LESSON 1:

HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

What Will You Learn From this?

This section tackles how social contexts shaped and was shaped by science and technology across
three historical periods; ancient period, middle ages, and modern ages. The developments in this field are
not just products of people’s imagination or a one-time thought process; they are also brought about by
gradual improvements to earlier works.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. discuss the historical antecedents of science and technology across time

2. identify the tools that were invented in three historical periods
3. show the importance of inventions and discoveries that changed the world over the course of
history

Let’s Read.
An antecedent is defined as a precursor to the unfolding or existence of something. The history of
science and technology focuses on how science and technology have changed across time. Also, it
explores the impacts of scientific and technological innovations on social, cultural, political and economic
context.

By understanding how previous generations influenced and were influenced by the developments in
science and technology, today’s generation can come up with informed decisions on the proper
application of science and technology to daily life.

ANCIENT PERIOD

The rise of ancient civilizations paved the way for advances in science and technology. These
advances during the Ancient period allowed civilizations to flourish by finding
better ways of communication, transportation, self-organization, and of living in
general.

Cuneiform. One of the major contributions of the Sumerians is the development

of the first writing system. They invented cuneiform to allow them to keep records
of things with great historical value or their everyday life.

Figure 2. The Cuneiform

The Great Ziggurat. Another engineering and architectural feat of the Sumerians, it
is also called the mountain of god. The structure was constructed using sun-baked
 bricks. The ziggurat served as the sacred place of their chief god, where only
priests were allowed to enter.
Figure 3. The Ziggurat: Ancient
Temple to the Gods

Sumerian Wheel. These were not made for transportation but for farm work and food
processes. With the use of the wheel and axle, mass production was made easier.

Figure 4. A Sumerian Wheel

Potter’s Wheel. A heavy flat disk made of hardened clay which was spun horizontally on an axis. It is
believed that the Sumerians invented the potter’s wheel.

Paper. The ancient Egyptians began writing on papyrus, a material similar to thick paper. It is made from
the pith of the papyrus plant Cyperus papyrus. With the advent of the Papyrus, documentation and record
keeping became efficient. Figure 5. The Edwin Smith Papyrus
Figure 6. Heiroglyphics language

Hieroglyphics. A system of writing using symbols developed by Egyptians. They believed

that this writing system was provided to them by their gods. Hieroglyphics was the
language that tells the modern world of the history and culture of the ancient
Egyptians.

Shadoof. A hand-operated device used for lifting water. It was an early tool
invented and used by ancient Egyptians, who lived near the Nile River. Because
of this invention, irrigation and farming became much more efficient.

Figure 7. Egyptian’s Shadoof

Antikythera mechanism. Discovered in 1902 and retrieved from the waters of Antikythera, Greece. It is
similar to a mantle clock, thus it is widely believed that it was used to predict astronomical positions and
eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes.

Aeolipile. It is also known as Hero’s engine. A steam-

powered
turbine which spun when the water container at its center
was
heated thus makes it practically the first rudimentary steam
engine.

MIDDLE AGES Figure 9. Hero’s engine

Figure 8. A fragment of Antikythera Mechanism

Wars were prevalent during this time. As such, great technology

was needed in the fields of weaponry, navigation, mass food and farm
production, and health.
Heavy Plough. Through the invention of heavy plough, it became possible
to
harness clay soil. It stirred an agricultural revolution marked by higher and
healthier agricultural yields and more efficient agricultural practices.

Figure 10. An impression of

heavy plough

Gun powder. Around 850 AD, Chinese alchemist accidentally invented

black
powder or gun powder. Since its invention, the gunpowder has allowed for
more advanced warfare from fiery arrows to cannons and grenades.

Figure 11. A chines warrior using gun

powder
Paper Money. The first known versions of paper money is similar to
stamping. Traders and merchants realized the huge advantage of using paper
money because it was easier to transport.

Figure 12. The paper money

Mechanical Clock. The development of mechanical clocks paved the way for accurately keeping track of
time. It changed the way days were spent and work patterns were established, particularly in the more
advanced Middle Age cities.

Spinning Wheel. A machine used for transforming fiber into

thread
or yarn and eventually woven into cloth on a loom. Prior to its
invention, weaving was done predominantly and it sped up the
rate
at which fiber could be spun.
Figure 14. Spinning Wheel Figure 13. A
medieval
mechanical clock

Printing press. Invented by Johannes Gutenberg for more reliable way of

printing using a cast type. Printing press was invented to address the need
for
publishing books that would spread to many people at a faster rate.

Figure 15. Gutenberg’s Printing Press

MODERN AGES

As the world population increased, people of the modern ages realized the utmost importance of
increasing the efficiency of transportation, communication and production.
Industrialization took place with greater risks in human health, food and safety,
and environment.

Compound microscope. Zacharias Janssen is credited for the invention of the first
compound microscope in 1950, together with his father Hans. It was capable of
magnifying objects three times their size when fully closed and up to ten times
when extended to the maximum.
 Figure 16. Janssen’s compound microscope

Telescope. Galileo Galilei’s remarkable technological contribution. It drastically

changed the study of astronomy and it became clear that the universe is far larger
than previously imagined and the Erath is far smaller compared to the entire
universe.

Figure 17. Galileo Galilei’s

Telescope

Engine-Powered Airplane. Orville Wright and Wilbur and projected colored images in 1928.
Wright are credited for designing and operating the first
engine-powered aircraft. They demonstrated this by
showing the slightly-tilted wings, which they referred to as
aeroplanes. Figure 18. The flight of the Flying Machine

of Wright Brothers

Television. The Scottish engineer John Logie Baird is

largely credited for the invention of the modern television.
Baird successfully televised objects in outline in 1924, Figure 19.
recognizable human faces in 1925, moving objects in 1926
Baird’s television

Telephone. This invention of Alexander Graham Bell became important at that time. More people got
connected and can easily maintain these connections with each other in real time.

Figure 20. Bell’s Telephone

Let’s Try
A. Instruction: Answer the following questions briefly.
1. What have you noticed to the scientific and technological developments among the three historical
periods?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. How did the developments in science and technology shape human history?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Among the different inventions mentioned on this lesson, which of those gave a large impact or
contribute a lot on your daily life? Explain.
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Let’s See What You Have Learned

A. Instruction: Identify on which each statement is pertaining to. Write it on the blank provided before the
number.
_________________1. It is defined as the precursor to the unfolding or existence of something.
_________________2. It is similar to stamping. Traders and merchants realized the huge advantage of
using this because it was easier to transport.
_________________3. A hand-operated device used for lifting water. It was an early tool invented and
used by ancient Egyptians, who lived near the Nile River.
_________________4. It was capable of magnifying objects three times their size when fully closed and
up to ten times when extended to the maximum.
_________________5. The first writing system invented by the Sumerians to allow them to keep records
of things with great historical value or their everyday life.
_________________6. It paved the way for accurately keeping track of time. It changed the way days
were spent and work patterns were established.
_________________7. It is a steam-powered turbine which spun when the water container at its center
was heated.
_________________8. They invented gunpowder.
_________________9. He invented the telescope.
_________________10. He is largely credited for the invention of the modern television.

B. Instruction: Identify the historical period on which each invention were created. Write your answer on
the blank.

_________________1. Telephone
_________________2. Gunpowder
_________________3. Hieroglyphics
_________________4. Sumerian wheel
_________________5. Printing press