Republic of the Philippines
Carlos Hilado Memorial State College
Talisay City, Negros Occidental
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY
(GEC STS)
Historical Antecedents in the Course of Science and Technology
Ancient Times
Advances in
knowledge, skills, and
technology had been
part of human history
long before our
ancestors were fully
human. We begin by
considering the arts,
inventions, and
understandings of this
early period, which
might be classified as
crafts or technology.
The Stone Ages: Stone tools have long been the first
recognized technology. It is almost certain that wooden tools
preceded stone by millions of years, but wood survives only in
exceptional circumstances. Therefore, we must begin with the
stone tools first found in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania by Louis
and Mary Leakey and others, and since found elsewhere in Africa
as well.
Knowledge among hunter-gatherers: Hunting became
increasingly important. People certainly learned the ways of
their prey animals. These people discovered how to control fire
and began to build substantial structures with wood posts,
although some lived in caves and rock shelters. Hunting
weapons such as the sling, the bow, the bolo, the fish hook, and
the spear thrower, are among the technological innovations of
this period.
The progress in technology is most clearly seen in the
further refinement of stone tools and in the Neolithic use of
many other materials. Metal tools were preceded by bone tools,
such as needles, that could not have been easily made from
stone. Although remains of more perishable tools are scarce in
the archeological record, there is no doubt that similar progress
were being made in tools based on wood or other organic
materials. Although most early wooden tools have vanished,
some of these inventions can be seen in early drawings or
engravings.
In the ancient times, people were concerned with
transportation and navigation, communication and record
keeping, mass production, security and protection, as well as
health, aesthetics, and architecture.
Transportation was significant during that time because
people were trying to go places and discover new horizons. They
travelled to search for food and find better locations for their
settlements. They also travelled to trade their surplus goods in
exchange for things that they lacked. Navigation assisted them
in their journeys to unfamiliar and strange areas in the world. It
allowed them to return home after they discovered new places
or completed an important trade with another group of people.
Communication was also essential in their endeavors to
discover and occupy new places. They needed a way to
communicate with the natives of the areas they visited so as to
facilitate trade and prevent possible conflicts. Record-keeping
was also important since they needed to remember the places
they had been to and document the trades they made with each
other. It was also vital to keep records of their history and
culture so they could establish their identities as they tried to
relate with other cultures and civilizations.
The increase in size and number of nations connoted
increased demand for food and other basic necessities. This
condition also implied that people must be able to produce food
at a given time and space since resources were getting scarcer as
more people struggles to share the basic necessities. The people
thus needed a form of technology that would enable them to
increase food supplies and other survival needs without them
travelling more or working harder.
Weapons and armors were important as well in the
discovery of new places or the establishment of new alliances
with other tribes. At that time, there was always a risk of conflict
when people met others with different culture and orientations.
Conflicts were common especially if different groups struggled to
control vital resources. Stronger nations tended to invade
weaker ones so they could take much needed resources. As
such, the development of weapons and armors for security and
protection was considered a major achievement.
A primary challenge they faced was the conservation of
life. The early people might have been successful in harnessing
the rich resources that the world could provide, but their survival
posed a great problem. Different illnesses and diseases, both
natural and man-made hampered the full potential of a human
being. Given this predicament, science and technology played a
major role in the discovery of cure to, if not the prevention of,
illnesses.
Moreover, in order to integrate their needs- for better
transportation, establishment of structures for protection from
human attacks and natural disasters, and construction of bigger
and stronger infrastructures- people ventured into what is now
known as the field of engineering. The development in this field
allowed humans to build structures that would address their
specific needs and wants. Some of the structures build during
the ancient times will exist today and continually awe people.
The development in engineering also ushered in the
introduction of architecture. Others might see architecture as a
mere style, but during the ancient times, elaborate architectural
designs were signs of technological advancement of a particular
civilization In the generations to come, architecture would be
considered a status symbol among nations of how advanced
their technology is. It may also establish the identity of a nation.
The people were not
contented on beautifying
only their infrastructures and
surroundings. Being able to
prolong life with the mass
production of food and
advancement of medical
technology, as well as raise
the quality of life by making complicated and difficult tasks
easier, humans later on developed the technology to improve
how they look. They discovered that people looked more
visually presentable and appealing by adding some features and
decorations in their body.
The following discussions will tackle the different major
technological advancements during the ancient times, which
include some of the achievement of the early civilizations such as
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the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians. It will continue to were challenged to mass produce food items but elements in the
describe the gradual application of knowledge up to the environment seem uncooperative. It was difficult to get water
contemporary time. from the rivers, thus they could not maintain farmlands. Some
groups had scarce water supply, while others had problems with
SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION flooding caused by the river.
Sumeria https://rudderresponse.pbworks.com/w/page/1 As a solution to this
(Sumer) is located on 10092543/Nile%20River%20Reading%20Investig dilemma, the Sumerians
ation
the southernmost created dikes and irrigation
tipoff ancient canals to bring water to
Mesopotamia. farmlands and at the same time control the flooding of the
Sumerians are rivers. This method was considered as one of the most beneficial
known for their high engineering works. Through the dikes and canals, the Sumerians
degree of were able to enjoy year –long farming and harvesting, which
cooperation with one increased their food production.
another and their
desire for great things. They are not contented with the basic Sailboats
things that life can offer. This desire pushed them to developed Another challenge to the Sumerians was transportation.
many things connected with science and technology. At that time, the wheel was not yet invented; the main mode of
transportation was through waterways such as rivers and seas.
Cunieform Boats were used to carry large quantities of products and were
One of the major able to cover large distances. However, they wanted to discover
contributions of the faraway lands to settle since the population was getting larger,
Sumerians is the and boats were not enough to accommodate more people and
development of the first products. They needed a mode of transportation that did not
writing system known as require much human resource. Some sources attribute to the
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/432908582 cuneiform. It is a system Sumerians the invention of sailboats to address their increasing
912054304/ that utilizes word, demands. Sailboats were essential in transportation and trading
pictures and triangular as well as in fostering culture, information, and technology.
symbols which are carved on clay using wedge instruments and
then left to dry. Cuneiform allowed the Sumerians to keep Wheel
records of things with great historical value or their everyday life. In the latter part of
their history, the Sumerians
Uruk City were able to invent the wheel
Another important contribution of the Sumerians is the City of since the specialized tools
Uruk. It is a great wonder not only because it is considered to be needed to create it were https://sumeriancivilizationhonors.weebly.co
the first true city in the world but also for the way it was erected. already available. The first m/accomplishments-and-inventions.html

There were no building stones in the location of this city and wheels were not made for
lumber was limited, making the construction a big challenge. transportation but for farm work and food processes. With the
The Sumerians were able to build the city using only mud or clay use of the wheel and axle, mass production was made easier.
from the river, which they mixed with reeds, producing sunbaked Farmers were able to mill grains with less efforts in less time.
bricks – a true engineering feat. They used the bricks to make
houses that protected them from the harsh weather and to build The Plow
a wall around the city that prevented wild animals and Another farm technology
neighboring raiders from entering. invented by the
Mesopotamians is the
The Great Ziggurat of Ur plow. Humans evolved
Another engineering from being food gatherers
and architectural feat of the to farm cultivators.
Sumerians is the Great Ziggurat However, farmers needed
of Ur. The ziggurat, also called a technology which would
the mountain of god, was built in enable them to dig the
the same manner that they ground where seeds would
constructed the City of Uruk. https://www.ancient- be planted. The plow was
origins.net/ancient-places-asia/great-
Without much building ziggurat-ur-001767preserved Ziggurat invented to dig the earth in a faster pace. As the plow breaks
materials, the structure was of Ur. the ground the farmer would just drop the seeds and farm
constructed using sunbaked work would already be done. With this tool, farmers could
bricks. The ziggurat served as the place of their chief god, where cultivate larger parcels of land faster, enabling them to mass
only their priests were allowed to enter. The temple showcases produce food without taking so much effort and time.
not only the elaborate and intricate Sumerian architecture but
also the remarkable technology used to build it. As such, even
until today, people still enjoy and marvel at the preserved Great BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION
Ziggurat of Ur. Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers. The Babylonians were great builders,
Irrigation and Dikes engineers, and architects. One of their major contributions is the
As population hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the
increased, so did the demand ancient world.
for food. The Sumerians
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Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Today,
people can only
marvel at the
beauty of the
famous Hanging
Garden of Babylon
from stories of
historians and
paintings that
portray the place.
It was said to be a
structure made up
https://www.britannica.com/place/Hanging-Gardens-of-
of layers upon Babylon
layers of gardens
that contained several species of plants, trees and vines.
According to legends, the great Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar
II built the gardens for his wife, Queen Amytis. However, no
physical evidence has been found to prove the existence of the
Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Its exact location is also unknown.
Since time, immemorial, people have been debating about the
existence of the said mythical place. Many said it was just a
product of the creative imagination of the great King because it
lacked documentation or archeological evidence. On the other
hand, if it really existed, it must have been destroyed by war,
erosion, or an earthquake. True or not, hearing the stories and
description of the place would be enough to inspire awe to
anyone. One can imagine the thick greenery decorated by
beautiful flowers coming from different places in the garden and
complicated design of the infrastructure. If the stories were
true, the Hanging Garden of Babylon may be considered as one
of the greatest engineering and architectural achievements of
the world that is almost impossible to replicate.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
Another early civilization famous for its legacy is the
Egyptian civilization located in North America. Many stories tell
about the engineering feats of the Egyptians especially regarding
the infrastructures established by the pharaohs. Aside from
engineering technology, the Egyptians have contributed other
practical things that the world now considers as essential. It is
thus safe to say that the pyramids are not the only contribution
of the Egyptians civilization to the modern world.
pieces of paper were very light that they could be carried and
delivered by birds. Moreover, record-keeping was no longer a
problem since documents would not take huge storage spaces.
Therefore, it was easier to keep them away from raiders who
often destroyed records of the nations they invaded.
Ink
When the Egyptians invented the papyrus or the paper,
engraving ceased to be used in writing. As a result, the Egyptians
invented ink by combining soot with different chemicals to
produce inks of different colors. The ink must withstand the
elements of nature since it was used to record history, culture,
and codified laws. It must also be tamper-proof so that people
could not simply tinker with those written down by authorities.
Hieroglyphics
Like the Sumerians,
the Egyptians also developed a
system of writing using
symbols, known as
hieroglyphics. Although some
say that hieroglyphics was adapted from the early writing system
established in Mesopotamia as a result of trade between
civilizations, the Egyptians believed that this writing system was
provided to them by their gods. This form of writing can still be
seen today and remains to be a famous as the pyramids where
they were found. Hieroglyphics was the language that tells the
modern world of the history and culture of the ancient
Egyptians. Their records were well-preserved since they were
carved at the walls of pyramids and other important Egyptian
structures.
Cosmetics
The Egyptians also invented the use of cosmetics.
Although cosmetics in the modern times are used to improve
and highlight the facial features of a person, their function in
ancient Egypt was for both health and aesthetic reasons.
Egyptians wore Kohl around the eyes to prevent and even cure
eye diseases. Kohl was created by mixing soot or malachite with
mineral galena. Egyptians also believed that a person wearing
make-up was protected from evil and that beauty was a sign of
holiness. At present, the cosmetic industry is a booming
multibillion industry.

Paper or Papyrus Wig

One of the earlier Another
contributions of Egyptian cosmetic invention of
civilization was the paper ancient Egyptians is the
or papyrus. Although wig. At present, wigs are
Egypt was not the first to used to enhance the
develop a system of appearance of people
writing, they were able to who are balding or those
make writing easier for the who want to try new hair
world. Before the Egyptian trends. Meanwhile, https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-
innovation, clay tablets during the ancient traditions/changing-beauty-use-elaborate-wigs-ancient-
egypt-005484
were used. However, safe-keeping and transporting them were Egyptian times, wigs were
a major problem. Clay tablets were very fragile, heavy and worn for health and wellness rather than for aesthetic purposes.
delicate to handle. So, bringing them to places was a major
challenge. Hence, the Egyptian invention of the paper or Water Clock/Clepsydra
papyrus was a welcome to development. Papyrus was a plant Another important
that grew abundantly along the Nile River in Egypt. They were ancient Egyptian contribution is
able to process the plant in order to produce thin sheets on the water clock. This device
which one could write down things. Since papyrus was lighter utilizes gravity that affects the
and thinner than clay tablets, it was easy to carry and store. This flow of water from one vessel to
invention was a major accomplishment in Egyptian record- the other. The amount of water
keeping and communications. People then were able to send (or its height, depending on the
letters or correspondences anywhere in the world since the method used) remaining in the
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device determines how much time has elapsed since it is full. In information the same way we benefit from present-day
the process, time is measured. The water clock was widely used newspapers.
as a timekeeping device during the ancient times.
Bound Books or Codex
GREEK CIVILIZATION With the
Greece is an archipelago in the southeastern part of invention of paper,
Europe. Known as the birthplace of western philosophy, some of it became easier
the major achievements of the Greeks include in-depth works on for civilizations to
philosophy and mathematics. More than coliseum and the write down
Olympics, the Greek civilization has contributed much to the everything that
world especially in the fields of science and technology. happened in their time. Record-keeping was much easier since
paper did not easily break, was lightweight, and did not occupy
Alarm Clock much space. As a result, civilizations became fond of record-
One of the most utilized gadgets today that was keeping, especially documenting historical events and newly
invented by the ancient Greeks is the alarm clock. Although the legislated laws. Aside from Romans writing down information
alarm clock during that time did not resemble the present-day about history and politics, literature also changed form from clay
alarm clock, the purpose was just the same- to tell an individual tablets to parchments of paper. According to sources Julius
when to stop or when to start. The ancient Greek’s alarm clocks Caesar started the tradition of stacking up papyrus to form pages
used large complicated mechanisms to time the alarm. They of a book. Later on, they were able to provide covers to protect
made use of water or (or sometimes small stones or sand) that the papyrus. The earlier covers were made of wax but were later
dropped into drums which sounded the alarm. Plato was on replaced by animal skin which proved to be stronger and
believed to have utilized an alarm clock to signal the start of his longer –lasting. With the papyrus pages bound together and
lecture. His version used four water vessels lined up vertically. covered by animal skin, the ancient Roman Empire was able to
The upper vessel supplied the water which dropped to the vessel produce the first books or codex.
below it, which was set to be filled in a given time. After it was
full, water was siphoned off at a faster rate into the third vessel Roman Architecture
which would cause the expulsion of contained air, creating a Roman architecture is one of the most visual
whistling noise. Afterwards, this vessel would empty towards contributions of the
the bottom vessel for storage and reuse. ancient Roman
Empire to the world.
Water Mill Roman architecture
Watermills were also considered as one of the most was considered a
important contributions of the Greek civilization to the world. continuation of Greek
They were commonly used in agricultural processes like milling architecture, hence,
of grains which was a necessary form of food processing during the resemblance.
that time. Because milling was made possible by the use of However, Roman
watermills, the mass production of rice, cereals, flours, and the architecture was still regarded as pioneering since the Romans
like became common. Watermills were considered better than were able to adapt new building and engineering technology on
mills powered by farm animals because they required less effort architectural designs established in the past. In this manner,
and time to operate since the farmer did not have to raise they were able to preserve great and elaborate architectural
animals. They only required access to rivers or flowing water designs because they could produce sturdier and stronger
where a mechanism of a large wheel with small “buckets” of infrastructures. The Romans were also able to creatively
water attached to it could be installed. redesign old architectural patterns to adapt to the new trends at
that time. This development in the field of engineering and
ROMAN CIVILIZATION architecture was fully supported and funded by the Roman
The Roman Empire was perceived to be the strongest government so they were able to implement major projects such
political and social entity in the west. It was considered to be the as large churches (cathedrals and basilicas) aqueducts,
cradle of politics and governance during that period. Because coliseums, amphitheaters, and even residential houses. The
the Roman Empire was so large, other civilizations looked up to it quality of these majestic Roman structures can be seen by the
as their model in terms of legislation and codified laws. Aside way they withstood time and the harsh element of the
from their contributions in politics, a lot of discoveries and environment. Today, people of the world still enjoy these
inventions still relevant today can be attributed to the Roman marvels. These structures are proofs of ancient Roman
Empire. technology.

Newspaper Roman Numerals

One of the major contributions of the Romans is the
newspaper. The first newspapers, known as gazettes, contained
announcements of the Roman Empire to the people. Made
before the invention of paper, these gazettes were engraved in
metal or stone tablets and then publicly displayed. When paper
was invented, it became easier for the Romans to “publish”
matters that needed the attention of the Roman citizens. In fact,
with the advent of paper, minutes of the proceedings of the
Roman senate were done in shorthand. These documents were
edited and published on the same day that they were recorded.
This way, the Romans enjoyed easy access to government
Although other number systems had already been
established before the Roman numeral, these old systems could
not keep up with high calculation requirements due to the
increasing rate of communication and trade among nations.
Since the Roman Empire was expanding, it had to deal with many
nations to maintain its power. For this reason, the Romans
devised their own number system specifically to address the
need for a standard counting method that would meet their
increasing communication and trade concerns. Although the
Roman numeral is no longer widely used today due to its
inherent limitations, quite a number of enthusiasts would still

4
use it over other more popular number systems, like the Hindu- hand, gunpowder is also used in fireworks during important
Arabic system, due to its aesthetic and historical value. celebrations in China.

CHINESE CIVILIZATION
The Chinese civilization is considered to be the oldest References:
civilization in Asia, if not the world. Also known as the middle
kingdom, China is located on the far east of Asia. It was famous • Mcnamara, DJ. et.al. (2018). Science, Technology & Society.
among other ancient civilizations because of its silk trade. Not a Quezon City: C & E Publishing Inc.
great amount was written about ancient China partly due to its • Serafica, JP. et.al (2018). Science, Technology & Society. 1st
distance from the other civilizations. Despite its less popular Edition. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore.
status among the early civilizations, one cannot discredit the • Bunch, B. & Hellemans, A. (2004). The History of Science &
significant contributions of Chinese civilization to the world. Technology. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
• Caoli. History of Science and Technology of the Philippines
Silk • Video: Stephen Colbert’s interview with Neil Tyson:
One of the things that connected Far East China to the https://www.youtube.com/watch
world is silk. Although silk is naturally produced by silk worms, v=YXh9RQCvxmg&noredirect=1
the Chinese were the ones who developed the technology to
harvest the silk and process it to produce paper and clothing.
Silk production resulted in the creation of a product for trade.
The silk trade opened China to the outside world making way for
cultural, economic, scientific exchanges. It bridged the gap
between the western world and the middle kingdom.

Tea Production
Tea is a beverage produced by pouring hot or boiling
water over crushed or shredded dried tea leaves. It was believed
that the first tea was drunk by a Chinese emperor. Tea
production was developed when an unknown Chinese inventor
created a machine that was able to shred tea leaves into strips.
This machine was done using a wheel-based mechanism with
sharp edges attached to a wooden or ceramic pot. Because of
this invention, the Chinese were able to increase their
production of tea and trade with other nations. China thus
became known for its tea exports aside from its silk products.
Tea production developed by the ancient Chinese may have
resulted in making tea as one of the most popular beverages in
the world today.

Great Wall of China

Once considered the only man-made structure that
could be seen from outer space, the Great Wall of China is said
to be the largest and most extensive infrastructure that the
nation built. It was constructed to keep out foreign invaders and
control the borders of China. Made with stone, brick, wood,
earth and other materials, it showcased the extent of Chinese
engineering technology at that time. The structure was so
massive and strong that it was said to have literally divided China
from the rest of the world. The wall’s construction put the
nation among the powerful civilizations during the ancient times.
It was the pride of their land and their crowning glory. Today,
with some sections already in ruins, the Great Wall still continues
to be a world attraction due to its historical significance and
architectural grandeur.

Gunpowder
The gunpowder is one of the most interesting
inventions in China. Originally, it was developed by Chinese
alchemists who aimed to achieve immortality. They mixed
charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate, but instead of creating an
elixir of life, they accidentally invented a black powder that could
actually generate large amounts of heat and gas in an instant.
Ironically, instead of prolonging life, gunpowder is widely used to
propel bullets from guns and cannons which cause countless
deaths. In fact, gunpowder-propelled weapons are preferred by
raiders who plan to attack at a distance. The same weapons are
also used to dissipate any attempts of invasion. On the other