Eranew D.

Gilleran
BSEd Sci – 2B
GE SCI

Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology

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 generations can come up with informed decisions on the proper
application of science and technology to daily life

Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology to the World

Ancient Period
- The rise of ancient civilization paved the way for the 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. Some of the most significant advancements in science
and technology during the ancient times are as follows:

 Potter’s wheel – a horizontal revolving flat disk in which

wet clay is shaped into pots and other round ceramic
objects. It is believed to be invented by the Sumerians
after 3500 BC.

 Antikythera Mechanism – an ancient Greek mechanical

device described as the oldest example of an analogue
computer which is used to calculate and display
information about astronomical phenomena such as
eclipses. It is invented by the Greeks which was
discovered and retrieved from the water of Antikythera,
Greece.
  Aeolipile – also known as Hero’s engine, it is said to be
practically the first rudimentary steam engine. It isa a steam
turbine invent by Hero of Alexandria which he also described in
his Pneumatica. It was a hollow sphere mounted so that it could
turn on a pair of hollow tubes that provided steam to the sphere
from a cauldron.

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 emergency of scientific thinking and method. The Middle Age was not as
stagnant as alternate terms such as the ‘Medieval Period’ or ‘Dark Ages’ suggest. In fact,
many medieval universities at the 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.

 Mechanical Clock – 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 established, particularly in
the more advanced middle age cities.

 Heavy plough - is a farm tool for loosening or turning the

soil before sowing seed or planting. It is perhaps one of
the most significant technological innovations during the
middle ages because it turned European agriculture and
economy up its head.

 Paper money – it was traced back to the Chinese 17 th

century. Before the introduction of paper money,
precious metals such as gold and silver were used as
currencies.
Modern Ages

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

 Jacquard Loom – is a device fitted to a loom that

simplifies the process of manufacturing textiles
with such complex patterns as brocade, damask,
and matelasse. It is invented by Joseph Marie
Charles Jacquard in 1804. His invention inspired
Charles Babbage’s analytical engine which
pioneered the invention of the modern computers.

 Television – it is a device that combines a tuner,

display, and loudspeakers, for the purpose of
viewing and hearing television broadcasts, or
using it as a computer monitor. Scottish engineer
John Logie Baird is largely credited for the
invention of the modern television. Baird
successfully televised objects in outline in 1924.

 Compound microscope – it is a microscope consisting

of an objective and an eyepiece mounted in a drawtube.
The first compound microscope is invented by the Dutch
spectacle maker Zacharias Janssen together with his
father Hans in 1590. They experimented with lenses by
putting several lenses together in a tube.

Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology to the Philippines

The Philippines boasts of its own history and tradition of scientific and
technological innovations. 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 innovations focused on navigation, traditional shipbuilding,
textiles, food processing, indigenous arts and techniques, and even cultural inventions.
Some of the most remarkable breakthroughs in science and technology which
originated in the Philippines and are created by Filipinos are as follows:

 Medical incubator - World-renowned

Filipino pediatrician and national
scientist, Dr. 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.

 Banana ketchup - Filipino food technologist, Maria Orasa,

is credited to for the invention
of banana ketchup, a variety of
ketchup different from the
commonly known tomato
ketchup.

 Erythomycin - Perhaps one of the most

important medical inventions is the
Erythromycin. The Ilonggo scientist
Abelardo Aguilar invented this antibiotic out
of a strain of bacterium called Streptomyces,
from which this drug derived its name.
Erythromycin is used to treat certain
infections causedby bacteria, such as
infections of the respiratory tract, including bronchitis, pneumonia, Legionnaires'
disease (a type of lung infection).