Chapter 1

Historical Antecedents in
the Science and Technology
 ANCIENT TIMES

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

 People at that time valued transportation because they wanted to travel and

explore new areas. They travelled in quest of food and to locate new, more

suitable colony sites. Additionally, people traveled to trade their excess

commodities for items they were lacking. They used navigation to make

their way to foreign and weird places around the world.

Communication
 Communication was crucial in their efforts to locate and occupy new locations. To

facilitate trade and avert potential confrontations, they required a way to

communicate with the locals of the places they traveled. They needed to keep track

of their travels and their exchanges with one another, thus keeping records was

essential.
Weapons and armors
 The discovery of new areas and the formation of new alliances with other

tribes both required the use of weapons and armor. When people met

others with different cultures and sexual orientations at the time, there was

always a chance of conflict. Stronger nations frequently invaded weaker

ones in order to seize resources that were desperately required.

Conservation of life
 Although the early people were able to make use of the abundant resources

that the world had to offer, maintaining their existence was a significant

challenge. A person's full potential was hindered by various illnesses, both

natural and man-made. Given this circumstance, science and technology

played a significant role in the discovery of illnesses' cures, if not

prevention.
Engineering in ancient times
 People ventured into what is now known as the field of engineering in

order to integrate their needs for improved transportation, the construction

of structures to protect against human attacks and natural disasters, and the

construction of larger and more robust infrastructures. Humans were able

to construct structures that satisfied their particular wants and needs thanks

to advancements in this field.

Architecture in ancient times
 Architecture was also introduced with the development of engineering.

While others might view architecture as merely a fashion statement,

elaborate architectural designs were once a sign of a civilization's

technological progress in ancient times. Architecture would be regarded as

a status symbol for nations' technological advancement in future

generations.
SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION
 In ancient Mesopotamia, Sumeria is situated
on the southernmost point. The high level of
interpersonal collaboration and aspiration for
greatness that sumerians exhibit is well
known. The fundamental things that life can
provide do not satisfy them. They created a
variety of scientific and technology-related
products as a result of this drive.
CUNEIFORM
 The invention of the earliest writing system,
called cuneiform, was one of the greatest
achievements of the Sumerians. Cuneiform is
a writing system that makes use of word
images and triangular symbols that are
incised into clay using wedge tools and then
allowed to dry. It allowed the Sumerians to
record events of immense historical
significance as well as daily life.
Uruk City
 The city of Uruk, which is regarded as the first
proper metropolis in the world, is another
significant accomplishment of the Sumerians. It is
amazing not just because of its position and the
scarcity of lumber, which made construction
extremely difficult. The Sumerians created the sun-
baked bricks, a remarkable engineering
accomplishment, by mixing river mud or clay with
reeds and using it to construct the city. They built a
wall around the city to keep wild animals and
nearby raiders out and used the bricks to construct
homes that sheltered them from the severe
weather.
The Great Ziggurat Of Ur
 The huge ziggurat of ur is another another engineering
and architectural marvel created by the Sumerians. In a
similar way to how they created the city of Uruk, the
ziggurat, also known as the mountain of god, was built.
The building was made from sun-baked bricks because
there weren't many supplies available. The temple
exhibits not just the magnificent and sophisticated
sumerian architecture but also the astonishing
technology employed to create it. The ziggurat served
as the sacred space of their principal god, into which
only their priests were permitted. Due to its
preservation, the huge ziggurat of ur continues to be
seen and enjoyed today.
Irrigation and Dikes
 The need for food expanded along with the population.
The Sumerians were forced to mass produce food
products, but the climate appeared to be against them.
They could not manage farmlands since it was difficult to
obtain water from the rivers. Water was in short supply
for some camps, while river flooding was an issue for
other others. The Sumerians developed irrigation canals
and dikes to provide water to farmlands while also
preventing river flooding as a solution to this conundrum.
This approach was regarded as one of the most
advantageous engineering feats ever. Dikes and canals
are used to reduce river floods while also providing water
to farmlands. This approach was regarded as
Sailboats
 The Sumerians had additional difficulties with
transportation. The wheel had not yet been
created, therefore rivers and oceans were the
primary means of transportation at the period.
Boats were utilized because they could
transport heavy loads across long distances.
Since the population was growing and vessels
could not carry more people and goods, they
nevertheless sought out distant lands to
inhabit. They needed a mode of transportation
that did not require much human resource
Wheel
 The ability to build the specialized tools
necessary to create the wheel was already
available to the Sumerians by the end of their
era. The early wheels were designed for farm
work and food processing rather than for
transportation. The adoption of the wheel
and axle facilitated mass production. Farmers
were able to mill grains more quickly and
with less effort.
The Plow
 The plow is another farming innovation created by
the Mesopotamians. From foraging for food to
cultivating farms, humans have developed. But
before they could plant themselves, farmers needed
technology that would allow them to excavate the
ground. The plow was created to excavate the dirt
more quickly. The farmer simply drops the seeds as
the plow cracks the soil, and the task of farming is
over. With this equipment, farmers could cultivate
greater land parcels more quickly, allowing them to
produce food in large quantities with less labor and
time.
Babylonian Civilization
 According to legends, the great Babyloniant
King Nebuchadnezzar II built the gardens for
his wife, Queen Amytis. It was said to be a
structure made up of layers upon layers of
gardens that contained several species of
plants, trees, and vines. No physical evidence
has been found to prove the existence of the
Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Its exact
location is also unknown.
Ink
Engraving stopped being used for writing when
the Egyptians created papyrus or paper. Egypt
developed ink as a result by blending soot
with various compounds to create inks of
various hues. Since it was used to record
history, culture, and codified laws, the ink
must survive the elements. It must also be
tamper-proof so that individuals cannot
simply alter those that authorities have
recorded.
Hieroglyphics
 The Sumerians and Egyptians also created
symbolic writing systems known as
heiroglyphics. Although some claim that the
early writing system developed in
Mesopotamia as a result of trade between
civilizations served as the basis for
hieroglyphics, the Egyptians thought that their
writing system had been given to them by
their gods. This style of writing is still in use
today and continues to have the same level of
fame as the pyramids.
Wig
 Wigs are currently used to enhance the appearance
of persons who are balding or those who want to
attempt new hairstyles, which is another cosmetic
innovation of ancient Egyptians. In contrast, wigs
were worn in ancient Egypt more for health and
wellbeing reasons than for fashion. The wigs were
worn by the rich to cover their shaven heads. Since
wigs enable heat to escape, wearing one was
preferable to donning a scarf or any other type of
head covering. It was also thought to be cleaner
than natural hair because it didn't allow head lice to
breed.
Water Clock/Clepsydra
 The water clock is another another significant
contribution from ancient Egypt. This device
makes use of gravity to change how water
moves from one vessel to another. How long
has passed since the gadget was full is
determined by the volume of water (or the
height, depending on the method) still within.
Time is measured during the procedure. The
water clock was a popular time-keeping tool
in ancient times.
GREEK CIVILIZATION
ROMAN CIVILIZATION

 The Roman Empire was considered be the cradle of politics

and governance during that period. Other civilizations looked

up to it as their model in terms of legislation and laws. Aside

from their contributions in politics, a lot of inventions still

relevant today can be attributed to the Roman Empire.

NEWSPAPER
 The first newspapers, known as gazettes, contained announcements of the

Roman Empire to the people. When paper was invented, it became easier

for the Romans to "publish" matters that needed attention. The Romans

enjoyed easy access to government information in the same way we

benefit from newspapers today.

Bound Books or Codex

 With the invention of paper, it became easier for civilizations to write

down everything that happened in their time. Record-keeping was much

easier since paper did not easily break, was lightweight, and did not

occupy much space. According to sources, Julius Caesar started the

tradition of stacking up papyrus to form pages of a book.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 One of the most visual contribution of the ancient Roman Empire to the

world. Romans were able to preserve great and elaborate architectural

designs because they could produce sturdier and stronger infrastructures.

They were also able to creatively redesign old architectural patterns to

adapt to the new trends.

ROMAN NUMERALS
 The Roman numeral was the result of the need for a standard method of

counting all the nations that were part of the Roman Empire. Other

systems had failed to keep up with the increasing rate of communication

and trade among nations.

CHINESE CIVILIZATION
MEDIEVAL/MIDDLE AGES
 During the middle ages, there was a
significant rise in population and trade
between nations. This led to an increase in
technology in the fields of weaponry
navigation and mass food production. Some
of the most innovative minds came from this
period - such as Leonardo da Vinci and Sir
Isaac Newton.
PRINTING PRESS
 After the Chinese developed woodblock
printing, Johann Gutenberg was able to invent
the printing press, a more reliable way of
printing using a cast type. He utilized
machines that extracted juices from fruits,
attached to them a metal impression of the
letters, and pressed firmly into a piece of
paper.
MICROSCOPE
 The microscope was key in discovering new
means in preventing and caring various
illnesses. Guided by the principles used for
the invention of eyeglasses in earlier years,
Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the
first compound microscope. The device
allowed people to observe organisms that
were normally unseen by the naked eye.
TELESCOPE
 In the Middle Ages, ship captains needed to
be able to see far and wide for them to
navigate or to avoid dangers at sea. The
invention of the telescope, an optical
instrument that helps in the observation of
remote objects, was a great help for
navigators during this time.
WAR WEAPONS
 During the Middle Ages, great development
in weaponry technology also occurred. For
open-area battles, people developed cross
bows and long bows so that they could attack
at long ranges. All sides must develop
weaponries not only as offensive tools but
also as defensive instruments.
MODERN TIMES
 In the 19th century, machines that required
animals to operate must be upgraded to
produce more goods. Food processing and
medicine posed some of the bigger
challenges since health was of great concern.
Modern times again faced more complicated
problems due to massive industrialization.
Faster and easier means to communicate and
compute should be developed.
PASTEURIZATION
 As people developed better means of
production, food preservation and food safety
became an issue. The challenge to keep
manufactured food from deteriorating was
greater for dairy products, since they usually
spoiled faster. These goods needed to be
consumed almost immediately after
production or they would cause illness like
diphtheria, food poisoning, and typhoid
fever.
PETROLEUM REFINERY
 Samuel M. Kier invented kerosene by refining
petroleum. Kerosene was later on referred to
as the "illuminating oil" because it was used
at first to provide lighting to homes. The
production of animal oils could not keep up
with the demand for generating light.
TELEPHONE
 Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the
telephone was one of the most important
inventions at that time. It allowed people to
easily maintain connections and communicate
with each other in real time. Governments
also needed some kind of communication
system which would allow them to administer
their states very well.