Historical Antecedents of the World

“Antecedent,” which means an event or condition that happened before something.

The Human Condition Before Common Era - from the previous lecture, we’ve learned that technology doesn’t
always spring from science. Having said this, it is safe to say that technological advancements arose earlier than
scientific discoveries. And these technological advancements will not be possible without early humans who have
the skills or even instinct to create.
- the prehistoric period or when there was human life before records
documented human activity roughly dates from 2.5 million years ago to 1,200 B.C. It is generally categorized in three
archaeological periods: the stone age, bronze age, and iron age.
- Homo erectus have been using fire to cook. Tools from stones and flints
marked the era of stone age.
- “the primal need to survive paved way for the invention of several
developments.” It is the instinct of early humans to survive that allowed them to create several types of
technologies.
- they have fire for cooking, tools for hunting, and even used stones for
cave drawings that record their daily life and activities or illustrate what they observe in nature. It is true that it is
difficult to exactly pinpoint where technology is said to have started, but we consider the discovery of harnessing fire
from chipping stones that marked the advent of technology. They were able to do this without knowledge of the
laws of heat and friction. hope now we can confidently disregard the general notion that technology is merely the
application of science.

Stone Age - this era is marked by the invention and use of stone tools by our early human ancestors and the
eventual transformation of the society from a culture of hunting and gathering to farming and food production. This
period is practically difficult for our ancestors. Why do you think so? It is because resources are not abundant, and
they are also living in the midst of wild animals making them easy targets/prey. We know relatively little about this
era because there are limited to no written accounts (of course) of the human activities that occurred here. Only
cave drawings, unearthed artifacts (such as stone tools, bone tools) are available for us to study leaving us with little
capacity to contemplate. The stone age is divided into three separate periods – Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic
period – based on the degree of sophistication in the fashioning and use of these stone tools.
Paleolithic period - (or Old Stone period). Paleo means old and - lithic came from lithos meaning stone.
- throughout the Paleolithic, humans were food gatherers/hunters, depending on hunting wild
animals and birds, fishing, and collecting wild fruits, nuts, and berries.
- they are nomads with no permanent shelters. The record of this long interval is very incomplete;
it can be studied from imperishable objects made of flint, stone, bone, and antler. These alone have withstood the
ravages of time, and, together with the remains of animals hunted by our prehistoric ancestors, they are all that
scholars have to guide them in attempting to reconstruct human activity throughout this period.
- there are notable tools and ornaments created by our forerunners during this old stone period.
First, we have the “Venus”, a carving of a voluptuous woman out of ivory of stone. It is not definite as to what this
carving means to the early humans, but historians infer that this is an ancient representation of beauty while for
some, a penchant for fertility. Fur clothing were also made from the fur of the animals they hunted. They also
invented pit houses, temporary shelters that they can bring with them and reassemble to a new location (due to
their lifestyle). Likewise, personal ornaments and crude (not polished) hunting tools made of stone were invented
during this time.

Mesolithic Period – Retreat of Glaciers this period marked the end of Ice Age, which resulted in the extinction of
many large mammals (like mammoths, seen on the slide) and rising sea levels and climate change that eventually
caused man to migrate. Humans used small stone tools (microliths), now also more polished and sometimes crafted
with points and attached to antlers, bone or wood to serve as spears and arrows. This tool was also used for digging
the ground and stitching clothes. They often lived nomadically in camps near rivers and other bodies of water.
Agriculture was introduced during this time, which led to more permanent settlements in villages.
Neolithic Period – finally, during the Neolithic period, ancient humans switched from hunter/gatherer mode to
agriculture and food production. They domesticated animals and cultivated cereal grains. They used polished hand
axes for ploughing and tilling the land and started to settle in the plains. Advancements were made not only in tools
but also in farming, home construction, and art, including pottery, sewing and weaving.

Bronze Age - during the Bronze Age, advances in metalworking were made, as bronze, a copper and tin alloy, was
discovered. Bronze is made up of 88% copper and 12% tin. Metals are obtained from ores (a naturally occurring solid
material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted) through smelting (see image for reference). Now
used for weapons and tools, the harder metal bronze replaced its stone predecessors and helped spark innovations,
including the ox-drawn plow (you may want to look this tool up to see how it looks) and the wheel. Organized
government, law and warfare, as well as beginnings of religion, also came into play during the Bronze Age. And since
we mentioned religion, it was during this time that ancient Egyptians built their pyramids to honor their dead
pharaohs. Likewise, the earliest written accounts, including Egyptian hieroglyphs and petroglyphs (rock engravings),
are also dated to this age.
Iron Age - Iron was first smelted from ore in South Caucasus (a region presently occupied by Armenia, Georgia, and
Azerbaijan). Smelting iron, a metal harder than copper and tin, requires a more intensive process and with the
development of better smelting pits (equipment for smelting) that the ability to produce higher temperatures paved
the way to the extraction of iron from ores. At this time, iron was seen as more precious than gold! Better (more
sturdy and reliable) agricultural tools were produced in this age making agriculture a lot easier than the previous
period. Agriculture, art, and religion all became more sophisticated, and writing systems and written documentation,
including alphabets, began to emerge, ushering in the early historical period.

Middle Ages - It is also known as the

medieval period and has started with the fall of the Roman Empire and has lasted for 1,000 years until 1450. The
beginning of the Middle Ages is called the Dark Ages because the great civilizations of Rome and Greece had been
conquered. Life in Europe was very hard in the Middle Ages. Very few people could read or write. Their lack of
knowledge often led to superstitious beliefs. The people thought that fate ruled their existence; therefore, there was
little hope for the improvement of their condition. During the years of the Roman Empire, the poor people were
protected by the emperor’s soldiers. When the empire fell, there were no laws to protect them, so they turned to
the lords to keep the peace and to act on their behalf. This willingness to be ruled by the lords led to the beginnings
of feudalism (see image). Some peasants were free, but most became serfs to a lord. This meant they were bound to
the lord’s land and paid very high rent to the lord. The peasants work the lands of their lords and are obliged to give
their lords homage, labor, and a share of the produce in exchange for military protection. While it is considered as
“dark ages” by some, there are still inventions that were used and produced during this era. Here are some of the
most notable inventions by Europeans in these times: horse collar that pulls on horse’s shoulders to enable it to
plough and carry wagons, watermill that rotates and generate electricity from that movement, magnetic compass
that provides direction to European mariners/conquistadors and of course the clock. These new inventions drove
economic growth in the region.
China: Middle Ages - while there was a decline in the economy and overall progress in the European region,
different countries in Asia flourished during this era. One of them is China. A lot of useful inventions were made by
medieval Chinese during these times. One is the seismoscope, an early type of seismograph that determine the
presence and direction of an earthquake. Likewise, Chinese paper making started in 140 BC but was officially used in
writing at a later time (105 AD). The early uses of this paper were for clothing, wall décor, artworks, and even in
toilets. Next, we have the magnetic compass. The first compasses were made of iodestone, a magnetized stone of
iron, in Han dynasty. The spoon in the photo shows the direction, and it is often used in divination (a ritual to see and
understand the future) during the Han dynasty. And last, we have the cannon that is used as weapons for military
activities. You have the acupuncture that utilizes needles for medical therapy, first movable type printing made from
pottery was developed, gun powder that was followed by vigorous development of explosive weapon about three
centuries before it appeared in Europe, wheel barrow to carry heavy loads and wagons to carry heavy loads as well
as carry royalties around when they need to travel.

India: Middle Ages - India also made notable inventions that are still beneficial until this present day. They were the
ones to divide a year in 12 months. They were also the ones to develop metallurgy (science of smelting). The
Ayurveda or Ayurvedic medicine was also developed during this time in India which is based on the belief that health
and wellness depend on a delicate balance between mind, body, and spirit. Its main goal is not to fight diseases but
to promote good health. With the Indians’ great minds, they were also able to develop the concepts square root and
linear equation. The Middle Ages, according to historians, ended after a European explored and colonized the
Americas.
Pre-Columbian America - Christopher Columbus, an Italian master navigator, completed four voyages across the
Atlantic Ocean that opened the way for European exploration, exploitation, and colonization of the Americas. So is it
correct to say that Columbus “discovered” the Americas? No! Because long before he invaded the region, there were
flourishing civilizations essential for us to note and discuss. These are the Maya, Aztec, and Inca. These civilizations
thrived not in the present day New York or in Texas but in the Mesoamerican region or Middle America which now
extends from central Mexico down through Central America including the territory which is now made up of the
countries Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Maya - the Mayans excelled at agriculture, pottery, hieroglyph writing, calendar-making, and mathematics, and left
behind an astonishing amount of impressive architecture and symbolic artwork. They made pyramids made out of
limestone as a display of their architectural prowess. Also, another notable fact about Mayans is that they used
cocoa beans as monetary units. And lastly, the most notable of these inventions is the Mayan solar calendar that
sparked intrigue and even fear some 8 years ago (2012). But note that neither the Mayans nor their calendar ever
predicted the end of the world. Only those who do not understand Mayan culture and ancient knowledge allowed
for this doomsday myth to spread by sharing false claims that the end of the Mayan calendar will also mean the end
of the world.
Aztec - Another civilization is the Aztec. They recorded astronomical observations in stone sculptures. They practiced
farming by slash and burn, meaning that they clear forested lands by cutting trees and plants and burning the
remaining vegetation to create a land for agriculture. Now, let me ask you, is this sustainable? Also, one peculiar
ritual of the Aztecs is the human sacrifice. They used razor-sharp obsidian blades and sliced open the chests of the
sacrificial humans and offered their still beating hearts to their gods.

Inca - Good thing that Incas do not perform human sacrifices, unlike the previous civilization. And contrary to the
Aztecs’ lash and burn technique, the Incas utilized more advanced farming method, which is terraces farming just
like what the Igorots did in Benguet. The animals you see there are llamas and alpacas from which they made their
clothes by removing these animals’ fluffy wool.
Scientific Revolution - Scientific revolution is the name given to this period of drastic change in scientific thought
that took place during the 16th and 17th centuries. It replaced the Greek view of nature (more on philosophical
rather than empirical) that had dominated science for almost 2,000 years ago. It is characterized by an emphasis on
abstract reasoning, quantitative thought, an understanding of how nature works, the view of nature as a machine,
and the development of an experimental scientific method. Also, the use of the printing machine, paved the way for
the faster spread of new ideas and discoveries. Scientists and scholars publish their works in order to spark interest
and even challenge contemporary ideologies at their time. This fast method of communication speed up the
scientific interest of people. And I hope we all can take something from this occurrence, that sharing the findings or
even usable products from our researches will definitely benefit the communities and even the entire country.

Scientific revolution is very significant in the development of human, formulation of scientific ideas, and
transformation of the society. When humans produce scientific ideas, it benefits the society and in turn, will
definitely benefit individual humans in the society and the cycle goes on. Just take a good look around you and be
grateful of the things that arose from the advancement of science.

The 3 Cs when merged are the characteristics of a scientist influencing the ideas, discoveries, and technologies
developed and produced. We can all agree with this – our science and technology will only be as good as our
scientists and skilled people. So, I hope you have these 3 Cs, creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking.

Some Intellectuals and Their Revolutionary Ideas

Nicolaus Copernicus - earlier, geocentrism, a model in which Earth was considered the center of the universe, was
the one generally believed to be true. It was proposed by Ptolemy of Alexandria. Nicolaus Copernicus proposed
heliocentrism in which sun is the center of the universe rather than the earth. It was later on proven to be true with
the invention of telescopes.

Johannes Kepler - The law of planetary motion only states that all planets revolve around the sun in an elliptical and
not circular orbits.

Isaac Newton - We have the law of inertia, acceleration, and interaction. Which law states that for every action,
there is an equal and opposite reaction? Which law states that an object at rest/in motion will remain at rest/in
motion unless acted upon by a force? And lastly, which law states that acceleration is produced when a force acts on
a mass?

Charles Darwin - Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of evolution in which he wrote a full account of in his book
entitled “On the Origin of Species.” This theory states that diverse groups of animals evolve from one or a few
common ancestors.

Sigmund Freud - Sigmund Freud’s theory of personality revolved around the three components of the mind, namely
the id, ego, and superego. The id is made up of the unconscious psychic energy that works to satisfy basic urges,
needs, and desires. The superego is composed of people’s internalized ideals (what is right and what is wrong)
acquired from parents and society and works to suppress the impulsive urges. Lastly, the ego mediates the demands
of the id, superego, and reality.

Industrial Revolution - The industrial revolution marked a period of development in the latter period of the 18th
century that transformed largely rural, agrarian societies in Europe and America into industrialized, urban ones. This
era is the time when the manufacture of goods moved from small shops and homes to large factories. This brought
about changes in culture as people moved from rural areas to big cities in order to work. This revolution started in
the Great Britain. So my question is, why? How did this nation able to shift from agrarian to industrialized? Will you
kindly pause the video and try to think about what are these machines, techniques in textiles, and iron making
developed during this revolution? If you are not familiar, we highly recommend you to do some research about the
inventions and scientists during this period. We will be asking these questions during or after the lecture during our
class

What is Information? Before we proceed with the next period let us first define what information is. Information is
knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction.

Gutenberg Revolution - The first European to successfully use movable type printing was Johannes Gutenberg. The
books printed using these presses in the beginning of the Gutenberg era are called incunabula (cradle or birthplace).
The first book of any note to be printed with movable type printer was Gutenberg’s bible, published in 1456. Copies
are still in existence up to this date. With this type of printer, the passing of information was made easier compared
to when this printing press is still not available. But as we all know, we have now transitioned to the digital age. Let’s
proceed to the next slide.

Post-Gutenberg Revolution - This revolution’s hallmark was the use of computers, internet, and other information
technologies such as the world wide web. Now, we are able to upload and download any material about anything
under the sun with ease and convenience. Therefore, the passing of information is easier compared to the previous
ones (e.g. via printing machines). But as we all know, these technologies have great potential both to benefit and to
harm the societies that embrace them.

Information Age - The information age began around the 1970s and is still going on today. It is also known as the
computer age, digital age, or new media age. This era brought about a time period in which people could access
information and knowledge easily. This brought about changes in the society from traditionally industrialized to one
reliant on information computerization.

Rise of the Digital Age The modern computer was born out of the urgent necessity after the second world war to
face the challenge of Nazism through innovation. But the first iteration of the computer as we now understand it
came much earlier when, in the 1830s, an inventor named Charles Babbage designed a device called the analytical
engine. It was a general-purpose device that could compute many different problems. It was to be digital, automatic,
mechanical, and controlled by variable programs. In short, it would solve any calculation you wished. It would be the
first computer.