LESSON 1 Science, Technology and Its Significance

to Society in Contemporary World

Content Standard: The learners demonstrate an

understanding of the meaning of science, technology
and its significance.

Learning Outcomes: The students will be able to:

1. State the meaning of Science and Technology; 2.
Describe some notable developments of science and
technology and its significance to
the society; 3. Describe some disadvantages of science
and technology.

Word Bank: Science, Technology, wheel, compass, printing

press, combustion engine, telephone, Penicillin
DISCUSSI
ON

A. The Meaning of Science and

Technology
Science, technology and society (STS), also referred to as
science and technology studies, is the study of how social,
political, and cultural values affect scientific research and
 technological innovation, and how these, in turn, affect society. STS
scholars are interested in a variety of problems including the
relationships between scientific and technological innovations
and society, and the directions and risks of science and
technology. The field of STS is related to history ar:d philosophy of
science although with a much broader emphasis on social
aspects of science and
technology > Science, technology and society refers to the
interaction between science and
technology and social cultural, political and economic contexts
which shape and are shaped by them; specific examples
throughout human history of scientific and
technological
developments. B. Meaning
of Science
• Science is a systematized body of
knowledge
• Science is an organized and dynamic inquiry (following
scientific method)
• Science is knowledge gained through observation
and experimentation .. Science is a human activity; scientist
Science is a social enterprise: people, knowledge, skills,
facilities, apparatuses and
technologies
• Science leads to formation of concepts, methods, principles,
theories, law and
 procedures which seek to describe and explain nature
and its phenomena C. Meaning of Technology
• Technology as material products; results of scientific inquiry;
hardware produced
by a
scientist
• Technology as the application of knowledge in solving scientific
and practical
problems that will help humans to survive and
improve his life
• Technology as human cultural activities or
endeavors
Technology as a social enterprise – Technology is a complex
system of knowledge, skills, people, methods, tools, materials
and resources applied and allocated to the development,
operation and production of a new or improved product,
process or
services.
• Technology as modern technology based on the advances of
science since the end
of WWII to the present. D. Some of the notable
human successes in the field of science and technology
Humans are ingenious species. Humans (Homo sapiens)
have dreamed up and created some amazing and far-out things.
From the moment someone bashed a rock on the ground to
make the first sharp-edged tool, to the debut of the wheel to the
ind out as
development of Mars rovers and the Internet, several key
advancements stand on particularly revolutionary. Here are some of
most important inventions of all tim along with the science behind
the invention and how they came about. The wheel - the concept of
inventing the wheel came during 3500 B.C. Humans we severely
limited in how much stuff they could transport over land, and how far.
The ide. came to connect a non-moving platform to a rolling cylinder.
People then invented thi wheel and axle which is the concept of
making wheels. The holes at the center of the wheels and the ends
of the fixed axles had to be nearly perfectly round and smooth for
the wheels to work. Wheeled carts facilitated agriculture and
commerce by enabling the transportation of goods to and from
markets, as well as easing the burden of peoni traveling great
distances.

The compass - Before, mariners navigate with the star, but that
method didn't work during the day or on cloudy nights. The
Chinese invented the first compass sometime between the 9th and
11th century; it was made of lodestone, a naturally-magnetized iron ore,
the attractive properties of which they had been studying for
centuries. Soon after, the technology passed on to the Europeans and
Arabs through nautical contact. The compass enabled mariners to
 navigate safely far from land, increasing sea trade and contributing
to the Age of Discovery.

A model of an ancient Chinese compass from the Han

Dynasty; it is a south-indicating ladle, or sinan,
made of polished lode
The printing press - It was Johannes
stone. .
Gutenberg, a German who invented the printing press around
1440. Though others before him-including inventors in China and
Korea-have developed the movable type made from metal,
Gutenberg was the first to have created a mechanized process
that transferred the ink (which he made from linseed oil and
soot) from the movable type to paper. Printing presses
exponentially increased the speed with which book copies could be
made, and thus led to the rapid and widespread dissemination of
knowledge for the first time in history.
The internal combustion engine - In these engines, the
combustion of fuel releases a high-temperature gas, which, as it
expands, applies force to a piston, moving it. Thus, combustion
engines convert chemical energy into mechanical work. Decades of
engineering by many scientists went into designing the internal
combustion engine, which took its (essentially) modern form in the latter
half of the 19th century. The engine steered in the Industrial Age which
enabled the invention of a huge variety of machines, including
modern cars and aircraft.
The telephone – Alexander Graham Bell was the first to be
awarded a patent for the electric telephone in 1876. Though several
inventors did pioneering work on electronic voice transmission, the
invention quickly took off, and revolutionized global business and
communication. Penicillin - In 1928, the Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming
noticed a bacteria-filled Petri
dish in his laboratory, the sample had
become contaminated with a mold, and everywhere the mold
was, the bacteria was dead. That antibiotic mold turned out to be
the fungus Penicillium, and over the next two decades, chemists
purified it and developed the drug Penicillin, which fights a huge
number of bacterial infections in humans without harming the
humans themselves. Penicillin was being mass produced and
advertised by 1944.
The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer
networks used by billions of people worldwide. It is impossible to
credit the invention of the Internet to a single person, as countless
people helped develop it. In the 1960s, a team of computer
scientists working for the U.S. Defense Department's ARPA
(Advanced Research Projects Agency) built a communications
network to connect the computers in the agency, called ARPANET.
It used a method of data transmission called “packet switching”.
ARPANET was the predecessor of the Internet that eventually
emerged to become the “information superhighway Eco-Friendly
 Technologies/Advantages: These are sustainable technologies.
This technology utilizes resources from the environment without
causing negative effects to it. Some of these are:
• Solar Energy - use of solar panels to
provide electricity
• Geothermal
energy
• Wind power - wind mills as source of energy E.
Disadvantages and Ethical dilemmas of Science and
Technology
1: Threats to human survival - the invention of nuclear weapons in 1945,
like the
nuclear bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima that caused
deaths of many people. This was a product of chemical and
biological warfare (bio-warfare); toxic wastes produced by
manufacturing companies that threaten human survival and
stability
of the environment. 2. Ethical dilemmas - exploitation of
advanced scientific knowledge and technological
devices and systems gave rise to situations in which advances seem to have
turned againsttheir beneficiaries, creating ethical dilemmas. The
negative effects of

led the natural

Cience
porary society
countries who
 technology are numerous. In our march to progress we have degraded
the na world. Forests are chopped down, topsoil is washed away, rivers
are polluted
our waste is dumped in the oceans. 3. Disparities in Human well being - there
are advanced countries enjoying scie
and technology based successes and hold high esteem in contemporary s
(Economic strength), versus millions of people in less developed
countries
have not partaken in these benefits. 4. Social and cultural conflicts - Military
power is vital for national security of m
governments; Superior and highly technical weapons dictated the
outcome
some recent wars. 5. Innovating technologies can have negative
consequences for certain sectors
constituencies:
include pollution associated with production
processes, → increased unemployment from
labor-saving new technologies,
conversion of agricultural land into
urban areas,
► effect on humans psychologically and emotionally – the
usage and addiction
of new
gadgets,
► effect of overused technologies in medical industry that can
cause fatal births
and
diseases.
► global
 warming

DO YOU KNOW?
In the Philippines, people turn to science and technology for warning
advice and assistance during calamities and disaster: We have some
government agencies responsible for giving us advice and information.
These are the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and
Philippines Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA).
We have built windmills and transit trains that provide us
means of source of energy and transport.
LESSON 1

Evidence of Science and Technology

during Pre-Historic Times

Content Standard: The learners demonstrate an

understanding of development of Science and
Technology during Pre-historic times. .

Learning Outcomes: The students will be able to: 1.

 Describe the development of science and technology
during this time; 2. Determine the significance and
impact of the development of science and technology
to
the society.

Word Bank: Stone age, Bronze age, Iron age,

Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Australopithecus, and
Paranthropus
DISCUSSI
ON

Early humans attempted to understand the unknown world, they were

curious about their nature. They observed and started to record patterns, cycles and
repetitions of what was happening in their environment and started to look for an
answer. With their experience they were able to analyze and organize
information and learned which led to the understanding of science.

Because early humans were able to organize and study

information, they used the information they acquired in starting the
primitive technology thus gave its way to the birth of technology.
Therefore technology has come to reality because of the desire of early
humans to thrive and survive, which later improved and made their life
easier.
A. The Dawn of the First
Civilizations
Ancient humans were able to discover and invent tools
and methods as science developed and progressed. With the
 availability of new scientific instruments and techniques, archeology
excavation has provided us with data and evidences. Facts have been
unearthed and revealed that even during primitive time, people have
alreadydeveloped skills and technologies which served and
supplied their needs for survival. Mankind existed long before the
how people lived then
written word, there was no historical evidences of
because written records of any kind dated only in about 5,000 BC.
People then discovered, learned and developed science and technology as
the consequence of their search for food, and other survival needs, for
practical reasons and even curiosity.
• Discovery of mud plaster that led to pottery and mud brick
houses; first known
pottery was in Japan around 10,000 B.C. B. Evidence of
Science and Technology during Pre-Historic Times (3000-5000
B.C.)
Man's achievements in science can be categorized as: (a)
discovery (recognition and observation of new objects); (b) invention
(mental process wherein man's various discoveries, observation and
experience are put together to produce new ways (operation) and
means (tools) of obtaining things (usefui). Stone Age: This period
was marked by which stone was widely used to make tools and
implements. Dated roughly 3.4 million years ago, and in about
8000 BC this era was divided into three separate periods-Paleolithic
Period (Early), Mesolithic Period (Middle), and Neolithic Period
(New)—based on the degree of sophistication in the
fashioning and use of tools. It is believed tool making began
very early in the olden times. The era of Australopithecus and
Paranthropus were contemporaneous with the evolution of the genus
Homo. Man was a food gatherer, depended for his subsistence on hunting
wild animals and birds, fishing, and collecting wild fruits, nuts, and
berries.
Tools developed gradually from single to all-purpose tools
to a collection of varied and highly specialized types of tools, each
designed to serve in connection with a specific function. The trend was
from a stage of non specialization to stages of relatively high degrees
of specialization. In the manufacture of stone implements,

13
s: (1) pebble. raditions; and
four fundamental traditions were developed by the Paleolithic ancestors:
(1) tool traditions; (2) bifacial-tool, or hand-axe traditions; (3)
flake-tool tradition (4) blade-tool traditions.
Stone tools were made from a variety of stones: flint and
chert were shar chipped for use as cutting tools, flakes, blades
and weapons; Flaking was able to or a wide range of special
tools that was used for cutting, chopping, scraping and sa Basalt
and sandstone were used for ground stone tools. Wood, bone,
shell, antler other materials were widely used, as well.
were shaped
or able to
produce
and
sawing.
ler and

The Early Stone Age includes the most basic stone toolkits
made by early humana The oldest stone tools, known as the
Oldowan toolkit, consist of hammer stones that show battering on
their surfaces; stone cores that show a series of flake scars along
on or more edges; and sharp stone flakes that were struck from the
cores and offer useful cutting edges. Handaxes are cutting tools as
well as other kinds of 'large cutting tools are characteristic of an
Acheulean toolkit.
During middle Paleolithic time, the pace of innovation in stone
technology began to accelerate. Handaxes were made with
exquisite craftsmanship, and eventually gave way to smaller, more
diverse toolkits, with an emphasis on flake tools rather than larger
core tools. One of the main innovations was the application of
prepared core technique, in which a core was carefully flaked on
one side so that a flake of predetermined size and shape could be
produced in a single blow. This technique probably raised the level
of standardization and predictability in stone technology.
Middle Stone Age toolkits included points, which could be
hafted on the shafts to make spears. When smaller points were
eventually made, they were attached to smaller, sleeker shafts to
make darts, arrows, and other projectile weapons. Stone awls have
been used to perforate hides and scrapers. Many important
inventions appeared, such as needles and thread, skin clothing,
the harpoon, the spear thrower, and special fishing equipment.
 Sample of Stone Age
tools
The Neolithic was characterized primarily by herding societies, as well as
bro smelting, adoption of agriculture, the shift from food gathering to food
product development of pottery using sediments and clay. Agriculture was
developed certain animals were raised as well. Moreover, recent evidence
indicates that hus processed and consumed wild cereal grains.
veloped and
Bronze Age: The Bronze Age is the second principal period of the
three-age Stone Bronze-Iron system and generally followed the
Neolithic period. This period is marked with the beginning of mining
and metallurgy. Bronze denotes the first period in which metal was
used, man began smelting copper and alloying with tin or arsenic to
make bronze tools and weapons. Copper-tin ores are rare, as
reflected in the fact that there were no tin bronzes in Western Asia
before trading in bronze that began in the third millennium BC.
Bronze itself is harder and more durable than other metals
available at the time, allowing Bronze Age civilizations to gain
technological advantage.
• Man-made tin bronze technology required set production
 techniques. Tin must
be mined and smelted separately, then added to molten copper to
make bronze alloy. The Bronze Age was a time of extensive use
of metals and of developing trade networks.

Sample of
Bronze tools

Iron Age is the period of time in prehistory when the dominant tool
making material was iron. Preceded by the Stone Age and Bronze
Age, the transition from Bronze Age occurred at different times in
different places on Earth. As the name suggests, Iron age
Technology is characterized by the production of tools and weaponry using
ferrous metallurgy or iron work more specially from carbon steel.
Meteoric iron has been used by humans since 3200 BC, but ancient
iron production did not become widespread until the ability to smelt
iron ore, remove impurities and regulate the amount of carbon in
the alloy were developed.
 The distinctive dark metal brought with it significant
changes to daily life in ancient society, from the way people grew
crops to the way they fought wars. Iron made life a lot easier in
those days, much of Europe had settled into small village life,
toiling the soil with Iron farming tools, such as sickles and plough
tips, made the process more efficient and allowed farmers to exploit
tougher soils, try new crops and have more time for other activities.
Bronze Age: The Bronze Age is the second principal period of
the three-age Stone Bronze-Iron system and generally followed the
Neolithic period. This period is marked with the beginning of mining
and metallurgy. Bronze denotes the first period in which metal was
used, man began smelting copper and alloying with tin or arsenic to
make bronze tools and weapons. Copper-tin ores are rare, as
reflected in the fact that there were no tin bronzes in Western Asia
before trading in bronze that began in the third millennium BC.
Bronze itself is harder and more durable than other metals available
at the time, allowing Bronze Age civilizations to gain technological
advantage.
• Man-made tin bronze technology required set production
techniques. Tin must
be mined and smelted separately, then added to molten
copper to make bronze alloy. The Bronze Age was a time of
extensive use of metals and of developing trade networks.
 Sample of Bronze
tools

Iron Age is the period of time in prehistory when the dominant

tool making material was iron. Preceded by the Stone Age and
Bronze Age, the transition from Bronze Age occurred at different
times in different places on Earth. As the name suggests, Iron age
Technology is characterized by the production of tools and weaponry
using ferrous metallurgy or iron work more specially from carbon steel.
Meteoric iron has been used by humans since 3200 BC, but ancient
iron production did not become widespread until the ability to smelt
iron ore, remove impurities and regulate the amount of carbon in the
alloy were developed.
The distinctive dark metal brought with it significant changes
to daily life in ancient society, from the way people grew crops to the
way they fought wars. Iron made life a lot easier in those days, much
of Europe had settled into small village life, toiling the soil with Iron
farming tools, such as sickles and plough tips, made the process
more efficient and allowed farmers to exploit tougher soils, try new
crops and have more time for other activities.
DO YOU KNOW?

Fire was the most important discovery and invention of man in

the Paleolithic era. The use of fire led to various ways of
preparing and cooking food and inventions of suitable food
containers and utensils.
LESSON 2 Evidences of Science and Technology
during Ancient Times (3500 B.C.- 1200 in the Old
World)

Content Standard: The learners demonstrate an

understanding of the development of Science and
Technology during Ancient times.

Learning Outcomes:
The students will be able to:
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.
 Word Bank: Sumerian, clay tablet, cuneiform, Babylonian,
Hammurabi, Egyptian, Hieroglyphics, embalming
DISCUSSIO
N

v), and India.

People vernment,
language
logy: astronomy
First civilizations emerged independent of one another
along fertile river valle... Mesopotamia (Tigris-Euphrates), Egypt (Nile), China
(Huang Ho valley), and India D. of each civilization developed a unique way of
life, religion, form of government, lan and system of writing, arts and
crafts, advances of science and technology: astra agriculture,
medicine, mathematics, engineering, and architecture. They grew
plan domesticated animals and settled down in places.
1. Sumerian civilization (Sumer,
Mesopotamia (Iraq))
Location: Sumer was the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia
(mode
på Kuwait). It is cradle of the world's earliest known civilization and was
first established in the region in about 3600 BC. It is also known as the 'the first
cities world. It transformed families into tribes that occupied
territories which soon became cities and later were called the
states. Science and Technology Development:
cient Mesopotamia
(modern-day
a. Cuneiform is the first writing system, it is a set of word pictures
depicted in symbols
made of triangular marks around 3100 BC. Pictograms or
drawings representing
actual things, were the basis for cuneiform writing. b.
Sumerian clay tablet - 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. C. The concept of the wheel actually
grew out of a mechanical device that the
Sumerians had invented shortly after 3500 B.C.—the potter's
wheel, This was a heavy flat disk made of hardened clay. It
was spun horizontally on an axis to allow the potter to form
evenly. 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 location to
another.
d. Sailboat was also first invented by Ancient Mesopotamia.
Five thousand years
ago Mesopotamians started using sailing boats. Since Mesopotamia
was situatedbetween two famous rivers, namely the
Euphrates and the Tigris, they needed water transportation for
travel and trade.
e. The Sumerians were among the first astronomers,
mapping the movement of
stars, planets and moon into sets of constellations, many of
which survived in the
zodiac and were also recognized by the ancient Greeks. f.
Sumerians were also recognized for building the foundations of
logic, mathematics,
engineering, architecture, agriculture, transportation and
medicine; g. Sexagesimal system of counting in units of 60
which served as the basis of 360
degree circle and the 60 minute hour h. Developed
systematized technique of farming: seed plow and
irrigation
 i. Wool from sheep made into textiles, mastered the arts
of bleaching and dyeing II. Babylonian Civilization
Location: Babylonia was the ancient region bordering the Tigris
and Euphrates river (Iraq). Babylon is the capital, and served
as commercial and religious center in the Tigris-Euphrates
valley. Science and Technology Development:
a. Hammurabi (1792-1750 B.C.), the first leader of the old
Babylonian Empire,
promulgated the famous law code that served as rule and
standards which helped maintain a period of stability in this
region, as well as the establishment of science
Nebuchadnezzar II was the Neo
and technology. b.
Babylonian Emperor who ordered the construc
tion of the famous “hanging Gardens of Babylons” (one of the
seven wonders of the
world) and the Isthar Gate. C. 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. d. Adopted the Sumerian
sexagesimal system of counting in units of 60; made accurate
predictions of solar and lunar eclipses and other
astronomical phenomena. III. Egyptian Civilization
Location: Situated in the northeastern part of the African
continent, Egypt is located along the Nile River which provided a
fertile delta. Science and Technology Development:
 Ancient Egypt depended on the waters of the River Nile,
which flows through harsh and arid desert. The Nile river
gave life to the civilization of Egypt. The early settlers were
animal hunters, they were nomadic. Later changed their
lifestyle to be farmland settlers. Agriculture was supported
mainly by extensive irrigation system.
Ancient Egyptians learned to heat metal ore (copper,
gold and bronze) and made weapons and utensils. They
may have been the first people to learn how to make glass
(glass-blowing). They learned how to heat sand in very hot
furnace and then blow the molten sand into glass. They
made glass jars and glass beads.
Egyptian writing wrote with ink and brushes on paper
made of papyrus reeds; their writing was in the form of pictorial symbols
known as hieroglyphics. Their
23
knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, surgery and medical plants
enabled them to master the art and science of embalming their
dead.
Created the calendar based on the phases of the moon, consisting
of 29 and 1 days. The first 365-day calendar was devised by IMHOTEP,
early in the Old Kingdom 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 in
their horizon which coincide with the annual rise and fall of the Nile river,
help them forecast the seasons and predict the annual flooding on the
Nile river.
They were engaged in Pottery of various shapes and sizes
artistically done such as pots, jars, cups and bowls, they built
houses made of sun dried mud bricks. Pyramids still stand
today as the monumental evidence of the scientific expertise
and technical skills of the ancient Egyptians in geometry,
engineering, architecture and labor management. Iconic
monuments such as the Giza Necropolis and its Great Sphinx, as
well as the Ruins of Memphis, and the Valley of the Kings,
reflect this legacy and remain a significant focus of
archaeological study. The Giza Necropolis is the oldest of the
ancient wonders and the only one still in existence.
The Egyptians also engaged in ship building;
Construction of canals, dikes and ditches with outlet system;
Planted wheat, barley. Food was broiled, baked, stewed,
fried, grilled or roasted. They bred ducks, geese, pigs, goats,
cattle and sheep; Manufactured soaps, creams, oils, perfumes
and eye make up.

Pyramid
papyrus
 IV. Cretan (Minoan)
Civilization
Location: arose on the island of Crete and other Aegean islands
such as Santorini and flourished from approximately 2600 to
1400 BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th
century through the work of British archaeologist Arthur
Evans. Will Durant referred to it as “the first link in the
European chain? 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, built between
2100 and 1575 B.C. Crete is a mountainous island with natural
harbors located midway between Turkey, Egypt and Greece.

Science and Technology

Development:
The Minoans were primarily a mercantile people engaged
in overseas trade. Their culture, from 1700 BC onward, shows a high
degree of organization. Many historians and archaeologists believe
that the Minoans were involved in the Bronze Age's important tin trade:
tin, alloyed with copper apparently was from Cyprus. Crete became the
central exporter of wine, oil, jewelry, and highly crafted works; in turn,
they became importers of raw materials and food. In the process they
built the first major navy ship in the world. Its primary purpose,
however, was trade, not war or conquest.
..Minoans made sophisticated carved statues, ceramics,
frescoes, jewels, and inscriptions on these showed their knowledge of
mathematics, engineering, and architecture which were applied
scientifically and artistically. They constructed well drainage system,
public halls, courtyards, and religious shrines. They were skilled in
ship building.
The Minoan cities were connected with stone-paved
roads, formed from blocks cut with bronze saws. Streets were with
good drainage and water and sewer facilities were available to the
upper class, through clay pipes. Houses built from sandstone, gypsum,
or limestone often had flat tiled roofs; plaster, wood, or flagstone floors,
that stood two to three storeys high. Typically the lower walls were
constructed of stone and rubble, and the upper walls of mudbrick.
Ceiling timbers held up the roofs.
The Minoans raised cattle, sheep and goats and grew wheat,
barley, lettuce, celery, asparagus, carrots, peas, grapes, pears, figs,
olives and poppies for poppy seed and perhaps opium. The
Minoans 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 offer
protection against low yields in any single crop.
Around 1600, B.C., Akrotiri was shaken by a violent
earthquake. Sometime later, an eruption occurred. The Theran
eruption was one of largest in human history-blasting more than 10
million tons of ash, gas, and rock 25 miles into the atmosphere.
Incredibly, despite 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.

DO YOU KNOW?

1.
F
1010
Clay tablets were used as a writing
medium, especially for writing in
cuneiform. Cuneiform characters were
imprinted on a wet clay tablet with a stylus
often made of reed pen. The Sumerians
used a wooden stylus to place simple
shapes and lines into moist clay, which
were then baked until hard. This form of
writing became known as cuneiform because
of the wedge-shaped markings made in the
clay. The Sumerians had enormous libraries of
clay tablets containing their laws, business
transactions, and literature.
 Obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow
tapering monument which ends in a
pyramid-like shape at the top. These were
originally called "tekhenu” by the builders of
the Ancient Egyptians.

Sundial or shadow clock was used

by the Egyptian about 1000-1500 BC. This
instrument will tell time by means of the
shadow casted by the object as reflected by
the sun. The gnomon is the
shadow-producing device, usually a metal
plate set parallel to the earth's axis and pointing
toward the celestial pole.
LESSON 3

The Contribution of Greek, Persian and Romans in the

Development of Science and Technology

Content Standard: The learners demonstrate an

understanding of the contribution of the Greek,
Persians and Romans to the development of Science
 and Technology.

Learning Outcomes: The students will be able to: 1.

Describe the development of Science and Technology
that occurred in Greece, Persia,
and Rome; Explicate and recognize the significance of
the contribution of Greeks, Persians, and Romans to the
development of Science and Technology.

ord Bank: reek philosophers, scala naturae, Almagest,

Pythagorean Theorem, Nas’taliq", skepticism, rsian rugs
DISCUSSIO
N

of
Europe,
1. The Classical Greek Philosophers
(400B.C.-400 A.D.)
Location: Greece is a country in Southern Europe located at the crossroads of Euro
Asia, and Africa. Its mainland is located at the southernmost tip of the Balkan
Peninsu
in
Peninsula.
Ас

Science and Technology

Development:
 e arcopment
of Here are some of the Great Greek Philosophers that helped m
science and technology during Ancient times.
a. Thales of Miletus (638-548 B.C.) developed the theory of matter
based upon water b. Socrates (470-399 B.C) emphasized the study of
human nature in relation to society:
established the theory of skepticism c. Empedocles (493-433
B.C.) assumed that there were more than one kind of matter
and postulated four roots of elements: earth, air, fire and water. d.
Hippocrates about 400 B.C. started the science of medicine and is
known as the
greatest physician of antiquity and regarded as the father of
medicine. He stated that diseases have natural causes and the body
has the power to repair itsell. His name is always associated with
Hippocratic Oath, an oath traditionally taken by newly graduate
physicians to observe the ethical standards of their profession,
specifically to seek to preserve life. e. Aristotle (384-322
B.C.) regarded as the father of Biology, undertook a large-scale
classification of plants and animals. He introduced a method
of scientific thinking that still plays a role today. Engrossed
himself in studying many areas of science like Physics, Astronomy,
Meteorology, etc. His “scala naturae” or Great Chain of Being is one of
the first theories in biology. The species form a scale from
simple to complex putting animals that laid warm and wet
creatures alive as the highest form
but evolution is not possible. f. - Archimedes (287-212 B.C.) -
 performs experiments which led him to discover the
laws of the lever and the pulley that resulted in the invention of
machines which could easily move loads. He calculated the value of
pi, which was a geometrical calculation that helped determine the
width, or circumference of a circle. He excelled in geometry,
calculus, theoretical mathematics, hydrostatics and
displacement g. Ptolemy, about 100 A.D. - one of the greatest
astronomers who founded the
Geocentric theory (Earth-centered) and wrote the Almagest. h.
Democritus – developed atomic theory; elaborated idea that matter
consisted of
atoms. i. Pythagoras (497-581 B.C.) - Mathematician, held that
numbers were basic to
matter; the Pythagorean
Theorem.
j. Plato dealt with the nature of the universe; ascribed
geometric forms composed
of bounding planes to the elements of earth, fire, air and water
based upon their
physical properties k. Aristarchus: Both a mathematician
and an astronomer, Aristarchus discovered new
theories about the way the planets move in their orbits. Aristarchus
thought that even though the earth revolved around the sun, it
also spun on its own axis, or
spin-point, as it followed its orbit around the sun. 1.
Hipparchus discovered the length of the month which is only one
second off from
 the length that we use today. m. Eratosthenes determined
that the circumference of (the distance around) the earth
was 28,000 miles, which is only three thousand miles more
than what we know today. . Theophrastus regarded as father of
plant science, wrote “History of Plants” in which he described the
forms, behaviour, morphology, and properties of some 500 food
and medicinal plants. Most outstanding botanist of the early
botany. He wrote “Causes of Plants” in which he described
grafting methods, seeds, effect of temperature upon plants, the
relations of weather to soil and the taste and perfumes
of plants. The manuscript also deals with the
medicinal uses of plant. II. Persian Civilization
Location: Persia is the former name of Iran. The Persian Empire,
founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC, was the largest
empire of the ancient world, stretching from the borders of India and
China in the east to large parts of Greece and Libya in the west. The
culture of Persians is one of the oldest in the Middle East. Science
and Technology Development:
Persia has one of the richest art heritages in world history
and encompasses many disciplines including architecture,
painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and
stonemasonry. Persian rugs have always been a vital part of
the Persian culture.
a. Nas'taliq is the most beautiful Persian Calligraphy style and
also technically the
most complicated. Even the second popular Persian
calligraphy style i.e. “Cursive
 Nas'taliq” or “Shekasteh Nas'taliq". b. Pottery – The taste and
talent of the Persian people can be seen through the designs
of their earthen wares, ceramic art objects such as figures,
tiles, and tableware made
from clay and other raw materials. ' C. Domes were an important
part and constructed on the first large-scale in Persia,
The outer surfaces of the domes are mostly mosaic faced,
which creates a magical
view. d.
Various structures such as mosques, mausoleums,
bazaars, bridges, and different
palaces have mainly survived from this period. e. A wind
tower is a chimney-like structure positioned above the house
to catch the
prevailing
wind.

III. Roman
Civilization
Location: Rome is the capital of Italy. Roman civilization is characterized by a
government headed by emperors and large territorial holdings around the
Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa and Asia. Today it is known
as 'the eternal city. Latin is the language spoken by Romans.
Science and Technology Development:
a. The Romans used water power, and watermills for making cereals
milling, sawing
timber and crushing ore. They exploited wood and coal for
 heating. b. The Romans made great use of aqueducts, dams, bridges, and
amphitheaters. C. The Romans constructed numerous aqueducts to
supply water. The city of Rome
itself was supplied with eleven aqueducts made of limestone that
provided the city with over 1 million cubic metres of water each
day, sufficient for 3.5 million people
even in modern-day times. d. Romans dedicated their many
resources to the study of astronomy, astrology,
geography, and other sciences. Their contributions were
crucial to future
generations and have helped us collect the knowledge we have
today. e. Ancient Roman used sundials to tell time and even
created portable versions. They
also used tools for measuring, manual drills, and metal spikes
(used as nails). f. Advanced glassblowing techniques brought
new technology to Rome in the form
of window glass, hanging glass oil lamps, and other objects made
of glass. g. Rome's military benefited from technological
improvements to weapons, shields,
armour, and other items. h.
Some of the Notable Roman
Scientists
1. Galen (129-199 AD.) – great physician and surgeon; Galen
influenced the
development of various scientific disciplines, including
anatomy, physiology,
pathology, pharmacology, and neurology, as well as philosophy and
 logic. 2. Vitruvius is another writer whose work has provided us with
important
knowledge about Ancient Rome. He was also an architect and an
engineer,
sometimes referred to as the first architect. 3 Pliny - described almost a
thousand species of plants, most of which were
highly valued for their
medicinal uses.
DO YOU KNOW?

Persian rugs

A Persian carpet or Persian rug is a heavy textile, made for a

wide variety of utilitarian and symbolic purpose, produced in Iran
(Persia) either for home use or for sale. Carpet weaving is an essential
part of Persian culture. Persian carpets and rugs of various types are
famous for their elaborate colours and artistical design, and are treasured in
museums and private collections all over the world today.
 Roman
roads

The Romans primarily built concrete roads for their

military. Nearly 30 military highways, all made of stone, exited
the great city. They made 372 roads and connected 113
provinces.