Science, Technology and Society

Hand-out title: Science, Technology and Nation Building

Prepared by : Jennifer M. Sunga
The history of science and technology in the Philippines started way back before the country
gained
its independence from the American colonizers.
Before the coming of the Spanish colonizers, the early inhabitants had their own culture &
traditions. They had their own belief system and indigenous knowledge system that keeps them
organized and sustained their lives and communities for many years.
In pre- Spanish Philippines, SCIENCE is embedded in the way of life of the people. Scientific
knowledge is observed: in the way they plant their crops that provide them food; in taking care
of
their animals to help them in their daily tasks, and for food production.
Science is observed in the way they interpret the movement of the heavenly bodies in predicting
seasons and climates, and in organizing days into months and years. They used science in
preparing the soil for agricultural purposes and discovered the medicinal uses of plants.
Technology is used by people in building houses, irrigations and in developing tools that they
can
use in their everyday life. They developed tools for planting, hunting, cooking and fishing; for
fighting their enemies during war or tribal conflicts; and for transportation. They also used
technology in creating musical instruments.
Also, trading with China, Indonesia, Japan and other nearby countries have influenced their lives
by providing opportunities for cultural and technological exchange.
All of these ancient practices in science and technology are considered now as INDIGENOUS
SCIENCE OR FOLK SCIENCE.
SPANISH ERA
When the Spaniards colonized the country, they brought with them their own culture and
practices. They established schools for boys and girls and introduced the concept of subjects and
disciplines. It was the beginning of formal science and technology in the country, known now as
school of science and technology.
Learning of science in school focuses on understanding different concepts related to the human
body, plants, animals and heavenly bodies. Technology focuses on using and developing house
tools used in everyday life.
Life during the Spanish Era slowly became modernized, adapting some Western technology and
their ways of life. The Filipinos developed ways to replicate technology brought by the
Spaniards
using indigenous materials. Medicine and advanced science were introduced in formal colleges
and universities established by the Catholic orders.
The GALLEON TRADE has brought additional technology and development in the Philippines.
Although it is only beneficial for the Spaniards, these trades allowed other ideas, crops, tools,
cultural practices, technology, and Western practices to reach the country. Some of the Filipino
students who were able to study in Europe also contributed to the advancement of medicine,
engineering, arts, music, and literature in the country.
The development of science and technology in the Philippines, based on its brief history, is
shaped
by several factors and influences. Like in the history of science in other countries, it is always
shaped by human and social activities, both internal and external. The following are the
influences
in the development of science and technology:
Internal influences: survival, culture, economic activities
External influences: foreign colonizers, trades with foreign countries, international economic
demands.
Science and technology may have significant impact on the lives of the people and in the
development of the Philippine society. However, improving the quality of science education still
remains as a big challenge in the country.
References:
Serafica, J. et.al. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society. Rex Printing Company, Inc., First
Edition, 2018.

Meso American and other revolutions

4. calendar with 12 months to mark their religious festivals and prepare them for planting
season;
5. the first suspension bridge;
6. quipu, a system of knotted ropes to keep records that only experts can interpret; and
7. Inca textiles since cloth was one of the specially prized artistic achievements.
Aztec Civilization has also made substantial contributions to science and technology and to the
society as a whole.
Contributions
1. Mandatory Education. The Aztec put value on education; that is why their children are
mandated to get education regardless of their social class, gender, or age. It is an early form of
universal or inclusive education.
2. Chocolates. The Aztec in Mexico developed chocolate during their time. In the Mayan
culture, they used it as currency. The Aztec valued the cacao beans highly and made it as part of
their tribute to their Gods.
3. Antispasmodic medication. They used a type of antispasmodic medication that could
prevent muscle spasms and relax muscles, which could help during surgery.
4. Chinampa. It is a form as Aztec technology for agricultural farming in which the land was
divided into rectangular areas and surrounded by canals.
5. Aztec calendar. This enabled them to plan their activities, rituals, and planting season.
6. Invention of the canoe. A light narrow boat used for traveling in water systems.
Development of Science in Asia
Asia is the biggest continent in the world and the home of many ancient civilizations. It is
a host to many cultural, economic, scientific, and political activities of all ages. In the field of
science, technology, and mathematics, great civilizations have stood out in India, China, and the
Middle East civilizations. These civilizations were incomparable in terms of their contributions
to the development of knowledge during their time.
India is a huge peninsula surrounded by vast bodies of water and fortified by huge mountains in
its northern boarders. The Indians creatively developed various ideas and technologies useful in
their everyday lives.
Contributions
1. They are known for manufacturing iron and in metallurgical works. Their iron steel is
considered to be the best and held with high regard in the whole of Roman Empire.
2. India is famous in medicine. Ayurveda, a system of traditional medicine that originated in
ancient India before 2500 BC, is still practiced as a form of alternative medicine.
3. Ancient India is also notable in the field of astronomy. They developed theories on the
configuration of the universe, the spherical self-supporting Earth, and the year of 360 days with
12 equal parts of 30 days each.
4. Ancient India is also known for their mathematics. The earliest traces of mathematical
knowledge in the Indian subcontinent appeared in the Indus Valley Civilization. The people of
this civilization, tried to standardize measurement of length to a high degree of accuracy and
designed a ruler, the Mohenjodaro ruler.
5. Indian astronomer and mathematician Aryabhata (476-550), in his Aryabhatiya introduced
a number of trigonometric functions, tables and techniques, as well as algorithms of algebra.
China is one of the ancient civilizations with substantial contributions in many areas of life like
medicine, astronomy, science, mathematics, arts, philosophy, and music, among others. Chinese
civilizations have greatly influenced many of its neighbour countries like Korea, Japan,
Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and other countries that belong to the old
Silk Road.
Contributions
1. Chinese are known for traditional medicines, a product of centuries of experiences and
discovery of the Chinese people. They discovered various medical properties and uses of
different
plants and animals to cure human illness. An example is the practice of acupuncture.
2. In terms of technology, Chinese are known to develop many tools. Among the famous
discoveries and inventions of the Chinese civilizations were compass, papermaking, gunpowder,
and printing tools that became known in the West only by the end of the Middle Ages. They also
invented other tools like iron plough, wheelbarrow and propeller, among others. They also
developed a design of different models of bridges, invented the first seismological detector, and
developed a dry dock facility.
3. Chinese also made significant records on supernovas, lunar and solar eclipses, and comets,
which were carefully recorded and preserved to understand better the heavenly bodies and their
effects to our world.
4. Chinese are also known in seismology. This made them more prepared in times of natural
calamities.
Middle East Countries are dominantly occupied by Muslims. With the spread of Islam in the 7
th
and 8
th
centuries, a period of Muslim scholarship, or what is called the Golden Age of Islam lasted
until the 13
th
century. The common language of Arabic, access to Greek texts from the Byzantine
Empire, and their proximity to India were contributory to intellectualization of the Muslims and
provided their scholars knowledge to create innovations and develop new ideas. But contrary to
the Greeks, Muslim scientists placed greater value on science experiments rather than plain-
thought experiments. This led to the development of the scientific method in the Muslim world,
and made significant improvements by using experiments to distinguish between competing
scientific theories set within a generally empirical orientation.
Contributions of famous Muslim Scientists
1. Ibn al-Haytham is regarded as the Father of Optics, especially for his empirical proof of
the intromission theory of light.
2. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi gave his name to concept the algorithm while the
term algebra
is derived from al-jabr, the beginning of the title of one of his publications. What is
now known as the Arabic Numeral System originally came from India, but Muslim
mathematicians did make several refinements to the number system, such as the introduction of
decimal point notation.
4. Jabir ibn Hayyan- considered to be the “Father of Chemistry”
5. Ibn Sina- pioneered the science of experimental medicine and was the first physician to
conduct clinical trials. His most notable works in medicine, the Book of Healing and The Canon
of Medicine, were used as standard medicinal texts in both the Muslim world and in Europe
during

ENUMERATION: Write your answer before the number.

_____________1. It includes the entire area of Central America from Southern Mexico up to the
border of South America.
_____________2. This civilization lasted for approx. 2000 years.
_____________3. Situated at the location of the sun during the spring and fall equinoxes.
_____________4. Their knowledge and understanding about celestial bodies were advanced
for their times.
_____________5. It is known for measuring time using two complicated calendar systems.
_____________6. It is useful for their life especially in planning activities and observing religious
rituals and cultural celebration.
_____________7. This calendar combines twenty-day names with the thirteen-day numbers to
produce 260 unique days.
_____________8. It is made up of eighteen months of twenty days each plus a period of five
days at the end of the year known as Wayeb'
_____________9. They developed technology for growing different crops and building elaborate
cities using ordinary machineries and tools.
_____________10. It is a rainbow of glittery paints made from mineral.
_____________11. The writing system of Mayan.
_____________12. One of most scientifically advanced societies in mesoamerica.
_____________13. They developed the concept of zero and positional value even before
Roman did.
_____________14. They made advanced scientific ideas considering their limitations as an old
civilization.
_____________15. A system of knotted ropes to keep records that only experts can interpret.
_____________16. Has also made substantial contributions to science and technology and to
the society as a whole.
_____________17. They developed chocolate during their time. In the Mayan culture, they used
it as currency.
_____________18. Medication that prevents muscle spasms and relax muscles, which could
help during surgery.
_____________19. It is a form as Aztec technology for agricultural farming in which the land
was divided into rectangular areas and surrounded by canals.
_____________20. This enabled them to plan their activities, rituals, and planting season.
_____________21. A light narrow boat used for traveling in water systems.
_____________22. The biggest continent in the world and the home of many ancient
civilizations.
_____________23. a huge peninsula surrounded by vast bodies of water and fortified by huge
mountains in its northern boarders.
_____________24. One of the ancient civilizations with substantial contributions in many areas
of life like medicine, astronomy, science, mathematics, arts, philosophy, and music, among
others.
_____________25. Regarded as the Father of Optics
_____________26. Gave his name to concept the algorithm.
_____________27. The term algebra is derived from him.
_____________28. Considered to be the “Father of Chemistry”
_____________29. Pioneered the science of experimental medicine and was the first physician
to conduct clinical trials.
_____________30. Used as standard medicinal texts in both the Muslim world and in Europe
during the 17th century.