Science and Technology in Pre Colonial Period in the Philippines Setting

Pre Colonial in the Philippines started at 15th to 17th century. In the history of

science and technology in the Philippines there was few written information about

Philippine society, culture and technology before the arrival of Spaniards in 1521.

According to these sources, the early Filipinos had attained a generally simple

level of technological development, compared with those of the Chinese and

Japanese, but this was sufficient of their needs at that period of time.

Based on the Philippine science history, even before the colonization by the

Spaniards in the Philippines, the natives of the archipelago already had practices to

link to science and technology. Filipinos already gained knowledge of the medical and

therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of extracting medicine from herbs

that is actually known as herbal medicines in their time. They also developed alphabet

and number system which help them in better communication. Filipinos were already

engaged in farming activities, like planting wheat and crops, shipbuilding for

transportation, mining and weaving which they created our first clothes called “baro’t

saya”.

In the Pre Spanish Era, Filipinos had already engaged in the field of engineering

where Banaue Rice Terraces located at Ifugao is one of the best product they

developed during that time. In addition, the colonization of the Philippines contributed

to growth the science and technology field. The Spanish introduced formal education

and founded scientific institution. During the early years of Spanish rule in the

Philippines, Parish schools were established where religion, reading, writing,

arithmetic and music was taught. Sanitation and more advance methods of agriculture

was taught to the early Filipinos which help them to improve their agricultural land.
 The study of medicine in the Philippines was given priority in the Spanish era.

The Spanish also contributed to the field of engineering by constructing government

buildings, churches, roads, bridges and forts that would help Philippines grow in

modernization.

Over all the Pre Colonial Period in the Philippines made a great start of

technological advancement using the resources they have. During their time, these

inventions are useful to make the lives of people better. As the times goes by, these

inventions of them are used to make innovations that we are now using up to modern

times.