HAND-OUTS STS 1 HISTORICAL-ANTECENDENTS Pre-Ancient-1
HAND-OUTS STS 1 HISTORICAL-ANTECENDENTS Pre-Ancient-1
HAND-OUTS STS 1 HISTORICAL-ANTECENDENTS Pre-Ancient-1
Historical Antecedents in the Course of Science and Technology other. It was also vital to keep records of their history and
culture so they could establish their identities as they tried to
Ancient Times relate with other cultures and civilizations.
Advances in The increase in size and number of nations connoted
knowledge, skills, and increased demand for food and other basic necessities. This
technology had been condition also implied that people must be able to produce food
part of human history at a given time and space since resources were getting scarcer as
long before our more people struggles to share the basic necessities. The people
ancestors were fully thus needed a form of technology that would enable them to
human. We begin by increase food supplies and other survival needs without them
considering the arts, travelling more or working harder.
inventions, and Weapons and armors were important as well in the
understandings of this discovery of new places or the establishment of new alliances
early period, which with other tribes. At that time, there was always a risk of conflict
might be classified as when people met others with different culture and orientations.
crafts or technology. Conflicts were common especially if different groups struggled to
The Stone Ages: Stone tools have long been the first control vital resources. Stronger nations tended to invade
recognized technology. It is almost certain that wooden tools weaker ones so they could take much needed resources. As
preceded stone by millions of years, but wood survives only in such, the development of weapons and armors for security and
exceptional circumstances. Therefore, we must begin with the protection was considered a major achievement.
stone tools first found in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania by Louis A primary challenge they faced was the conservation of
and Mary Leakey and others, and since found elsewhere in Africa life. The early people might have been successful in harnessing
as well. the rich resources that the world could provide, but their survival
Knowledge among hunter-gatherers: Hunting became posed a great problem. Different illnesses and diseases, both
increasingly important. People certainly learned the ways of natural and man-made hampered the full potential of a human
their prey animals. These people discovered how to control fire being. Given this predicament, science and technology played a
and began to build substantial structures with wood posts, major role in the discovery of cure to, if not the prevention of,
although some lived in caves and rock shelters. Hunting illnesses.
weapons such as the sling, the bow, the bolo, the fish hook, and Moreover, in order to integrate their needs- for better
the spear thrower, are among the technological innovations of transportation, establishment of structures for protection from
this period. human attacks and natural disasters, and construction of bigger
The progress in technology is most clearly seen in the and stronger infrastructures- people ventured into what is now
further refinement of stone tools and in the Neolithic use of known as the field of engineering. The development in this field
many other materials. Metal tools were preceded by bone tools, allowed humans to build structures that would address their
such as needles, that could not have been easily made from specific needs and wants. Some of the structures build during
stone. Although remains of more perishable tools are scarce in the ancient times will exist today and continually awe people.
the archeological record, there is no doubt that similar progress The development in engineering also ushered in the
were being made in tools based on wood or other organic introduction of architecture. Others might see architecture as a
materials. Although most early wooden tools have vanished, mere style, but during the ancient times, elaborate architectural
some of these inventions can be seen in early drawings or designs were signs of technological advancement of a particular
engravings. civilization In the generations to come, architecture would be
In the ancient times, people were concerned with considered a status symbol among nations of how advanced
transportation and navigation, communication and record their technology is. It may also establish the identity of a nation.
keeping, mass production, security and protection, as well as The people were not
health, aesthetics, and architecture. contented on beautifying
Transportation was significant during that time because only their infrastructures and
people were trying to go places and discover new horizons. They surroundings. Being able to
travelled to search for food and find better locations for their prolong life with the mass
settlements. They also travelled to trade their surplus goods in production of food and
exchange for things that they lacked. Navigation assisted them advancement of medical
in their journeys to unfamiliar and strange areas in the world. It technology, as well as raise
allowed them to return home after they discovered new places the quality of life by making complicated and difficult tasks
or completed an important trade with another group of people. easier, humans later on developed the technology to improve
Communication was also essential in their endeavors to how they look. They discovered that people looked more
discover and occupy new places. They needed a way to visually presentable and appealing by adding some features and
communicate with the natives of the areas they visited so as to decorations in their body.
facilitate trade and prevent possible conflicts. Record-keeping The following discussions will tackle the different major
was also important since they needed to remember the places technological advancements during the ancient times, which
they had been to and document the trades they made with each include some of the achievement of the early civilizations such as
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the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians. It will continue to were challenged to mass produce food items but elements in the
describe the gradual application of knowledge up to the environment seem uncooperative. It was difficult to get water
contemporary time. from the rivers, thus they could not maintain farmlands. Some
groups had scarce water supply, while others had problems with
SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION flooding caused by the river.
Sumeria https://rudderresponse.pbworks.com/w/page/1 As a solution to this
(Sumer) is located on 10092543/Nile%20River%20Reading%20Investig dilemma, the Sumerians
ation
the southernmost created dikes and irrigation
tipoff ancient canals to bring water to
Mesopotamia. farmlands and at the same time control the flooding of the
Sumerians are rivers. This method was considered as one of the most beneficial
known for their high engineering works. Through the dikes and canals, the Sumerians
degree of were able to enjoy year –long farming and harvesting, which
cooperation with one increased their food production.
another and their
desire for great things. They are not contented with the basic Sailboats
things that life can offer. This desire pushed them to developed Another challenge to the Sumerians was transportation.
many things connected with science and technology. At that time, the wheel was not yet invented; the main mode of
transportation was through waterways such as rivers and seas.
Cunieform Boats were used to carry large quantities of products and were
One of the major able to cover large distances. However, they wanted to discover
contributions of the faraway lands to settle since the population was getting larger,
Sumerians is the and boats were not enough to accommodate more people and
development of the first products. They needed a mode of transportation that did not
writing system known as require much human resource. Some sources attribute to the
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/432908582 cuneiform. It is a system Sumerians the invention of sailboats to address their increasing
912054304/ that utilizes word, demands. Sailboats were essential in transportation and trading
pictures and triangular as well as in fostering culture, information, and technology.
symbols which are carved on clay using wedge instruments and
then left to dry. Cuneiform allowed the Sumerians to keep Wheel
records of things with great historical value or their everyday life. In the latter part of
their history, the Sumerians
Uruk City were able to invent the wheel
Another important contribution of the Sumerians is the City of since the specialized tools
Uruk. It is a great wonder not only because it is considered to be needed to create it were https://sumeriancivilizationhonors.weebly.co
the first true city in the world but also for the way it was erected. already available. The first m/accomplishments-and-inventions.html
There were no building stones in the location of this city and wheels were not made for
lumber was limited, making the construction a big challenge. transportation but for farm work and food processes. With the
The Sumerians were able to build the city using only mud or clay use of the wheel and axle, mass production was made easier.
from the river, which they mixed with reeds, producing sunbaked Farmers were able to mill grains with less efforts in less time.
bricks – a true engineering feat. They used the bricks to make
houses that protected them from the harsh weather and to build The Plow
a wall around the city that prevented wild animals and Another farm technology
neighboring raiders from entering. invented by the
Mesopotamians is the
The Great Ziggurat of Ur plow. Humans evolved
Another engineering from being food gatherers
and architectural feat of the to farm cultivators.
Sumerians is the Great Ziggurat However, farmers needed
of Ur. The ziggurat, also called a technology which would
the mountain of god, was built in enable them to dig the
the same manner that they ground where seeds would
constructed the City of Uruk. https://www.ancient- be planted. The plow was
origins.net/ancient-places-asia/great-
Without much building ziggurat-ur-001767preserved Ziggurat invented to dig the earth in a faster pace. As the plow breaks
materials, the structure was of Ur. the ground the farmer would just drop the seeds and farm
constructed using sunbaked work would already be done. With this tool, farmers could
bricks. The ziggurat served as the place of their chief god, where cultivate larger parcels of land faster, enabling them to mass
only their priests were allowed to enter. The temple showcases produce food without taking so much effort and time.
not only the elaborate and intricate Sumerian architecture but
also the remarkable technology used to build it. As such, even
until today, people still enjoy and marvel at the preserved Great BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION
Ziggurat of Ur. Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers. The Babylonians were great builders,
Irrigation and Dikes engineers, and architects. One of their major contributions is the
As population hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the
increased, so did the demand ancient world.
for food. The Sumerians
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Hanging Gardens of Babylon pieces of paper were very light that they could be carried and
Today, delivered by birds. Moreover, record-keeping was no longer a
people can only problem since documents would not take huge storage spaces.
marvel at the Therefore, it was easier to keep them away from raiders who
beauty of the often destroyed records of the nations they invaded.
famous Hanging
Garden of Babylon Ink
from stories of When the Egyptians invented the papyrus or the paper,
historians and engraving ceased to be used in writing. As a result, the Egyptians
paintings that invented ink by combining soot with different chemicals to
portray the place. produce inks of different colors. The ink must withstand the
It was said to be a elements of nature since it was used to record history, culture,
structure made up and codified laws. It must also be tamper-proof so that people
https://www.britannica.com/place/Hanging-Gardens-of-
of layers upon Babylon
could not simply tinker with those written down by authorities.
layers of gardens
that contained several species of plants, trees and vines. Hieroglyphics
According to legends, the great Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar Like the Sumerians,
II built the gardens for his wife, Queen Amytis. However, no the Egyptians also developed a
physical evidence has been found to prove the existence of the system of writing using
Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Its exact location is also unknown. symbols, known as
Since time, immemorial, people have been debating about the hieroglyphics. Although some
existence of the said mythical place. Many said it was just a say that hieroglyphics was adapted from the early writing system
product of the creative imagination of the great King because it established in Mesopotamia as a result of trade between
lacked documentation or archeological evidence. On the other civilizations, the Egyptians believed that this writing system was
hand, if it really existed, it must have been destroyed by war, provided to them by their gods. This form of writing can still be
erosion, or an earthquake. True or not, hearing the stories and seen today and remains to be a famous as the pyramids where
description of the place would be enough to inspire awe to they were found. Hieroglyphics was the language that tells the
anyone. One can imagine the thick greenery decorated by modern world of the history and culture of the ancient
beautiful flowers coming from different places in the garden and Egyptians. Their records were well-preserved since they were
complicated design of the infrastructure. If the stories were carved at the walls of pyramids and other important Egyptian
true, the Hanging Garden of Babylon may be considered as one structures.
of the greatest engineering and architectural achievements of
the world that is almost impossible to replicate. Cosmetics
The Egyptians also invented the use of cosmetics.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION Although cosmetics in the modern times are used to improve
Another early civilization famous for its legacy is the and highlight the facial features of a person, their function in
Egyptian civilization located in North America. Many stories tell ancient Egypt was for both health and aesthetic reasons.
about the engineering feats of the Egyptians especially regarding Egyptians wore Kohl around the eyes to prevent and even cure
the infrastructures established by the pharaohs. Aside from eye diseases. Kohl was created by mixing soot or malachite with
engineering technology, the Egyptians have contributed other mineral galena. Egyptians also believed that a person wearing
practical things that the world now considers as essential. It is make-up was protected from evil and that beauty was a sign of
thus safe to say that the pyramids are not the only contribution holiness. At present, the cosmetic industry is a booming
of the Egyptians civilization to the modern world. multibillion industry.
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use it over other more popular number systems, like the Hindu- hand, gunpowder is also used in fireworks during important
Arabic system, due to its aesthetic and historical value. celebrations in China.
CHINESE CIVILIZATION
The Chinese civilization is considered to be the oldest References:
civilization in Asia, if not the world. Also known as the middle
kingdom, China is located on the far east of Asia. It was famous • Mcnamara, DJ. et.al. (2018). Science, Technology & Society.
among other ancient civilizations because of its silk trade. Not a Quezon City: C & E Publishing Inc.
great amount was written about ancient China partly due to its • Serafica, JP. et.al (2018). Science, Technology & Society. 1st
distance from the other civilizations. Despite its less popular Edition. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore.
status among the early civilizations, one cannot discredit the • Bunch, B. & Hellemans, A. (2004). The History of Science &
significant contributions of Chinese civilization to the world. Technology. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
• Caoli. History of Science and Technology of the Philippines
Silk • Video: Stephen Colbert’s interview with Neil Tyson:
One of the things that connected Far East China to the https://www.youtube.com/watch
world is silk. Although silk is naturally produced by silk worms, v=YXh9RQCvxmg&noredirect=1
the Chinese were the ones who developed the technology to
harvest the silk and process it to produce paper and clothing.
Silk production resulted in the creation of a product for trade.
The silk trade opened China to the outside world making way for
cultural, economic, scientific exchanges. It bridged the gap
between the western world and the middle kingdom.
Tea Production
Tea is a beverage produced by pouring hot or boiling
water over crushed or shredded dried tea leaves. It was believed
that the first tea was drunk by a Chinese emperor. Tea
production was developed when an unknown Chinese inventor
created a machine that was able to shred tea leaves into strips.
This machine was done using a wheel-based mechanism with
sharp edges attached to a wooden or ceramic pot. Because of
this invention, the Chinese were able to increase their
production of tea and trade with other nations. China thus
became known for its tea exports aside from its silk products.
Tea production developed by the ancient Chinese may have
resulted in making tea as one of the most popular beverages in
the world today.
Gunpowder
The gunpowder is one of the most interesting
inventions in China. Originally, it was developed by Chinese
alchemists who aimed to achieve immortality. They mixed
charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate, but instead of creating an
elixir of life, they accidentally invented a black powder that could
actually generate large amounts of heat and gas in an instant.
Ironically, instead of prolonging life, gunpowder is widely used to
propel bullets from guns and cannons which cause countless
deaths. In fact, gunpowder-propelled weapons are preferred by
raiders who plan to attack at a distance. The same weapons are
also used to dissipate any attempts of invasion. On the other