Chapter 2 - Historical Antecedents in The Course of Science and Technology (Ancient Civilizations)

Six (6) Major Themes of Innovation
Transportation – allowed people to go places and discover new horizons. People traveled in search for
food and better locations for settlement.
Communication – people needed a way to communicate with the natives of the areas they visited to
facilitate trade and prevent possible conflicts. Record-keeping is also an important aspect to document
trades made, and to keep records of their history and culture.
Weapons and Armors – for the establishment of alliances with other tribes. Developed for security and
protection.
Conservation of life – for the prevention and cure of illnesses.
Engineering – allowed men to build structures to address their specific needs and wants.
Architecture – considered as the status symbol among nations on how they advanced their technologies.
Ancient Civilizations
Sumerian Civilization – located in the southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia. Known for high degree of
cooperation and desire for great things.
1. Cuneiform –first writing system that utilized word pictures and triangular symbols carved on clay using
wedge instruments.
2. Uruk City – considered to be the first true city. Used mud or clay that is mixed with reeds to produce
sunbaked bricks.
3. The Great Ziggurat of Ur – also called the mountain of god, built like the Uruk City. Served as a sacred
place for their chief god.
4. Irrigation and Dikes – brings water to farmlands and at the same time control the flooding of the rivers.
5. Sailboats
6. Wheel – made not for transportation but for farm work and food processing (i.e. milling of grains).
Babylonian Civilization – emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Known as great
builders and architects.
1. Hanging Gardens of Babylon – structure made up of layers of gardens that contained several species of plants,
trees, and vines. Built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, Queen Amytis.
Egyptian Civilization – emerged on North Africa, along the Nile River Delta. Known for engineering,
architecture, and practical things that are still in use today.
1. Paper/ Papyrus – addressed the issues on the use of clay tablets. This is a more portable and
stronger material for record-keeping. Made from papyrus – a plant (reed) that grew abundantly
along the Nile River.
2. Ink – created by combining soot with different chemicals to produce different colors. Also used
for record-keeping.
3. Hieroglyphics – system of writing using symbols.
4. Cosmetics – to improve and highlight the facial features of a person, functioned as both for
health and aesthetic reasons. Kohl – created by mixing soot or malachite with mineral galena.
5. Wig – worn for health and wellness rather than aesthetic reasons. Protected the bald heads
from sun’s rays.
6. Water Clock/Clepsydra – utilizes gravity to use for time-keeping.
Greek Civilization – emerged in an archipelago in the southeastern part of Europe.

Birthplace of Philosophy, Democracy and Mathematics.
1. Alarm Clock – designed by Plato to signal the start of his lectures.
2. Water Mill – used the flow of water to propel mills used in milling grains for food. Minimized the need for
raising of livestock used for milling.
Roman Civilization – perceived to be the strongest political and social entity in the West.
1. Newspaper – known as gazettes. This contained announcements of the Roman Empire to the people.
2. Bound Books/ Codex – stacked papers bound by wax, at first, then animal skin.
3. Architecture – considered to be a continuation of the Greek Architecture.
4. Roman Numerals - standardized the counting method to meet the increasing need for communication
and trade concerns.
Chinese Civilization – considered to be the oldest civilization in Asia, if not the

world. Also known as the Middle Kingdom.
1. Silk – developed the technology to harvest silk.
2. Tea – beverage produced by pouring hot or boiling water over crushed or shredded
dried tea leaves.
3. Great Wall of China
4. Gunpowder – a mix of charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate. Initially thought by the
Chinese to be an elixir (a potion for eternal life).
Mayan Civilization
1. Looms – a device used to create fabrics from fibers.

2. Rubber Products – utilized the sap of rubber trees (latex).
Incan Civilization
1. Quipu – a system of knotted ropes to keep records that only experts can interpret.
Aztec Civilization
1. Chinampa – agricultural technology in which the land is divided into rectangular areas
surrounded by canals.
2. Chocolates
3. Canoe
Indian Civilization
1. Ayurveda – a system of traditional medicine.
2. Hindu-Arabic Numerals
3. Sexual Wellness Techniques - also called Kama Sutra
Middle Eastern Civilizations (except Sumeria and Babylon)
1. Al-jabr – Arabic term that is considered to be the origin of the word Algebra.
African Civilizations (except Egypt)
1. Lebombo Bone – a mathematical tool found between the mountains of Swaziland and South
Africa.
Other Antiquity Inventions

Shadoof/ Shaduf – a tool used by ancient Egyptians to irrigate the land. Used the concept of counterweights.
Antikythera Mechanism – ancient world’s first analog orrery/device. Used by the Greeks to display celestial time, predict
astronomical positions and eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes. The earliest known antecedent to modern clockwork.
Aeolipile/ Hero’s Engine – a steam-powered turbine which spun when the water container at its center was heated. The earliest
antecedent to modern steam engines. During its time, it served no practical purpose.
Summary:
All in all, the pursuit for development and easier way of living has led the different Ancient Civilizations to develop tools
and technologies that still have a long-lasting impact in our lives.

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Six (6) Major Themes of Innovation

Greek Civilization – emerged in an archipelago in the southeastern part of Europe.

1. Alarm Clock – designed by Plato to signal the start of his lectures.

3. Architecture – considered to be a continuation of the Greek Architecture.

Chinese Civilization – considered to be the oldest civilization in Asia, if not the

1. Looms – a device used to create fabrics from fibers.

Middle Eastern Civilizations (except Sumeria and Babylon)

African Civilizations (except Egypt)

Other Antiquity Inventions

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