MODULE 1.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THROUGHOUT HISTORY

SHAIRA B. MANAPSAL
E: smanapsal@southernleytestateu.edu.ph
GE – Sci 101 Science, Technology and Society (with Concepts in Climate
Change and DRRM)
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Definition of Terms
• Science is a systematic and organized body of
knowledge that explains or predicts nature and
the universe.
• Technology is the collection of methods,
techniques, and processes used in the production
of goods or services, or the accomplishment of
objectives, such as scientific investigation, or any
other consumer demands.
• Society is a group of people living together
following certain norms to be in order.
Science Technology
Figure 1.1. The connectivity of science, society, and technology (Icons made by
Retinaicons, Eucalyp, dDara & Freepik from Flaticon)
Science and technology affect society in
general:

• Improved S&T result to industrialization and thus

converting a simple society to a complex one.
• People’s life and lifestyle change as a result of
improved S&T.
• Urbanization results when S&T improve because
people usually migrate to a place where their basic
needs are met.
• People have stronger desire for material goods when
S&T improve in the place.
• More discoveries and inventions that benefit the people
due to improved S&T.
LESSON 1: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE
WORLD

Explain the role of Science and Technology in Philippine nation building

 
Historical Development
• 2.3 million years ago
– roughly shaped stones used for chopping and
scrapping.
• Mesopotamian cultures around 400 BC
– disease symptoms, chemical substance and
astronomical observation evidences regarding the
treatment of wounds and diseases that were found.
• Years ago
– Some mathematical calculations currently used in
Geometry and Trigonometry.
Historical Development
• From 300-400 BC
– rise in philosophers who wrote topics on psychology,
biology, and a host of others.

1. Euclid
– the “Father of Modern Geometry”
2. Archimedes
– the founder of engineering mechanics who
calculated a value for pi which is being used today.
– first water pump.
Early Middle Period
• which began after the fall of the Western Roman
Empire in 476 AD
• the coming of Islam in the 7th century
• and the rise of Charlemagne in the 8 th century
• intellectual scientific, and technological activities
were mainly concentrated on the Christian faith.
• Medicine and botanical knowledge were used
for the church’s duty to help and tend the sick.
Early Middle Period
• Scientific issues were hardly even
discussed in depth by the church and
people.
– medieval intellectual simply “had no time for
occupations like science”.
– clerics and intellectual thinkers did not have
access to the vast amount of scientific
literature written in Greek before and during
the Roman Empire.
Early Middle Period
• Plato
– his works provided suitable clues for the view of the natural
world in the light of Christianity.
• Aristotle (384-322 BC)
– “Physics”
– who thinks of the creation of the world as being based on
nature only.
• Albertus Magnus (1200-1280)
– who stated that natural ways are the result of natural causes.
• Roger Bacon (1214-1294)
– who taught that science must be based on empirical methods.
Latter Part of the Middle Ages
• inventions and discoveries were made.
• inventions of gunpowder and firearms that made mathematical
knowledge indispensable
• geometry and statistics that enabled architects to construct
Gothic cathedral
• new pumping device
• new machines for lifting heavy loads
• new methods of finding and extracting metals
• knowledge of human anatomy
• geocentric definition of the universe
• and the introduction of the Gregorian calendar during the time
of Pope Gregory XII in 1852.
The Early Modern Period
• began in the 16th to 17th century
• Modern science began to develop.
• Scientific revolution started in Europe and
spread later to other parts of the globe.
• From the 18th century through late 20th
century, science and technology
emphasized more on physical and
biological sciences.
Today
• There are many scientific and
technological advancements to enhance
our daily activities.
• It is science and technology that
revolutionized society into a cyberspace
contemporary society.
LESSON 2: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE
PHILIPPINES

Explain the role of Science and Technology in Philippine nation

building
Before Spaniards
• There were already indigenous technology
that existed.
• Evident on the use of technology was on
wet and dry rice technology, handicrafts,
pottery, weaving, metal ware, and boat
making.
When the Spaniards arrived and
colonized the country:
• Primary reasons for colonizing the country:
– to make our country a source of raw materials
such as gold, silver, bronze, and spices
(which command a very high price in Spain
and Portugal) and these were used for
international trade.
• Christianizing the early Filipinos was
believed not the main reason for coming to
the Philippines.
When the Spaniards arrived and
colonized the country:
• Socio-political systems were erected, and
introduced to divide the country’s land and
mineral resources.
• The country evolved into a colony largely
exporting raw materials and importing those
that the country cannot produce.
• If there were local technological innovation
at that time, these were due largely to the
importation of foreign manufactured goods.
When the Americans came:
• “farce” trading system between the Philippines
and the United States was established.
• The low technological impact of the Philippine
raw materials was traded for high technological
input of foreign finished products.
• Due to lesser value of Philippine products
compared to that of foreign finished products,
the trade between the Philippines and the more
advanced countries was basically unequal.
When the Americans came:
• In order for the colonial power to maintain their
dominance in the world market, it was essential
that other countries including their colonies,
shall compete with the goods produced by the
mother country.
• Under 46 years of American rule, Philippines
sild down from being the second country next to
Japan in terms of technological development to
being next to bottom ranking among Southeast
Asian countries technological development.
When the Americans came:
• Even after more than 100 years of
“independence” the Philippines have yet to
rid itself of the poor systems created by
the colonial rulers and later on by the
succeeding Philippine governments.
Today
• Current administration, through the DOST, if S&T will
improve is ranking and serve the best Filipino people
in terms of scientific and technological benefits.
• Wave yet to see efficient development of
infrastructure, energy generation, transportation,
information and communication technology (internet
speed and WIFI elsewhere) and basic services (water
utilities and electricity in every places, healthcare
services, especially to the senior citizen and PWDs,
and the establishment of basic services such as steel
production around the country.
Today
• There is little science and technological
advancement that we could boost out as
our own invention and discoveries and
comparable with the global world,
especially in the field of transportation and
information.