Module #1 Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology during,

Ancient time, Middle and Modern time

Intended Learning Outcomes:

The students will be able to:
1. Describe the historical development of science and technology during Ancient,
Middle and Modern Ages;
2. Determine the significance and impact of the development of science and
technology to the society.

Introduction:

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 is happening in their environment and started to look for an answer. With this
experience they were able to analyze and organized information and learned which lead
to the understanding of science. Because early humans were able to organized and
learned 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 make
their life easier and improved.

Content #1:

A. Science and Technology during Pre-Historic Times (3000- 5000 B.C.)

A.1 Stone Age (Paleolithic Age)

Science Technology
1.Observation of patterns Use of Stone and Bone
and cycles in the tools like flake tools,
environment for Survival bow and arrow, to
and make life easier. gather food thru
2. Discovery of fire to Hunting and Fishing,
cook food and shape tools
for different purposes like
chopping, flaking,
hammering.
 A.2 Bronze Age (3000BC-1200BC)

Science Technology
1.Discovery of • Smelting process to extract
metals to make metal from ore, combining different
better tools metals to form an alloy to produce
and weapons bronze composed of Copper and
Tin.
2.Mining
• Mining is the extraction of
3. Metallurgy valuable materials from the Earth’s
ore or crust.
• Metallurgy is a process of
extracting metals from ores.
• Ore is a solid material
composed of valuable and less
valuable components, like gold,
iron, etc.

A.3 Iron Age (12,000-3500BC)

Science Technology
Agriculture • Improve food gathering by
domestication of plants and
animals.
• Plow is used to weed out grasses
to prepare the soil for planting.
• Tools are made from bones
• Weapons were made from metals
like arrows and spear heads,
axes, blades.

B. Science and technology during Ancient Civilizations (3,500 BC- AD 500)

B.1 Sumerian civilization science and technology

Science Technology
➢ Astronomy • Developed Cuneiform, the first written language and
➢ Sexagesimal system of Clay tablet which helped record events, business and
counting in 60’s, 60 stories;
minutes per hour, • Potter’s wheel is used in Pottery making and evolved to
3600degree of a circle be used to move heavy objects;
➢ Logic • Chariots, Sailboat, used to transport people and goods
➢ Mathematics faster;
➢ Engineering • Irrigation systems to improve farming
➢ Architecture
 ➢ Agriculture
B.2 Babylonian civilization science and technology

Science:
• Important discoveries in mathematics, physics and trigonometry; use
fractions, which they used to build weapons, measure farming lands for uniform
tax computations.
• They develop the study of astronomy and along with astrology used
mathematical models to track the planet Jupiter and developed methods
of tracking time and rotation of the Earth; develop calendars and make
prediction.
• Law Code of Hammurabi is well known for its "eye for an eye" style of lawmaking,
which defines the rules and relationship between Hammurabi, the gods and the
people he ruled.
• It was thought that the celestial bodies had divine powers which directed people’s
lives. Constellations were used to determine the weather, climate, and the
seasons, and to help people decide which crops should be sown when.

Technology
Hanging Gardens, a wonder of the
ancient world, which some believe was
built by the biblical king Nebuchadnezzar
II.

Developed the first-known map, engraved on clay tablets. It showed trade routes and
was used as a guide during military campaigns, hunting, and exploration
Adopted Sumerian Cuneiform of writing
which was used for accounting,
administrative and business purposes.
Agriculture- plow made of a stone hoe that was developed to turn the soil.
Irrigation system -regulated the flow of water to irrigate their crops which helped
them
to stay in one place and rely on agriculture instead of hunting.

Babylonian system of counting was

sexagesimal (based on sixty)- The
number 60 was chosen as the dividing
factor as it was divisible by 6. The
Babylonians estimated that the earth
moved around the sun one degree in a
day and took 360 days to complete one
revolution.

Invented the first square sailboat made

of cloth and relied on the wind to move. It
improved their trade and commerce in
those places unreachable by land.

Created the oldest wheels were made

of clay, rock, and mud, with wooden
wheels coming much later on which
helped start the industrial revolution.

Two-wheeled chariots were used in battle and to transport weapons and other war
provisions pulled by domestic animals.

They are advance in Geometry - use

geometric shapes as foundation for
designing their architecture structures.
Ziggurats. Gigantic temple stone
structures built of much smaller than the
massive pyramids. They are made up of
sun - baked mud bricks.
 B.3 Egyptian civilization science and technology

Science:
• Mathematics was used in record keeping, in developing the schematics for
machines such as the water pump, in calculating tax rates, drawing up designs,
finding locations for building projects and preparing medicines.
• Astronomy - studying the location and movement of stars which helped predict
rainy weather, time to plant or harvest crops, and best times for making important
decisions such as building a home or temple or starting a business venture. It
also helped count weeks, months and years and developed their improved
version of calendar.
• Medicine in ancient Egypt was related to the mixed practice of magic and
rational means. When cause of disease is visible and objective, scientific
treatment was used. If disease is caused by evil spell, the use of words or
incantation or magic is employed. Records treating patients with trauma, cancer,
heart disease, depression, dermatology, gastrointestinal distress, revealed their
detailed knowledge of anatomy and physiology and must have invented medical
surgery before Hippocrates.

Technology

Pyramids were used as temples and tombs of

kings.

Royal Library of Alexandria is the center of

learning and contains all known information about
the outside world. It contained more than a million
papyrus scrolls on the subjects of literature,
history, law, mathematics, and science.

Simple handheld mirror. The ancient Egyptians

value their self-image and personal hygiene and
appearance.

Use of wig as protection from the heat of the sun

 Eye paint for makeup. Aside for beauty, the dark
lines around the eyes helped protect them from
glares of the sun by absorbing the light -- similar
to why today's football players put black smudges
under their eyes during play to be able to see the
ball in midair.

Wine making. Wine is a special offering to (Adhikari, 2019) (KIGER, 2020) the ancient
Egyptian gods and goddesses.

Papermaking: Ancient Egyptians used the stem of the papyrus plant to make paper,
sails, cloth. was later adopted by the Greeks, and was used extensively in the Roman
Empire. Other writing materials also include stones and wood.
Perfume and soap making

Toothpaste was made of rock salt, mint, dried iris

petals, and pepper

Use of jewelry as protection from disasters,

accidents and diseases

Developed Hieroglyphs as their oldest form of

writing, dating from around 3300 BC.
 Mummification was used to preserve bodies from
decomposing after death with the belief that there
is life after death.
https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civ
il/egypt/egcr06e.html

B.4 Greek civilization science and technology (2000BCE-1400BCE)

Greece: the cradle of Western civilization, Greece: home of the original Olympic
games, Athens: the birthplace of democracy’.

Science:
• Astronomy
• Algebra- Theory of equations was invented by Diophantus and known as
the father of algebra. He also wrote the Greek text on mathematics called
Arithmetica
• Geography is the study of the physical features of the earth
• Democracy developed the first democracy in the world in 6th century BC
in Athens. It is a system of government where the leaders are selected by
election

Technology
1.Olympics - The first record of the Olympics was
held in big and wide plains of Olympia in ancient
Greece in 776 B.C. Winners were given olive leaf
wreaths or crowns as a prize. In 1896 Pierre de
Coubert in after been extensively inspired by the
ancient Olympics started the modern Olympics.

2. Astrolabe- It is an astronomical instrument used

to make astronomical measurements like
altitudes of celestial bodies and the locations of
sun, planets and some stars. Astrolabe was
widely used in the early Middle Ages in Europe
as guide in celestial navigation by the mariners.
 3. Theatre - was introduced by the ancient Greeks
in Athens with multiple categories like tragedy,
comedy and the satirical ones which became a
source of entertainment worldwide.

4. Greek Fire - was considered to be one of the

history’s best-kept military secrets which came
into existence in the 7th century. The major
reason behind this creation was
protecting Constantinople from the Arabs.
(Istanbul). The device releases a flaming liquid,
believed by scholars to be a mixture of quicklime
and naphtha or turpentine which was extremely
difficult to stop and can burn a fleet of soldiers at
once.
5. Levers- had made great contribution to impressive constructions of the ancient era.
It was invented by the Greek mathematician Archimedes in 260 BC, it was used in
combination with the pulley system to lift heavier objects by decreasing the amount of
force to applied to push the heavy objects. Trees or logs were used as lever to move
rocks or heavy objects.
"Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place
it," Archimedes reportedly said, "and I shall move the world."
6. Cranes were invented in 515 B.C.E by the
ancient Greeks. They were used to lift heavy
stones and metals during the construction of the
Greek temple.

7. Archimedes Screw was invented by the

ancient Greek in 250BC by scientist Archimedes.
It is made up of a screw inside a cylinder. With
the bottom end of the cylinder in water,
the screw lifts water up to the top released out of
a spout. The top end screw can be turned by
hand, or by a windmill, or by an engine.
The screw is often used for filling irrigation
canals. It can also to move water that contains
sand, mud or gravel.
 8. Catapult - was introduced in Greece by
Dionysius the Elder of Syracuse in 399 BC. It
was used in throwing heavy objects or arrows
over a large distances as a major weapon of
warfare for over a thousand years.
Later, wheels were added to it by the Romans in
order to make it more maneuverable.

9. Water Mill - A machine which uses the water power to grind simple grains like wheat
and rice into flour, an important staple food.
10. The water clock - also known as Clepsydra was introduced by ancient Greek
around the year 325 BC after discovering the limitation of sundial, the first timepiece
that could only function during the day when the sun shines. It was primarily used in
courtrooms where the time of the lawyers and the witnesses’ speeches could be
measured when the water supply gets empty the speaker must end or stop his talk.

Other Greek inventions: Feta cheese, Optical telegraph, grenades, automatic doors,
steam engine, clock tower, wind vane, vending machine, fire hose. Differential gears,
analog computer, surveying tools, odometer, alarm clock, lighthouse, streets, showers,
winch, souvlaki, arch bridge (Vyas, 2019) (WIKIPEdia, 2020)

Greek philosophers who helped in the development of science and technology

Ancient Greek Philosopher Contribution

Thales of Miletus (620 BC–546 BC) He is acclaimed by historians as the father of
ancient Greek philosophy. Most of his ideas came
from Aristotle, and the first person to have
investigated the idea of the origin of matter and
why changes occur. He also proposed that water
is the basic underlying component of the world
Thales is also said to be the founder of the school
of natural philosophy, also known as natural
science.
Socrates main contribution to Western
philosophy is his method of inquiry that was
called after him Socratic method. According to
him, a statement can be considered true only if it
cannot be proved wrong.

He is the teacher of Plato, who eventually taught

Socrates (469 BC–399 BC) Aristotle , the tutor of Alexander the Great.

Plato (427—347 B.C.E.) Plato was one of ancient Greece’s most

acclaimed scientists/Philosopher. He was the
student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle.
He established his first university in Europe, the
Academy in Athens in 387 BC, where he focused
on science as a method for exploring the real
world. Specifically, he was persuaded that
geometry was the way to understand the universe.
Aristotle (384 BC–322 BC) He was a student of Plato and made
important contributions to logic, rhetoric, physics,
biology, psychology, mathematics, metaphysics,
ethics, politics and about life in general. He was
regarded as the father of Biology and introduced a
method of scientific thinking. He wrote “scala
naturae” or Great Chain of Being viewed as 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.

Hippocrates (460—c.370 BC) was Hippocrates about 400 B.C. started the science
regarded as the father of medicine of medicine and is known as the greatest
physician of antiquity. He stated that diseases
have natural causes and the body has the power
to repair itself. His name is always associated
with Hippocratic Oath, an oath traditionally taken
by newly graduated physicians to observe the
ethical standards of their profession, specifically
to seek to preserve life.
Archimedes (287-212 B.C.) Archimedes 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 moves 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.

Theophrastus (371-287 BC) Theophrastus regarded as father of plant

science, wrote “History of Plants” in which he
describe 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
describe grafting methods, seeds, effect of
temperature upon plants, the relations of weather
to soil and the taste and perfumes of plants and
medicinal uses of plant.
Empedocles (490 BC–430 BC) He is known for his been his four-element theory
of matter. He stated the matter is basically
composed of four primary elements – earth, air,
fire, and water. This became one of the earliest
theories to have been postulated on particle
physics. He became the first person to give an
evolutionary account on the development of
species. (Adhikari, Top 10 Ancient Greek
Philosophers, 2019)

B.5 Ancient Persian Civilization (c. 550 BCE to c. 330 BCE); and second, that of
the Parthian and Sasanian empires (c. 140 BCE to c. 640 CE).

Science:
• Persian scientists contributed to the current understanding of nature, medicine,
mathematics, and philosophy.
• Persians made important contributions to algebra and chemistry.
• The Concept of Human Rights - The idea of human rights has its roots in
ancient Persia. The armies of Cyrus the Great, the first king of ancient Persia,
conquered the city of Babylon in 539 BC. Cyrus freed the slaves and gave
people the right to choose their own religion by establishing racial equality. This
declaration was recorded in a baked clay cylinder known as the Cyrus Cylinder. It
has been dubbed as the first declaration of human rights.

Technology
1.Qanat (Water Supply System) - Is an old
system of supplying water from deep wells via
a series of vertical access shafts. It is still a
reliable means of supplying water to human
settlements and for irrigation.
 2. Animation - Modern animation has taken a
great leap forward but its history dates back to
the Bronze Age in Persia. An earthenware
goblet discovered in the Burnt City in the Sistan
and Baluchestan province is believed to be
5,200 years old. The goblet depicts a series of
drawings of a goat jumping towards a tree and
eating its leaves. Sequential pictures similar to
the one on the goblet can be found throughout
medieval Islamic Persia.
3. Postal Service - There is reliable evidence that the first regular postal
system in the world began in ancient Iran. The service used a system of
messengers known as Chapaar in Persian wherein messengers carried the
mail on horseback and brought on relay stations that were close to one another
so that a horse could travel without rest or food. These relay stations were post
offices or post houses known as Chapaar-Khaneh and messengers stopped
there to pass their packets of mail to another messenger or to change their
horses.

4. Backgammon - A popular modern game,

that was first invented in Iran in around 3000
BC. It is one of the oldest surviving board
games. In the modern world, which is played
with two players and the playing pieces are
moved according to the roll of a dice. A
player wins if he/she is able to remove all of
their pieces from the board before their
opponent.

5. Persian rugs have always been a vital

part of the Persian culture. It has a wide
variety of designs, colors function and styles,
that makes it versatile and special. Made
from wool, silk and cotton, and dyes used to
create the coloring derived from plants, roots
and other natural substances.
 6. Yakhchal (Refrigerator) - is an ancient
evaporation cooler which has a two-fold
meaning: yakh means “ice” and chal means
“pit.” Using thick, heat-resistant construction
materials, the subterranean storage space
was insulated year-round. Cold air entered
the structure through the base and
subterranean space. The conical shape of
the structure allowed the remaining heat to
flow up and out which caused the inside of
the structure to remain cooler than the
outside environment. They were built from
water-resistant mortar called sarooj. The
mortar was composed of sand, clay, egg
whites, goat’s hair, and ash in certain
proportions to make it resistant to heat
transfer and water. The walls at the base of
the structures were at least two meters thick
and the main function of the structures was
to store ice, but it was also used to store
food. Ice was created in the winter and
stored in the yakhchal for the summer.
7. Battery - Made up of a ceramic pot, a
metal tube, and a rod of a different metal
were used to create the Baghdad Battery or
Parthian Battery. The battery was tested by
Western scientists was found contain vinegar
(or another electrolyte), that generated a
current of 1.5 to 2.0 volts.

8. Alphabets - The Old Persian language is written in Persian cuneiform, which was
developed in the Persian Achaemenid Empire under Darius I. Persian cuneiform is a
mixture of syllabic, alphabetic, and logogram symbols, giving it a unique place in the
history of the development of a true alphabet.
9. Sulfuric Acid - is one of the most famous Persian discoveries. Abu Bakr
Muhammad Ibn Jakarta al-Razi, a Persian astronomer, mathematician, and
geographer, was the first to discover sulphuric acid. This lay the basis for chemical
engineering in the modern field of chemistry. Today is used today in the manufacture
of fertilizers and detergents.
 10.Taxation System -system of state taxation already existed under Cyrus II, it was
not regulated and people who did not pay taxes had to deliver gifts to the ruling
people,

B.6 Ancient Roman Civilization (625BC- AD476)

Ancient Rome refers to the city of Rome, located in central Italy. The empire which
covered the entire Mediterranean basin and much of Western Europe.

Science:
• The Romans adopted the earlier Greek science and refined them for their own
purposes, such as in warfare, art, and theatre. Their first specialist architects and
doctors in the Roman world were often Greeks and these helped evolved the areas
such as architecture, engineering, and medicine, which eventually progress in their
sciences such as geometry, physics, and biology.
• They use different science concepts in Physics to produce effective torsion
catapults, biology to help improve agricultural yields, and mathematics and
geometry to build the most functional domes and arches.
• The Romans generally made their buildings much more intricately decorative and
invented a concrete which is light-weight enough for large domes and water-
resistant. They also built huge bath complexes with rooms of differing
temperatures and under-heated floors and pools, and multi-story residential
housing blocks for the poorer classes.
• In Astronomy, they adopted much of the knowledges what the Greeks and
Ptolemaic had achieved previously in the field of astronomy. Measuring time using
sundials did become more accurate in the Roman period. They associate the
movements of celestial bodies and the signs of the zodiac with the human
activities. Astrologists were consulted by emperors for decision and policy making
by looking up the position of the stars.
• The Romans are aware of the importance of climate, soil type, and land formation
in food production. They also practice crop rotation, pruning, grafting, seed
selection, drainage, irrigation, and manuring. This practice is applied in viticulture
or grape farming to make wine. They also created farming tools like wheeled
ploughs to prepare soil for planting, grinding mills to produce finer flour for bread-
making. Farmers also knew how to construct greenhouses and experimented with
genetic modifications such as crossing apples with pumpkins. Romans also have
skills in animal husbandry: sheep, cows, goats, poultry, and pigs were reared with
success. Their quality of wool is evidence that the Romans were as expert as any
animal breeders.
 • They are also good at preserving their food using all manner of techniques such
as smoking, salting, drying, curing, pickling in brine or vinegar, and storing in
honey.
• The Romans were great engineers. They build aqueducts into huge building
projects to bring water up to 100 km from its source. They also inverted siphons,
stopcocks, settling tanks, aerating cascades, and mesh filters. Tunnels were
constructed to provide more direct routes for aqueducts and roads, and excavated
with surveying precision to enter and exit a mountain at precisely the desired spot.
• Watermills harnessed water power from rivers using sophisticated systems of
wheels and gears and used the energy gained to drive mills for flour production,
for saws to cut marble, or as ore crushers in search of precious metals.
• Romans invented siege engines and artillery weapons. Their weapons fired bigger
missiles, further and more accurately, than had ever been seen before. The
mechanics of torsion machines was mastered, and they even devised ways to
disassemble their artillery to easily move it to another place where it could be
rebuilt and used again.
• They constructed Amphitheatres and circuses which fascinated the people such
as the use of mechanical devices to spice up public shows like replicating
thunderstorms and use of water organs to create sounds.
• The Romans applied mathematics to problems of architecture as well as
administrative tasks such as tax accounting and land surveys. In addition,
Pythagoras theorem remain part of the standard Roman education.
• They also used Roman number system such as : I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, and
1,000 was represented by M, an abbreviation of milla/mille (thousand).
• Romans made to the field of medicine accessibility to ordinary citizens. Doctors
also gained valuable experience treating war-wounded and those injured in the
arena. Medicines were produced from using plants and herbs, which included the
use of morphine via extracted poppy juice. (Cartwright, 2016)

Technology
1. 1. Concrete - The ancient Romans
developed concrete more superior than
modern day concrete and more
environment friendly. Analysts discovered
that the cement contained volcanic rock
called tuff that can withstand chemical
decay. Such proofs are seen in many
ancient structures such as the Pantheon,
the Colosseum and the Roman Forum
Pantheon-temple for Roman gods having been standing for more than two
millennia
 Colosseum is a giant amphitheatre, an
open building with a center space for
recreation built in Rome used mainly for
gladiatorial contests, animal hunts,
executions, re-enactments of famous
battles and other kinds of spectacles. It
could accommodate up to 75.000
spectators.
Colossuem in Rome, Italy
2. Newspapers - Rome was the first empire
to establish a sophisticated system of
circulating written news which it published
the Acta Diurna which means: “Daily
Events.” It contains handwritten news
carved on stone or metal and presented in
message boards in public places. The
contents usually comprised of political
news, trials, military campaigns, executions,
major scandals, and other similar subjects.

3. Julian Calendar - Julius Caesar implemented a new reform, making the duration of
a solar year the basis for the calendar. He also instituted the 12 months of the year.
The calendar was named after Julius Caesar himself, and some Eastern orthodox
churches use it to calculate holidays even today. Its weakness miscalculated the solar
year by about 11 and a half minutes. This eventually led to the creation of the Gregorian
calendar and was adopted in 1582 AD.
Julian calendar is a solar calendar which was introduced in 45BC and used for 300
years until the adoption of Gregorian calendar in 1582. A solar calendar is based on
one revolution of the Earth around the sun.
 4. Surgery Tools and Techniques - Romans
invented surgical tools and techniques that
helped developed the fields of medicine and
surgery, which were influenced by the
ancient Greeks
They also invented procedures for cesarean
section, mastered medical innovations to
prevent blood loss in battle, that helped
saved thousands of lives. They also
invented tools like bronze scalpels, obstetric
hooks, bone drills, and forceps, and also the
rather frighteningly named vaginal
speculum.
Romans also introduced the earliest form of
antiseptic surgery that they dip medical tools
in hot water to disinfect them before surgery.
5. Roman Numerals were developed out of a need for a common method of counting
in communications and trade. It is a numeric system which uses a series or combination
of or letters, which represent numeric values as shown above.
6. Aqueducts are structures used to
transport water from rivers, springs, to
supply the city collected in large reservoirs.
The first Roman aqueducts were built
around 312 BC. The public baths,
fountains, toilets, and private villas could
then all tap into the network and access the
water. The aqueduct stands as a true
testament of ancient Roman engineering
and innovation.

7. Roads and Highways - One important

reason why ancient Rome is noted to have
a very effective administration of big empire
was its construction of one of the most
sophisticated systems of roads in ancient
times. This helped in expanding its empire,
transport of goods, movement of soldiers
and vital information. In a period of about
700 years, they built about 55,000 miles of
paved highways around the Mediterranean
basin and across Europe. Travel was
 efficient and fast, appropriate road signs
and mile markers were posted and roads
were well protected and patrolled.
8. Sewers and Sanitation - The ancient Rome practice best sewage and sanitation
management. They constructed public baths and toilets, and an interlinked sewage
lines found along sides of streets. Rome and other major cities had an extensive
network of aqueducts, sewers and drains that ran along the sides of the streets. Their
wastes are then flushed and dumped into the nearest river.
9. Grid-based cities ---The Romans adopted the ancient Indus grid-based
establishment of streets and settlement, They made a large scale rectangular layout
of streets in settlements. It was used in city planning for convenience, easy land
measurement and easy to navigate. This grid was an ideal structure to organize the
different components of a city such as housing, theaters, and stores into particular
blocks.
10. The arches became an essential
structure and design in the general
architecture model of the Romans. It was
the Romans who first found a way to set an
arch on top of two tall pedestals such that it
would create a walkway. Many bridges
were built upon these arches, and so were
the aqueducts, sewers, amphitheaters, and
even the great Colosseum. Roman arches
were later used in the Middle Ages in some
of the most magnificent cathedrals built in
history.

B.7 The ancient China civilization (c. 1600–221 BC)

Science:

• Astronomy – In Ancient China, it was believed that what is seen in the sky
directly reflected events on Earth like a comet in the sky it was interpreted that
something unexpected was about to happen like a major battle. The emperor’s
astronomer was responsible for producing the calendar each year (almanac). It
contained predictions of major events in the sky, which affirmed the emperors’
divine link to the heavens. The job of royal astronomer therefore carried both
huge responsibility for informing important political decisions and severe
penalties for mistakes.
• The Chinese alchemy was related closely to the holistic chinese traditional
medicine, and believing that minerals have healing qualities. They practice
traditional methods of using medicinal plants that could cure diseases and
restore health and longer life.
• The Chinese introduced various forms of sciences such as astronomy, physics,
chemistry, meteorology, and seismology. They have contributed various
inventions and technology.
• Chinese medicine, dates back over thousand years ago. Its practice believes in
the interaction between mind, body and environment. It uses one or a
combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine. massage (tui na), exercise
(qigong), and dietary therapy.
• Their contributions in mathematics include: the base ten number system and
abacus, a calculator that used sliding beads to help compute math problems
quickly.

Technology
The Kite 3,000 years ago flying machines/ kites - invented kites made of
silk and wood about 3,000 years ago, during the
Han dynasty. Kites were used by the military for
sending messages and for measuring
distances. Eventually, kites became popular for
pleasure and sports

clock puppet, giant water clock/ - The world's

first clock was invented by Yi Xing, a Buddhist
monk and mathematician of the Tang Dynasty.
The main reason for its creation was to help
Emperor Song who would be chosen to be his
heir to the throne thru an accurate time
mechanism to help identify the oldest son and
when he was born. This clock create a chiming
of a bell every hour and the sound of beating of
a drum every fifteen minutes.
Fans made of bamboo spines/ Initially created
from natural materials such as leaves of
eucalyptus and palm trees, it evolved into first
umbrellas made from silk and paper. They were
used for protection from sun and rain with a
special process of applying oil on its silk or
 paper surface to resist water. Silk umbrellas are
true works of art and their use is limited only to
wealthy merchants, noble families, and royals.
Porcelain and pottery - Pottery is a craft made
by heating soft clay at high temperatures to
make it into hard ceramics. They were used as
containers for storing liquids, grains and other
items. Porcelain is a ceramic material mixed
with kaolin and heating it to temperatures
between 1,200 and 1,400 °C. The product has
a high level of mechanical resistance, low
porosity and high density, Porcelain was used
to make pots, plates, snuff bottles and cups.
Magnetic compass/ It was used in Ancient
China during the Qin dynasty (221 BCE – 207
BCE). Chinese compasses were invented for
finding ones way or direction when traveling.
They were also used for aligning buildings with
directions (north, south, east or west) to
determine the good flow of energy for prosperity
and as a tool used in fortune telling.
Seed drill, iron plough, and wheelbarrows- A seed drill was invented in China
in the 2nd century BCE. It is a device that is used to plant seeds in proper position
in the soil and burying them to a specific depth, ensuring that the seeds are
covered by soil and prevent from being eaten by birds and saves time and labor.
Gunpowder and fireworks/ In search for a a medicine for long life, ancient
Chinese alchemists instead developed an explosive chemical, potassium nitrate or
gunpowder, which they eventually used as weapon against their enemies.
Silk made from the cocoons of silkworms/ The weaving of silk cloth was
invented by Lady Hsi-Ling-Shih, the wife of the mythical Yellow Emperor Leizu
about 3,000 BC. Silk fiber is produced by silkworms when they are making their
cocoons. Wearing silk was a status symbol that only member of the royal family to
wears them. Silk was even used as money during some Ancient Chinese
dynasties. It created a trade route to Europe called the Silk Road
Acupuncture - This practice helps prevent
and heal illness ,enhance the immune
system, improve creativity and enhance
the ability to enjoy life and work.
 In 132 AD, Chinese astronomer Zhang
Heng created a seismometer, a device
that detects the ground movements during
an earthquake; seismological detectors an
earthquake detecting tool called
seismoscope/ seismometer

Paper and printing - their early script

contained 80,000 different characters and
went on to invent books and had book
shops in every city
Printing press use for printing newspaper,
and help produce military maps.
The movable type printing was invented by
Movable Type Printing 960-1279 Bi Sheng and is easier to edit and create
AD copies
They develop Other inventions included umbrella, iron casting, hot air balloon,
matches, stirrups for riding horses, lacquer and paper money.
Assessment #1:

Name: _______________________________________ Section: _____________

Activity 1: Answer the following question accordingly.

1. Choose at least three (3) most relevant technologies that occurred in each
Ancient civilization? Justify your answer.
2. What is the difference between solar and lunar calendar?
3. Write down the Roman Numerical System 1-60
4. Illustrate the Julian Calendar
5. Identify structures that are designed with arches. Show some pictures of these
sites. Cite some advantages and disadvantages of such design.
6. Research on how to make a paper out of plant
Content #2:

Historical Antecedent of Science and Technology during Medieval Times

Medieval Times, Middle Ages, and Dark Ages are generally referring to the same
period of time from 500 to 1500 AD. That's 1000 years! It covers the time from the fall of
the Roman Empire to the rise of the Ottoman Empire. Europe experienced an intellectual
revitalization, especially with regard to the investigation of the natural world and major
technological advances.

The Medieval period saw major technological advances, including the invention of
vertical windmills, spectacles, mechanical clocks, greatly improved water mills, building
techniques like the Gothic style and three-field crop rotation.

Here are some of the famous inventions during medieval times:

Agricultural Innovations such as the heavy wheeled plough, three-field system,

horse collar, and stirrup, horseshoe were developed. Heavy wheeled plough was
important in cultivation of the rich, heavy, often wet soils of Northern Europe that
advanced their agricultural practices. Horse collar went through multiple evolutions from
the 6th to 9th centuries. It allowed more horse pulling power, such as with heavy ploughs
while Horseshoes let horses adapt to rocky terrain, mountains and carry heavier loads.
They may have been known to the Romans and Celts as early as 50 BC. Artesian well is
composed of a thin rod with a hard iron cutting edge is placed in a bore hole and
repeatedly struck with a hammer. Underground water pressure forces the water up the
hole without pumping. Artesian wells are named for Artois in France, where the first was
drilled by Carthusian monks in 1126. Wheelbarrow is used in construction, mining, and
farming for carrying materials into and out of the place. Wheelbarrows appeared in stories
and pictures between 1170 and 1250 in North-western Europe.

Military technologies include: Counterweight

trebuchet is a revolutionized medieval siege weapons
which uses counterweights and hurling huge stones to
very long distance. It was first used in the eastern
Mediterranean basin. The Longbow and steel crossbow
were powerful, accurate and contributed to the eventual
demise of the medieval knight class.
 Complete Full plate armour appeared by the end of the 14th
century for body protection and the skills involved in working
metal. The armour chain mail was made from thousands of
metal rings and the armour was a long cloak called a hauberk.
Plate armour is considered the best in personal armour in terms
of body protection and the skills involved in working metal.

Other inventions during this include : Blast furnace or

cast iron first appears in Middle Europe around 1150, is a block that smelts ores and
metals armor; Hourglass was made with a dependable, affordable and accurate measure
of time; Mechanical clocks is a European innovation, these weight-driven clocks were
used primarily in clock towers; Vertical windmills is a pivot able post mill efficient at
grinding grain or draining water; Spectacles is composed of convex lenses to help far-
sighted people to see; Chess it is said that the earliest predecessors of the game
originated in 6th century AD is India and spread through Persia and Europe; Oil paint was
invented by Flemish painter Jan van Eyck around 1410 who introduced a stable oil
mixture. Oil was used to add details to tempera paintings; tide mill is a special type of
water mill driven by tidal rise and fall.

spinning wheel was probably invented in India, though its

origins are ambiguous it replaced the earlier method of hand
spinning, in which the individual fibres were drawn out of a
mass of wool held on a stick, or distaff, twisted together to
form a continuous strand, and wound on a second stick, or
spindle.

By 1000s, first universities created – they trained middle class in the cities in
theology, medicine, and law. By 1100s, modern universities emerge throughout Western
Europe such as Oxford and Cambridge in England.

In the 14th century, Crisis of the Late Middle Ages was underway. When the Black
Death came, it wiped out so many lives it affected the entire system. It brought a sudden
end to the previous period of massive scientific change. The plague killed 25–50% of the
people in Europe, especially in the crowded condition of the towns, where the heart of
innovations lay. Quarantine technique was established, initially a 40-day-period, the
Quarantine was introduced by the Republic of Ragusa to prevent the spreading of
diseases like the Black Death. Venice began quarantines, then the practice spread
around in Europe.
Historical Antecedent of Science and Technology during Renaissance Times
The Renaissance was a time of creativity and rebirth of cultural and intellectual
pursuits centered in Italy during 1300s before spreading throughout Europe. The
Renaissance produced a golden age with great advances in art, literature, science,
geography, astronomy, chemistry, physics, mathematics, manufacturing, anatomy and
engineering, but most importantly, it produced a new concept of how people thought of
themselves, each other, and the world around them.

The most important technological innovation of the time was the invention of
the printing press by Johann Gutenberg, it began printing the Bible in everyday language.
This invention led to a higher literacy rate among people, and helped with the spread of
Renaissance ideas which gave birth to the invention of newspaper.

Some important Renaissance technologies

include both innovations and improvements on existing
techniques and branches of science: mining and
metallurgy: blast furnace, finery forge, slitting mill,
arquebus, firearms, musket; the inventions of nautical
compass, mariner's astrolabe, dry dock and floating
dock; Alchemy refers to the transformation of other base
substances such sulphur or copper into gold and to
discover a cure for disease and a way of extending
Arquebus firearm life.

In Medicine with an increase in experimental

investigation, principally in the field of dissection and
body examination, thus advancing the knowledge of
human anatomy; Andreas Vesalius, who described the
anatomy of the brain and other organs thus give birth to
Neurology; William Harvey provided a refined and
complete description of the circulatory system; and few
effective drugs existed, beyond opium and quinine.

Historical Antecedent of Science and Technology during Scientific Revolution

The scientific revolution was the appearance of modern science during the early
modern period, when developments in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology
and chemistry took place during the 16th and 17th centuries which transformed views of
society and nature. The scientific revolution began in Europe towards the end of
the Renaissance period, influencing the intellectual social movement known as the
Enlightenment or Age of reason.
 There were revolutionary developments occurred, using scientific method sought
to investigate or answers certain questions implied in the framework of certain theories.
Using experiment and observation to uncover phenomenon, discover new ideas, new
inventions and began to prove inadequate old beliefs or theories. Systematic
experimentation was slowly accepted by the scientific community.

Scientific revolution leads to inventions of microscope,

barometer, thermometer, and telescope. These instruments
helped in the creation of new intellectual knowledge such as:
magnetism, electricity, Heliocentric theory, elliptical orbit of
celestial body, discovery of planets and moons.

The Scientific Revolution gave emphasis on the following theories:

1. Heliocentric theory of Nicolaus Copernicus
2. Keplers’ theory of planetary motion: The planets travel around the Sun in
elliptical orbits, one focus of the ellipse being occupied by the Sun;
A planet moves in its orbit in such a manner that a line drawn from the planet to
the Sun always sweeps out equal areas in equal times; The square of the period
in which a planet orbits the Sun is proportional to the cube of its mean distance
from the Sun.
3. There are innumerable stars invisible to the naked eye, sunspots, phases of
Venus and Moons of Jupiter (Galileo)
4. Observation of minute living things that cannot be seen by naked eye.
(Leeuwenhoek)
5. Newtons Law of motion: The Law of Inertia states that if the vector sum of the
forces acting on an object is zero, then the object will remain at rest or remain
moving at constant velocity ; The Law of acceleration - states that a net force on
an object will accelerate it—that is, change its velocity. The acceleration will be
proportional to the magnitude of the force and in the same direction as the force;
The law of Interaction - states that an object experiences a force because it is
interacting with some other object. The force that object 1 exerts on object 2
must be of the same magnitude but in the opposite direction as the force that
object 2 exerts on object

Historical Antecedent of Science and Technology during the Industrial Revolution

Industrial Revolution was the transition to new technological processes in Europe-
Great Britain and United States that took place during 1750-1900. It is a historical period
where the pace of change and innovation appeared to speed up and the merger of
technology with industry occurred. This acceleration in the processes of technical
innovation brought about an array of new tools and machines. An outstanding feature of
the Industrial Revolution has been the advance in power technology. It has been said that
the Industrial Revolution was the most profound revolution in human history, because of
its sweeping impact on people’s daily lives.

The following are some key inventions and innovations served to shape virtually
every existing sector of human activity along industrial lines:
• Energy and the power of wind and water - during the early period of the Industrial
Revolution, most industrial power was supplied by water and wind using
waterwheel, windmills and water turbine. Water power was a more popular energy
source for grinding grain and other types of mill work in most of preindustrial
Europe.

• Steam power or Steam engine was first installed

for purpose of pumping water out of coal mines but
now high - pressure engine had a high power making
it suitable for transportation. A Watt steam engine
became widely used in Great Britain during the
Industrial Revolution.

• The discovery of Petroleum and natural gases enhanced internal-combustion

engine lay in the need for a light locomotive engine.
• The internal combustion engine - the combustion of a fuel releases a high-
temperature gas, which, as it expands, applies a force to a piston, moving it. Thus,
combustion engines convert chemical energy into mechanical work. The engine
steered in the Industrial Age which enabled the invention of a huge variety of
machines, including modern cars and aircraft.
• The development of electricity as a source of power preceded this conjunction with
steam power late in the 19th century.

• Agriculture technology such as seed drill and

plough, crop rotation system and animal husbandry
bring about a substantial increase in agricultural
productivity capable of feeding a rapidly growing
population with improved nutrition.

• Textiles were the dominant industry of the Industrial Revolution in terms of

employment, especially in the production of fabrics and cotton. The boom in
productivity began with a few technical devices, including the spinning jenny,
 spinning mule, power loom, and cotton gin. Steam power was applied to operate
these machines and other specialized equipment.
• In order to be efficient in delivering agricultural products, overland roads were
improved, canals were dug to create maritime corridors between existing
waterways and railroads were constructed. Wagon, automobile, rail transit and the
early airplane were manufactured.
• Manufacturing of chemicals such as sulphuric acid used for pickling (removing
rust) iron and steel, explosives, bleaching solutions, sodium carbonate, solvents,
fertilizers, and medicines, including pharmaceuticals were established.
• Metallurgy: A major change in the metal industries during the era of the Industrial
Revolution was the replacement of wood and other bio-fuels with coal. For a given
amount of heat, coal required much less labor to mine than cutting wood and
converting it to charcoal, and coal was more abundant than wood.
• Invention of cement by heating mixture of clay and limestone to about 1,400 °C,
which is then mixed with water, sand and gravel to produce concrete. Cement was
used on a large scale in the construction.
• A new method of producing glass, known as the cylinder process use to make
window pane glass and plate glass.
• The discovery of the atomic nucleus (1911) and of numerous subatomic particles
in addition to the electron opened up the broad field of atomic and nuclear physics.
• The development of biochemistry and the recognition that most important
biological processes take place at the molecular level led to the rapid growth of the
field of molecular biology, with such fundamental results as the discovery of the
structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the molecule carrying the genetic code.
• Modern medicine has profited from this explosion of knowledge in biology and
biochemistry, with new methods of treatment ranging from penicillin, insulin, and a
vast array of other drugs to pacemakers for weak hearts and implantation of
artificial or donated organs.
• In astronomy ever larger telescopes have assisted in the discovery that the sun is
a rather ordinary star in a huge collection of stars, the Milky Way. Through space
travel astronomers were able to study and discover the nature of the universe
beyond Earth. The space age began with the launch of the first artificial satellites
in 1957. A human first went into space in 1961. Since then cosmonauts and
astronauts have ventured into space for further study of the universe.

Science and Technology in the 20th century

There are heaps of developments of science and technology during this
century and it keeps on upgrading. The following are some of the remarkable invention
that had major impact on human being:

• The electronics industry, born in the early 20th century has advanced to the point
where a complex device like computer before it could fill an entire room but now
be carried in an attaché case. The electronic computer has become one of the key
tools of modern industry. Computer is an electronic machine that accepts
information, stores it, processes it according to the instructions provided by a user
 and then returns the result. Electronics has also been fundamental in developing
new communications devices such as radio, television, or laser.
• An airplane was invented by Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville. It is a powered
fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine or propeller.
Commercial airlines are a massive industry involving the flying of tens of thousands
of passengers daily. The extensive uses of airplanes include recreation,
transportation of goods and people, military, and research.
• The Internet was the work of dozens of pioneering scientists, programmers and
engineers who each developed new features and technologies that eventually
merged to become the “information superhighway” we know today.
• Optic fiber is used by many telecommunications companies to transmit telephone
signals, Internet communication, and cable television signals. Today, Optic fiber is
present in virtually every nation on the Earth, forming the absolute strength of the
modern communications infrastructure.
• Air Conditioning system - in 1902, an engineer from New York named Willis
Carrier invented the first modern air-conditioning system, which sent air through
water-cooled coils, it was designed to control humidity. In 1922, he followed up
with the invention of the centrifugal chiller. Carrier's innovation shaped 20th-century
America.
• 3D Metal Printing is one of the advances in the technology that provide instant
metal fabrication. This innovation enables the ability to create large, intricate metal
structures on demand and therefore could revolutionize manufacturing.
• Genetic engineering or genetic modification is a process of modifying the genetic
material of a certain organism by inserting new gene into the organism and the
resulting new organism is called genetically modified organism (GMO) that shows
changes in it according to the gene’s function in the body. GMOs are produced
using recombinant DNA technology and cloning technology.
• Artificial Embryos are made from stem cells alone without using egg or sperm cells.
It is a breakthrough that will open new possibilities for understanding how life
comes into existence – but clearly also raises vital ethical and even philosophical
problems.
Assessment #2:

Name: _______________________________________ Section: _____________

Activity 2: Answer the following question accordingly

1. Make a time line of the development and upgrading of the following:

a. Electric fan
b. Car
c. Ship
d. telephone
e. Clothing/textile

2. What is the most remarkable technology that was developed during:

a. Middle Ages
b. Renaissance
c. Scientific revolution
d. Industrial revolution
Justify your answer.
Name: _______________________________________ Section: _____________

Activity 3: View the video in YouTube using the link below:

Timeline of world history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__BaaMfiD0Q

Answer the following guide questions based from the facts discussed in the video.
Choose the letter of the correct answer found in the table.

A STONE AGE I BCE /BEFORE Q EUROPE

COMMON ERA
B MIDDLE AGE J 3300BCE/ R ASIA
CLASSICAL/ANCIENT
TIME
C CLASSICAL/ANCIENT K SUMER S PACIFIC ISLANDS
TIME
D MODERN AGE L EGYPT T ROMAN EMPIRE
E INDUSTRIAL M INDUS VALLEY U BUBONIC
REVOLUTION
F TECHNOLOGICAL N IRON AGE V TRUE
REVOLUTION
G BEFORE CHRIST /BC O AMERICA W CLIMATE CHANGE
H ANNO DOMINI /IN THE P AFRICA X PANDEMIC
YEAR OF THE LORD /AD

1. Human history is divided into six divisions which are:: S_ _ _ _ Age, C_ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ Age, M _ _ _ _ _ Age, M_ _ _ _ _ Age, I_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Revolution, , T_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Revolution
2. Historical period when there are no written documents about their life.____
3. For Christians the year before the birth of Jesus Christ is known as ____.
4. For Christians the year after the birth of Jesus Christ is called _____
5. For Non christians the year before the birth of Jesus Christ is called _____
6. The starting point or year of human history with written documents._____
7. Three ancient or classical civilizations that introduced the first writing
systems.____

8. What is the name of the stone age period before the classical / ancient
civilization?_____
9. The horizontal scale of the map in the video showed the five divisions of the
world. What countries are they? _______

10. Middle Age period is called such because it happened between _____ age and
_____ age.

11. Middle Age is known for the fall of the western __________________ by being
attacked by barbarians and the occurrence of the deadly disease called ______.

12. The fall of western roman empire did not affect the eastern roman Empire and
other surrounding civilizations. TRUE or False?

13. 13. Based from the video, we are now in the _______ age which evolved into
industrial revolution, and _____ revolution

14. 14.The end of a historical period according to the narrator is based on _____ and
_______
Name: ____________________________________ Section: _____________

Activity 4: IDENTIFY what branch of science are the following descriptions related to.
Write: Mathematics, Astronomy, Astrology, Architecture, Agriculture, Medicine,
Engineering, Social science, Chemistry, Seismology

_________________1. Computing land areas and tax payments.

_________________2, Irrigation and domestication of plants and animals’
_________________3. Construction of ziggurats as temples.
_________________4. Study of the movement of celestial bodies in order to create an
accurate calendar.
_________________5. Enacting strict laws to discourage the commission of crimes.
_________________6. Mummification
_________________7. Sexagesimal system
_________________8. Cuneiform
_________________9. Democracy, form of government where leaders are chosen
through election process.
_________________10. Olympics
_________________11. Theatre/ Colosseum
_________________12. Water clock
_________________13. Lever/simple machines
_________________14. Catapult
_________________15. Qanat
_________________16. Sulfuric acid for making fertilizer
_________________17. Study of the positions of the stars and their effects to human
activities and use in predicting events
_________________18. Grid based cities
_________________19. Pure gold makes humans immortal.
_________________20. Seismometer detects the location of earthquakes.
References:

Adhikari, S. (2019, May 16). Ancient History Lists. Retrieved from

www.ancienthistorylists.com/egypt-history/top-10-inventions-discoveries-ancient-
egypt/: https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/egypt-history/top-10-inventions-
discoveries-ancient-egypt/
Adhikari, S. (2019, June 25). Top 10 Ancient Greek Philosophers. Retrieved from
www.ancienthistoryl: https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/greek-history/top-10-
ancient-greek-philosophers/
Adhikari, S. (2019, March 18). Top 10 Inventions and Discoveries of Persian Civilization.
Retrieved from www.ancienthistorylists.com:
https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/mesopotamia-history/top-10-inventions-of-
persian-civilizations/
KIGER, P. J. (2020). History. Retrieved from /www.history.com/news/sumerians-
inventions-mesopotamia: https://www.history.com/news/sumerians-inventions-
mesopotamia
Vyas, K. (2019, May 09). 11 Greek Inventions That Changed the World for Good.
Retrieved from interesting engineering.com: The catapult was introduced in
Greece by Dionysius the Elder of Syracuse in 399 BC. This is a device that assists
in throwing heavy objects or arrows over a large distance; hence, ballista – a type
of catapult was used as a major weapon of warfare for ove
WIKIPEdia. (2020, JUne 27). List of Greek inventions and discoveries. Retrieved from
en.wikipedia.org:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_inventions_and_discoveries

Adhikari, Top 10 Ancient Roman Inventions, 2019

Aldea K., Caronan H., & Candido B. Science, technology and Society, 2018
Cartwright, Roman Science, 2016
Industrial Revolution and Technology | National Geographic Society
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L5Pt4BLeos
https://interestingengineering.com/11-greek-inventions-that-changed-the-world-for-
goodhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_Revolution#Industrial_machines
https://www.britannica.com/science/Scientific-Revolution
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_Revolution
https://www.britannica.com/technology/...technology/The-Industrial- Revolution-1750-
1900
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/.../industrial-revolution-and-technology/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution
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www.ancienthistory.com
www.chinese-chamber.gr
www.history.com
www.newworldencyclopedia.com
www.realmofhistory.com
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