HSITORICAL ANTECEDENTS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 The history of science and technology focuses on how science and technology have changed across time. Also, it explores the impact
of the scientific and technological innovations on the prevailing social, cultural, political and economic contexts throughout history. It
also pays attention to the conditions that shaped science and technology.
 The 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 helpful in appraising these
innovations today.

Ancient Period
Ancient period allowed civilizations to flourish by finding better ways of communication, transportation, self-organization and of
living in general
Ancient Wheel. People from ancient civilizations used animals for transportation long before the invention of the wheel.
There is a general agreement that the ancient wheel grew out of a mechanical device called potter’ wheel-a heavy flat disk made of
hardened clay which was spun horizontally on an axis. The invention of the ancient wheel is often credited to the Sumerians since no
other ancient civilization used a similar device at the time.
Paper. The Egyptians began writing on papyrus, a material similar to thick paper. Papyrus is made from the pith of the
papyrus plant cyperus papyrys. It is lightweight, strong, durable, and most importantly, portable.
Shadoof. The shadoof was an early tool invented and used by ancient Egyptians to irrigate land. The shadoof, also spelled as
shaduf, is a hand operated device used for lifting water.
Antikythera Mechanism. Antikythera was used to predict astronomical positions of 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.

Middle Ages
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 infrastructure for scientific communities to flourish.
Heavy Plough. The invention of heavy plough is one of the most important technological innovation during middle ages. Clay
soil, despite being more fertile than lighter type of soil, was not cultivated because of its heavy weight. However, through the
invention of the heavy plough, it became possible to harness the clay soil.
Gunpowder. Chinese alchemist accidentally invented black powder or gunpowder.
Paper Money. 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 of paper money, precious metals, such as
gold and silver were used as currency.
Mechanical Clock. The development of mechanical clocks paved the way for accurately keeping track of time.
Spinning Wheel. It is a machine used for transforming fiber into thread or yarn and eventually woven into cloth on a loom.

Modern Ages
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.
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 lens by putting together several
lenses on a tube. This led to an amazing discovery that an object, when placed near the end of the tube, can be magnified far larger
than what the simple magnifying lens can do. Janssen’s compound microscope was an important progression from the single lens
microscope.
Telescope. Is was Galileo who first used the telescope skyward and made important astronomical discoveries, and identified
the presence of craters and mountains on the moon. For the first time, it became clear that the universe is far larger than previously
imagined and the Earth far smaller compared to the entire universe.