LESSON 1

Evidence of Science and Technology during Pre-Historic The Early Stone Age
Times Includes most basic stone toolkits made by early
DISCUSSION humans
Early humans attempted to understand the world, they Oldowan toolkit - oldest stone tools that consists of
were curious about their nature. They observed and hammer stones that show battering on their surfaces.
started to record patterns, cycles and repetitions of Thought to be the product of Homo habilis
what was happening in their environment and started Studies indicate that the oldest Oldowan tools were by
to look for an answer. With their experience they were Australopithecus afarensis about 3.4 million years ago.
able to analyze and organize information and learn Were so simple they were sometimes difficult
which led to the understanding of science. to distinguish from naturally created objects and would
A. The Dawn of the First Civilizations produce only 3 inches of cutting edges from a pound of
- Ancient humans were able to discover and invent tools flint.
and methods as science developed and progressed. OLDOWAN TOOLS
With the availability of new scientific instruments and
techniques, archeology excavation has provided us with
data and evidences.
- People then discovered, learned and developed
science and technology as the consequence of their
search for food, and other survival needs, for practical
reasons and even curiosity.
- Discovery of mud plaster that led to pottery and mud
bricks houses; first known pottery was in Japan around
10,000 B.C.
B. Evidence of Science and Technology during Pre-
Acheulan toolkit - characteristics of these kind of toolkit
Historic Times (3000-5000 B.C)
includes handaxes that are cutting tools as well as other
Man’s achievements in science can be categorized as:
kinds of ‘’large cutting tools”
Discovery
Acheulean stone tools were named after the site of St.
Invention
Acheul on the Somme River in France where artifacts
Stone Age
from this tradition were first discovered in 1847 were
3.4 million years ago
often bifacial and could produce 12 inches of cutting
Divided into three separate periods (based on the
edge from a pound of flint.
degree of sophistication in the fashioning and use of
tools):
Paleolithic Period (Early)
Mesolithic Period (Middle)
Neolithic Period (New)
Four Fundamental Traditions Developed by the
Paleolithic Ancestors:
1. Pebble-tool traditions
2. Bi-facial tool or hand-axed traditions
3. Flake-tool traditions
4. Blade-tool traditions During middle Paleolithic time, the pace of innovation in
stone technology began to accelerate.
Stone tools were made from a variety of stones: Prepared core technique - one of the main innovations
Flint and chart- shaped or chipped for use as cutting that was applied in which a core was carefully flaked on
tools, flakes, blades and weapons. one side so that a flake of predetermined size and shape
Flaking- produces a wide range of special tools that was could be produced in a single blow.
used for cutting, chopping, scraping, and sawing.
 Mesopotamia (Iraq & Kuwait)
- World’s earliest known civilization
- Established in the region about 3600 BC
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
a. CUNEIFORM
1st writing system
Set of word pictures depicted in symbols(3100BC)

Middle Stone Age Toolkits

included points, which could be hafted on the shafts to
make spears, stone awls have been used to perforate
hides and scrapers important inventions such as needles
and thread, skin clothing, the harpoon, spear thrower
and special fishing equipment appeared
Neolithic Period b. SUMERIAN CLAY TABLET
was characterized primarily by herding societies, as well Contains Sumerian historical information and culture.
as bronze smelting, adoption of agriculture, the shift Began as record keeping for trade and evolved into the
from food gathering to food producing, development of use of symbols for writing down laws and stories
pottery using sediments and clay.
Bronze Age (3000 BC- 1200 BC)
- is the second principal period of the three age
Stone-Bronze-Iron system and generally followed
Neolithic period
- marked with the beginning of mining and
metallurgy
- denotes the first period in which bronze was used
- man began smelting copper and alloying with tin or c. CONCEPT OF WHEELS
arsenic to make bronze tools and weapons Invented shortly after 3500 BC (potter’s wheel)
- a time of extensive use of metals and developing Flat disk made of hardened clay. The Sumerians simply
trade networks turn this clay-splattered wheel on its end and hook it to
Iron Age (500 BC- 332 BC) a wagon to move heavy objects
- period of time in prehistory when the dominant tool
making material was iron
- characterized by the production of tools and
weaponry using ferrous metallurgy
- Meteoric iron has been used since 3200 BC
- Iron made life a lot easier in those days

Did you know?

Fire was the most important discovery and invention
made by man in the Paleolithic Era.
LESSON 2
Evidences of Science and Technology during Ancient
Times (3500 B.C.-1200 in the Old World
d. SAILBOAT
Invented by Ancient Mesopotamia. Since
Mesopotamia was situated between Euphrates and
Tigris, they needed water transportation.

I. SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION (SUMER, MESOPOTAMIA

(IRAQ))
- Located at the southernmost region of ancient

e. The Sumerians were the 1st astronomers
mapping the movement of stars, planets and moons
into sets of constellations and was recognized by the
ancient Greeks
f. Sumerians were also recognized for building the
foundation of logic, mathematics, engineering,
architecture, agriculture, transportation and medicine
g. SEXAGESIMAL SYSTEM
Counting units of 60 which served as the basis of 360
degree and the 60-minute hour.
h. Developed systemized technique of farming; seed
plow and irrigation
i. Wool from sheep made into textiles, mastered the
arts of bleaching and dyeing
II. BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION
Was the ancient region bordering the Tigris and
Euphrates river.
Babylon was the capital, served as commercial and
religious center
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
A. HAMMURABI (1792-1750)
First leader of the old Babylonian empire
Promulgated the famous law code
Law code – served as the rule and standard
b. Nebuchadnezzar II
Neo Babylonian emperor who ordered the construction
of the famous “Hanging gardens of babylons” and Isthar
Gate. Contributed to the development of science and
technology such as irrigation system canals
Adopted the Sumerian sexagesimal system
III. EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
Location: Egypt is located in Northeastern Africa. Along
the Nile River, approximately 5,000 BCE
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Animal Hunters
Farming
- Ancient Egyptian learned to heat metals and made
weapons and utensils. First is to make glass, jars and
glass beads.
- Egyptian wrote using ink and brushes made up of
papyrus reeds.
- Knowledge of anatomy and medicinal plant.
- Calendar made by the Egyptians. It has 29 days and ½
days that later on have 365 days. They also created a
calendar that is based on astronomy.
- Engaged in pottery – Cooking, Housing
- Great sphinx
- Giza necropolis
- Ruins of Memphis
- Egyptians are also engaged in ship buildings;
construction of canals, dikes and ditches with outlet
system; cooking; breeding of animals; and beauty
products.
- Beauty Products
- Ditches with outlets
IV. CRETAN (MINOAN CIVILIZATION)
Location: arose on the island of Crete and other Aegan
islands such as Satorini and flourished from
approximately 2600 to 1400 BC.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
- Minoan civilization was an Aegean Bronze Age
civilization ruled by King Minos (Knossos)
- The Minoans were primarily a mercantile people
engaged in overseas trade. (Trading)
- Crete was exported of wine, dile and jewelry. Built the
first major navy ship for trading
1st navy ship
- Skilled carvers. Has knowledge of mathematics,
engineering, and architecture. Constructed drainage
system, public halls, courtyards and religious shrines.
(Snake goddess)
- Also did agriculture (Polyculture) and breeding
(drainage, polyculture)
- Around 1600, BC, was shaken by a violent earthquake.
Followed by Theran eruption. 50 years later, the
civilization was wiped out.
DID YOU KNOW?
Clay Tablets
Cuneiform characters imprinted y reed pen. Sumerians
had enormous libraries of clay tablets that contains law,
business transactions and literature.
Obelisk
Originally called “tekheru”. A tall, four-sided, narrow
tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape
at the top.
Sundial
Shadow clock in 1000-1500 BC. Tells times by casting
shadow by reflected by the sun
LESSON 2
EVIDENCES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DURING PRE- COLUMBIAN TIMES
(1500 B.C – A.D 1500 in the New World)
OLMEC CIVILIZATION
 The first great Mesoamerican civilizations.
 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.
 The name “Olmec” means “rubber people” in
Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec.
 Olmecs is a constructed permanent city-temple
complexes at San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, La Venta,
Tres Zapotes, and Laguna de los Cerros.
 There are also monuments and other major pieces
of Olmec art such as mask and figurines.
 Olmecs are known to cultivate cacao, rubber, and
salt.
 There are evidences that suggest the Olmec
practiced human sacrifice and cannibalism.
 Olmec traded goods such as obsidian, ceramics,
jade, serpentine, mica, rubber, pottery, feathers
and polished mirrors of limenite and magnetite.
Maya Civilization
 The ancient Mayans are a diverse group of
indigenous people who lived in parts of present-day
Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and
Honduras.
 The Mayas are credited with a number of
remarkable scientific achievements in various
scientific fields such as astronomy, engineering,
medicine, and mathematics.
 The Mayan not only made the great progress in
agriculture, but also made a big break-in
technology.
Astronomy
 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 Mayans, Venus was the most important
astronomical object.
 The Mayan 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.
 The written language of the Maya 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.
 The Mayans also were talented to build
elaborate temples and great cities without the
essential tools like metal. It is believed that the
Maya were producing rubber products.
AZTEC CIVILIZATION
• Established their city of Tenochtitlan, present-day
Mexico City in 1325 A.D.
• Tenochtitlan was the capital city and center of the
Aztec Empire.
• It was founded as the capital until the Aztecs were
conquered by Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes
in 1520.
• The Aztecs saw an eagle perched on a cactus on the
marshy land near the southwest border of Lake
Texcoco, and took that as a sign to build their
settlement there.
• Tenochtitlan- Early on in the history of the city the
Aztecs built causeways and canals for
transportation to and from the city.
AZTEC CIVILIZATION
• Aztecs are best known as a violent people who
expanded their empire through ruthless warfare.
• They had a reputation of making human sacrifices in
elaborate rituals that often involved the removal of
beating hearts, to appease their many gods.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Aztec Canoe
• Aztec developed dugouts canoes with which they
transported themselves and their goods throughout
the many canals, lakes and water ways found in the
valley of Mexico.
Aztec Calendar
• Aztec astronomy was also an important component
of their calendar, which reflected heavily on their
Gods.
• Aztec calendar consisted of a ritual cycle of 260 days
and a 365-day civil cycle.
• Ritual Cycle
Tonalpohualli – 'Counting of the Days'
formed a 260-day cycle, in all probability
originally based on astronomical observations.
The calendar was broken down into units
(sometimes referred to as trecenas) of 20 days
with each day having its own name, symbol,
patron deity and augury.
The 20-day group ran simultaneously with another
group of 13 numbered days. 
Civil Cycle
Xiuhpohualli – 'Counting of the Years'
• this calendar which signified when particular
religious ceremonies and festivals should be held.
This calendar was divided into 18 groups of 20 days
(each with its own festival). These 'months' were:
• The Aztec ritual and civil cycles returned to the
same places relative to each other every 52 years,
an event celebrated as the Binding Up of the Years,
or the New Fire Ceremony.
Aztec Medicine
• Aztecs were also advanced in the development of
medicine.
• In fact, Aztec medicines was found in many forms,
such as ointments, drinks and slaves.
• This spectacular area of Aztec technology has been
recorded in the Badianus Manuscript, which was
created by Aztec artists in 1552.
- INCA CIVILIZATION -
• 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.
MACHU PICCHU
• Most famous surviving archaeological sites, which
was built as a retreat place for an Incan emperor.
• In the Quechua Indian language, “Machu Picchu”
means “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain.”
•  The compound contains more than 100 separate
flights of stairs. Most of the individual staircases
were carved from one slab of stone.
TAWANTINSUYU
• the “Land of the Four Corners”
• The largest empire of Inca
• 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.
• Quechua- official language.
CHINCHAYSUYU (north region)
Innovative Engineering and Valuable Resources
• contained the empire's most important agricultural
region. The territory covered much of modern-day
Peru, Ecuador, and part of Colombia.
ANTISUYU (east region)
An Exotic and Forbidding Landscape
• Located in the upper Amazon, Antisuyu had a
rainforest environment marked by heavy rainfall,
high humidity, and lush vegetation.
CONTISUYU (west region)
The Road to the Sea
• Here, breathtaking vertical slopes rise from sea level
to 19,000 feet (5,800 meters) in altitude. A land of
dramatic peaks, volcanoes, and deep gorges,
Contisuyu presented complex problems for Inka
road engineers.
COLLASUYU (south region)
High Plains and Herds
• Colla means "high plain." Its extensive grassland
was ideal for llama and alpaca herding. The region
was also a source of salt, potatoes, gold, silver, and
copper.
They are rich in maize (corn) and dried Ilama, coca
leaves and alcohol; other consumable goods include
sweet potatoes, quinoa, beans and chili peppers.
MUMMIFICATION
• An important part of Inca funerary rites
• November is described as being the “month of
carrying the dead,” a time when people would try to
feed the mummies of their ancestors.
CUMPI
• The finest Inca textiles were reserved for the Inca
nobility and the emperor himself.
• Clothes were woven out of wool from dried llamas
and alpaca or vicuna wool and cotton.
• Incas objects were made out of gold and silver.
• Incas used gold to make ritual objects, trinkets and
jewelry.
• Combinations of gold and silver, and gold and
copper (called tumbaga) were also used.
• Inca stone-working
• Inca Trapezoid Windows, Inca 12 Angle Stone
• 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.
Inca Calendars
• was essentially lunisolar, as two calendars were
maintained in parallel, one solar and one lunar.
• Twelve lunar months fall 11 days short of a full 365-
day solar year.
• Equinoxes, solstices, and Venus cycles are observed.
Quipu - used as mnemonic devices or to record
numerical data and also believed to record history and
literature.
• Inca performed successful skull surgeries, which
involved cutting holes in the skull in order to
alleviate fluid buildup and inflammation caused by
head wounds.
• 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
• Thatkiy or thatki, or one pace was the most basic
unit of distance.
Inca Weapons
• Bronze or bone-tipped spears;
• Two- handed wooden swords with serrated edges
• Clubs with stone and spiked metal heads
• Woolen slings and stones
• Stone or copper headed battle-axes
• Bolas (stones fastened to lengths of cord).
LESSON 3
THE STATE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DURING THE MIDDLE AGES (A.D 400- A.D 1300 in the
Western World)
• Medieval times, Middle Ages and Dark ages are
generally referring to the same period of time from
500 to 1500 A.D.
• It covers the time from the fall of the Roman Empire
to the rise of the Ottoman Empire.
• The Medieval period saw major technological
advances:
Military Technologies
Counterweight trebuchet
 a revolutionized siege weapon which uses
counterweights and hurling of huge stones to very
far distance.
 It was first use in the eastern Mediterranean basin
 Longbow with massed, disciplinary archery – was
used by the English against the French during the
hundred year’s war (1337 – 1453).
 The longbow was powerful, accurate and
contributed to eventual demise of the medieval
knight class.
 Steel crossbow - was the first hand-held mechanical
crossbow. This European innovation came with
several different cocking aids to enhance draw
power.
 Complete full plate armour – appeared by the end
of the 14th century. The armour chain was made
from thousand of metal rings and the armour was a
long clock called a hauberk.
 Plate armour is considered the best in personal
armour in terms of body protection and showed the
skils involved in working metal.
Other invention:
 Blast furnace or cast iron – first appeared in the
middle Europe around 1150.
 Hourglass – was made from a dependable,
affordable and accurate measure of time.
 Vertical windmills – is a pivot able post mill efficient
at grinding grain or draining water.
 Spectacles – is composed of convex lenses to help
far – sighted people to see.
 Chess – it is said that the earliest predecessors of
the game originated from india,
 Mirror were made in 1180 by Alexander Neckhan
who said “take away the lead which is behind the
glass and there will be no image of the one looking
in”
 Oil paint – was invented by Flemish painter Jan Van
Eyck around 1410 who introduced a stable oil
mixture.
AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIONS
HEAVY WHEELED PLOUGH – Important in the
cultivation of rich, heavy, often wet soils of Northern
Europe that advanced their agricultural practices.
HORSE COLLAR – It allowed more horse pulling power,
such as with a heavy ploughs, while Horseshoes let
horses adapt to rocky terrain, mountains and carry
heavier loads.
ARTESIAN WELL – Composed of a thin rod with a hard
iron cutting edge placed in borehole and repeatedly
struck with a hammer. Underground water pressure
forces water up the hole without pumping. Artesian
wells are named as such for Artois, a region in France
where the first was drilled by Carthusian monks in 1126.
WHEELBARROW – Used in construction, mining, and
farming for carrying materials from place to place.
OTHER INVENTIONS:
1. BLAST FURNACE – First appeared in Middle Europe
around 1150
2. HOURGLASS – It was made from a dependable,
affordable and accurate measure of time, believed to be
medieval innovation first documented in Siena, Italy.
3. VERTICAL WINDMILLS – A pivot able post mill
efficient at grinding grain or draining water.
4. SPECTACLES – Composed of convex lenses to help
far-sighted people to see.
5. CHESS – It is said that the earliest predecessors of the
game originated from India in the 6th century and
spread through Persia and Muslim world to Europe
The game evolved to its current from the 15th century.
6. MIRRORS – Were made in 1180 by Alexander
Neckham who said "Take away the lead which behind
the glass and there will be no image of the one looking
in."
7. OIL PAINT – Invented by a Flemish painter Jan van
Eyck around 1410 who introduce a stable oil mixture.
Oil was used to add details in tempera paintings.
8. TIDE MILL – It is a special type of water mill driven by
a tidal rise and fall. The earliest excavated tide mill,
dating from 787 AD, is the Nendrum Monastery on an
island in Strangford Lough in Northern Island.
9. SPINNING WHEEL – Was probably invented in India,
though its origins are ambiguous. It reached Europe via
the Middle East in the European Middle Ages. It
replaced the earlier method of hand spinning.
 By 1000s, the first universities were developed.
 By 1100s, modern universities emerged throughout
Western Europe such as Oxford and Cambridge in
England.
 In the 14th century, Crisis of the Late Middle Ages
was underway. A plague called Black Death came.
Quarantine technique was established, initially a 40-
day period, the Quarantine was introduced by the
Republic of Ragusa to prevent the spreading of the
diseases.
True or False Questions.
 At present, science and technology are not
intertwined. FALSE
 Science and technology came about when man
came into existence but not in their present forms.
TRUE
 Its contribution to present day science and
technology is that it provided the springboard for
innovation. TRUE
Ancient humans were able to discover and invent
tools and methods as science developed and
progressed. TRUE
The first known pottery was in Korea around 10,000
B.C. FALSE
This spectacular area of Aztec technology has
been recorded in the Badianus Manuscript. TRUE
The written language of the Maya was made up of
about 700 glyphs, or symbols. FALSE
Machu Picchu is located in Peru. FALSE
Machu Picchu is in the Himalayan mountains.
FALSE
Woolen slings and stones are Aztec weapons.
FALSE
The Aztec civilization not only made the great
progress in agriculture, but also made a big break-
in technology. FALSE
The Inca's 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. TRUE
Machu Picchu is in the Himalayan mountains.
FALSE
Olmec practiced human sacrifice and cannibalism.
TRUE
Cumpi is considered the finest textiles reserved for
the Inca nobility and the emperor himself.
TRUE