Evidences of

Science and
Technology
during Ancient
Times
(3500 B.C.- 1200 in the Old World)

Prepared by: Elsie Joy Licarte-Misoles

Goals for this lesson:
1. Describe the development of Science and
Technology during ancient times;

2. Determine and recognize the significance

of the development of science and
technology during ancient times and its
impact to society
Goals for this lesson:
1. Describe the development of Science and
Technology during ancient times;

2. Determine and recognize the significance

of the development of science and
technology during ancient times and its
impact to society
First civilizations emerged independent of one
another along fertile river valleys in Mesopotomia
(Tigris-Euphrates), Egypt(Nile), China (Huang Ho
Valley) and India.People of each civilization
developed a unique way of life, religion, form of
government, language and system of writing, arts
and crafts, advances of science and technology:
astronomy, agriculture, medicine, mathematics,
engineering, and architecture. They grew plants
and domesticated animals and settled down in
places.
 Sumerian Civilization
It is located in Sumer, the southernmost
region of ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq and
Kuwait now). It is the earliest known
civilization and was the first established in
the region in about 3600 BC. It is also
known as the “first cities” in the world. It
transformed families into tribes that
occupied territories which soon became
cities and later were called the states.
 Science and Technology
Development of Sumerians
Cuneiform
This is the first writing system, it is a set of
word pictures depicted in symbols of
triangular marks around 3100 BC.
Pictograms or drawings symbolizing actual
things were the basis for Cuneiform writing.
Sumerian Clay Tablet
It contains the Sumerian historical
information and culture. It began as record
keeping for trade and evolved into the use of
symbols for writing down laws and stories.
The concept of Wheel
Sumerians come up with the concept of wheels
that will carry their wagons after they invented the
potter’s wheel shortly after 3500 BC. This was a
heavy flat disk made up of hardened clay. The
Sumerians simply turn this clay-splattered wheel
on its end and hook it to a wagon to make a wheel
as a means of practical method for moving heavy
objects from one place to another.
Potter’s wheel
Sailboat
This is also invented by Ancient
Mesopotamia. Sumerians used this for water
transportation and trade in the two famous
rivers, namely the Euphrates and Tigris.
 Sumerians were among the first
astronomers, mapping the movement of
stars, planet and moon into sets of
constellations, many of which survived in
zodiac and were also recognized by ancient
Greeks. They were also recognized for
building the foundations of logic,
mathematics, engineering, architecture,
agriculture, transportation and medicine.
 Sumerians also developed
systematized technique of farming such as
seed plow and irrigation. They also used
wool from sheep into textiles, mastered the
arts of bleaching and dyeing.
They also used sexagesimal system
of counting in units of 60 which served as
the basis of 360 degree circle and the 60-
minute hour.
Babylonian Civilization
It is located in Babylonia, the ancient region
bordering the Tigris and Euphrates river. It is
the capital, and served as commercial and
religious center in the Tigris and Euphrates
valley.
Science and Technology
Development of
Babylonians
Code of Hammurabi
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”, this
is the famous code enacted by Hammurabi,
the first leader of old Babylonian Empire.
This served as rule and standards which
helped maintain a period of stability in this
region, as well as the establishment of
science and technology.
Hanging Gardens of Babylons
Described as a remarkable feat of engineering with an
ascending series of tiered gardens containing a wide
variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, resembling a large
green mountain constructed of mud bricks, and said to
have been built in the ancient city of Babylon. The
construction of this and the Isthar Gate was ordered by
King Nebuchadnezzar II. This place is now considered
as one of the seven wonders of the world.
 Babylonians contributed to the development of
science and technology such as: irrigation system
of canals flanked by earthen dikes; system of book
keeping, double entry accounting, multiplication
and division tables and calculations using
geometry. They also adopted the Sumerian’s
sexagesimal system that made accurate
predictions of solar and lunar eclipses and other
astronomical phenomena.
 Egyptian Civilization
It is located in the northeastern part of the
African continent, Egypt is located along the
Nile River which provided a fertile delta
The success of ancient Egyptian
civilization came partly from its ability to
adapt to the conditions of the Nile river
valley for agriculture.
 Science and Technology
Development of Egyptians
Ancient Egypt depended on the waters of
the Nile River, which flows through harsh
and arid desert. The Nile River gave life to
the civilization of Egypt. The early settlers
were nomadic animal hunters and later
change their lifestyle as farmland settlers.
Their agriculture was supported mainly by
extensive irrigation system from the Nile
River.
 They learned how to heat metal ore such
as copper, gold and bronze to make
weapons and utensils. Egyptians may have
been the first people to learn how to make
glass. They learned how to heat sand in a
very hot furnace and then blow the molten
sand into glass products such as jars and
beads.
 Egyptian writing was in the form of pictorial
symbols known as hieroglyphics. It is being
written in a paper made of papyrus reeds
with ink and brushes.
Their knowledge of human anatomy,
physiology, surgery and medical plants
enabled them to master the art and science
of embalming their dead through
mummification.
Sundial or shadow
clock was used by
Egyptians to tell
timeby means of
the shadow casted
by the object as
reflected by the
sun.
Obelisk is originally
called “tekhenu”, a
tall, four-sided, narrow
tapering monument
which ends in a
pyramid-like shapeat
the top.
 Egyptians created calendar based on the phases
of the moon, consisting of 29 and ½ days. The
first 365-day calendar was devised by IMHOTEP.
They were the first to divide the day into 24 hours,
calculated the time by means of water clock. Their
interest in Astronomy was focused on the stars
and early calendar was based on the appearance
and disappearance of stars Sirius, the brightest
star in their horizon, helped them predict the
seasons and annual flooding on the Nile River.
Water Clock
 They were engaged into pottery of various
shapes and sizes such as pots , jars, cups
and bowls. They built houses made of sun
dried mud bricks. Pyramids still stands
today as the monumental evidence of the
scientific expertise and technical skills of
Egyptians in geometry, engineering,
architecture and labor management.
Giza Necropolis or Pyramid of Giza
Great Sphinx
Ruins of Memphis
Valley of the Kings
 Cretan (Minoan)
Civilization
It arose on the island of Crete and other Aegean
islands such as Santorini approximately 2600 to
1400 BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of
the 20th century through the work of British
archaeologist Arthur Evans. It is also referred as “
the first link in the European chain” by Wil Durant.
Minoan civilization was an Aegean bronze age
civilization ruled by King Minos. Knossos was the
capital of Crete, the grandest site of Bronze Age
palaces.
 Science and Technology
Development of Minoans
The Minoans were primarily a merchatile people engaged
in overseas trade. Their culture shows a higher degreee of
civilization. Many historians and archaeologists believe that
the Minoans were involved in the Bronze Age’s important
tin trade: tin alloyed with copper from Cyprus. Crete
became the central exporter of wine, oil, jewelry, and highly
crafted works and became importers of raw materials and
food. In the process, they built the first major navy ship in
the world. Its primary purpose was trade not war or
conquest.
Minoans made sophisticated carved statues,
ceramics, frescoes, jewels, and inscriptions
about their knowledge of mathematics,
engineering and architecture. They
constructed well drainage system, public
halls, courtyards, and religious shrines.
Their cities were connected with stone-
paved roads, formed from blocks cut with
bronze saws.
The Minoans raised cattle, sheep and goats and
grew wheat , barley, lettuce, celery, asparagus,
carrots, peas, grapes, pears, fig, olives and opium.
They also domesticated bees. They developed
Mediterranean polyculture, the practice of
growing more than one crop at a time. Their more
varied and healthy diet resulted in the growth of
population. Theoretically, this method of farming
would maintain the fertility of the soil as well as
protection against low yield in any single crop.
 Around 1600 BC, Akrotiri, a Minoan Bronze Age
settlement on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini
(Thera) was shaken by a violent earthquake. This Theran
eruption was one of the largest in human history-- blasting
more than 10 million tons of ash, gas and rock 25 miles into
the atmosphere. Despite of Crete’s close proximity to the
volcano, the debris from Thera largely missed the major
Minoan towns. 50 years later, the civilization was wiped out.
Earthquakes and fires destroyed Knossos and the other
palaces and the towns were deserted.
Ancient buried city of Akrotiri
End of the lesson.

Thank You!