most important technological invention in the study of astronomy during the
Modern Ages was the practical telescope invented by Galileo Galilei. This invention could magnify objects
20 times larger than the Dutch perspective glasses. It was Galileo who first used the telescope skyward and
made important astronomical discoveries, and identified presence of craters and mountains on the moon.
Galileo’s remarkable technological contribution drastically change the study of astronomy. For the first time,
it became clear that the universe is far larger than previously imagined and the Earth far smaller compared
the entire universe.

Figure 13. One of Galileo’s first telescope

• Jacquard Loom
As an industrial Revolution reached full speed, the Jacquard loom was considered as one of the
most critical drivers of the revolution. Built by French weaver Joseph Marie Jacquard, the Jacquard loom
simplifies textile manufacturing. Prior to the invention of the Jacquard loom, a drawloom was used which
required two individuals to operates-the weaver and a drawboy- if figured designs on textile were needed.
As such, intensified manual labor and greater effort had to be exerted to produce complex designs. In 1801,
Jacquard demonstrated ingenuity of his version of a loom in which a series of cards with punched holes
automatically created complex textile designs and made mass production easier. The Jacquard loom is
also an important antecedent of modern computer technology as it demonstrated the used of punched cards
to instruct a machine to carry out complex tasks i.e., making different textile patterns.

Figure 14. Jacquard Loom

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• Engine-Powered Airplane
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright are credited for designing and successfully operating the first
engine-powered aircraft. The Wright brother approached the design of powered aircraft and flight scientifically.
Orville and Wilbur proved that aircrafts could fly without airfoil-shaped wings. They demonstrated this in their
original Flying Machine patent (US patent #821393), showing that slightly-tilted wings, which they referred to
as aeroplanes, were the key features of powered aircraft. Their pioneering success marked an age of powered
flights. Sans modern knowledge on aerodynamics and a comprehensive understanding of the working of
aircraft wings, the Wright brother were brilliant scientist who paved the way for modern aircraft technology.

Figure 15. The flight of the Flying Machine of Orville and Wright

• Television
The Scottist engineer John Logie Baird is largely credited for the invention of the modern television.
Baird successfully televised object in outline in 1924, recognizable human faces in 1925, and moving object
in 1926, and projected colored image in 1928. Baird’s television technology caught on really swiftly. In fact,
the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used this for its earliest television programming in 1929. Despite
being the first television invented, Baird’s television was later on criticized for its fuzzy and flickering images,
primarily because it was mechanical compared to electronic version that were developed much later.

Figure 16. Baird’s television

Invention by Filipino Scientists

The Philippines boasts of, its own history and tradition of scientific and technological innovation. Filipinos have
long been known for their ingenuity. As with all other inventions, necessity has always been the mother of Philippine
inventions. Most of these inventions appealed to the unique social and cultural context of the archipelagic nation.
Throughout Philippine history, Filipinos are responsible for developing many scientific and technological innovation
focused on navigation, traditional shipbuilding, textile, food processing, indigenous arts and techniques, and even
cultural inventions. The following are some of the most important inventions by Filipino scientist.

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• Electronic Jeepney (e-jeepney)

The jeepney is perhaps one of the most recognizable national symbols of the Philippines and the
most popular mode of public transportation in the country. It is also perhaps one of the most enduring symbols
of Filipino ingenuity. Jeepney were designed and improvised from scratch out of military jeeps that the
Americans left in the country after World War II. As demand for more responsive transportation technology
arose, the e-jeepney was introduced in Metro Manila and Bacolod City. The e-jeepney is the inventive
response to criticism to the traditional jeepney that belched smoke, directly causing air pollution which made
it unsustainable and uneconomical. E-jeepney are designed to be environment-friendly, eliminating noise and
air pollution as they run on electricity. They are also more economical for electricity is far cheaper than ordinary
diesel, allowing jeepney driver to earn more profit.

Figure 17. E-jeepney

• Erythromycin
Perhaps one of the most important medical invention is the Erythromycin. The Ilonggo scientist
Abelardo Aguilar invented this antibiotic out of a strain bacterium called Streptomyces erythreus, from which
this drug derived its name. As with the case of several other local scientists, however, Aguilar was not credited
for this discovery by Eli Lilli Co., Aguilar’s US employer, to whom he sent the strain for separation. The US
company eventually own the merits for this discovery.

Figure 18. Abelardo Aguilar and his Erythromycin

• Medical Incubator
World-renowned Filipino pediatrician and national scientist, Fe del Mundo, is credited for the
invention of the incubator and jaundice relieving device. Del Mundo was the first woman pediatrician to be
admitted to the prestigious Harvard University’s School of Medicine. She is also the founder of the first
pediatric hospital in the country. Her pioneering works in pediatrics that spanned a total of eight decades won
her the 1977 Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s premier prized granted to outstanding individual whose
selfless service remarkably contributed to the betterment of society. Her original improvised incubator
consisted of two native laundry baskets of different sizes that are placed one inside the other. Warmth is
generated by the bottles with hot water placed around the basket. A makeshift basket hood over the baskets
allows the oxygen to circulate inside the incubator. Del Mundo incubators was particularly outstanding as it

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addressed the state of Philippines rural communities that had no electricity to aid the regulation of body
temperatures of newborn babies. For this purpose, del Mundo’s invention was truly ingenious.

Figure 19. Dr. Fe del Mundo and the medical incubator

• Mole Remover
In 2000, a local invention that had the ability to easily remove moles and warts on the skin without
the need of any surgical procedure shot to fame. Rolando dela Cruz is credited for the invention of the local
mole remover that made use of extracts of cashew nut (Annacardium occidentale), which are very common
in the Philippines. The indigenous formula easily caught on for its accessibility, affordability, and painless and
scarless procedure. Dela Cruz won a gold metal for this invention in the International Invention, Innovation,
Industrial Design, and Technology Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2000.

Figure 20. Rolando dela Cruz’s commercial product- a mole remover formula made of cashew nut extracts

• Banana Ketchup
Filipino food technologist, Mari Orosa, is credited for the invention of banana ketchup, a variety
ketchup different from commonly known tomato ketchup. Her invention appeals particularly to Filipinos who
love using condiments to go along with their food. Historical accounts posit that Orosa invented the banana
ketchup at the backdrop of World War II when there was a huge shortage of tomatoes. As a result, Orosa
developed a variety of ketchup use of mashed banana, sugar vinegar, and spices, which were all readily
available. Orosa’s banana ketchup is brownish-yellow in natural color, but is dyed red resemble the color of
the most loved tomato ketchup.

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Figure 21. Banana Ketchup also called “Banana Sauce”

Reference
• Quinto, E. J. M., & Nieva, A. D. (2019). General Concepts and STS Historical Developments. In Science,
Technology, and Society (pp. 15–34). C&E Publishing, Inc.

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