HISTORICAL

ANTECEDENTS
1. In the World: Ancient, Middle
and Modern Ages
Learning Objectives
Discuss the historical antecedents of
science and technology across time;
and

Explain how Philippine scientific and

technological inventions shaped and
were shaped by various social contexts.
HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS
It focuses on how science and technology
have changed across time.
It also explores the impacts of scientific and
technological innovations on the prevailing
social, cultural, political and economic
contexts throughout history.
An antecedent is defined as precursor to the
unfolding or existence of something.

Historical antecedents in science and

technology are factors that paved the way for
the presence of advanced and sophisticated
scientific and technological innovations today.

Knowledge of science and technology is useful in

appraising these innovations today.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Pre-Historic Time
Human artifacts (stones used for chopping and
scrapping, found primarily in Eastern Africa)
Earliest record of science in Mesopotamian cultures (400
B.C)
▪ disease symptoms
▪ Chemical substances
▪ Astronomical observations
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Pre-Historic Time
Information on the treatment of wounds and
diseases and some mathematical calculations
(angles, rectangles, and triangles and volume of
portion of pyramid) in Nile Valley of Egypt.

Euclid the founder of modern geology.

Archimedes founder of engineering mechanics.

 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.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Ancient Period
Ancient Wheel

Grew out from a mechanical devise

called the potter’s wheel- a heavy
flat disk made of hardened clay
which was spun horizontally on an
axis.

Invented by Sumerians after 3500 BC

 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Ancient Period
Paper

Roughly around 300 BC

Egyptians began writing on papyrus, a

material similar to thick paper. Papyrus
is made from the pith of the papyrus
plant cyperus papyrus.

Before the Egyptians invented the

papyrus, writing was done on stone.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Ancient Period
Shadoof

The shadoof was an early tool invented

and used by Egyptians to irrigate land.

Egyptians who lived near the Nile river,

irrigation was necessary to water their
crops.

Its invention introduced the idea of lifting

things using counterweights.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Ancient Period
Antikythera Mechanism

Even before the invention of the antecedents of the

modern computer, the Greeks had already invented
the ancient world’s analog computer orrery.

It is similar to a mantel clock.

It is wisely believed that the Antikythera mechanism

was used to predict astronomical positions and
eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Ancient Period
Aeolipile
Also known as Hero’s engine. It is widely believed to
ne the ancient precursor of the steam engine.

It is a steam-powered turbine which spun when the

water container at its center was heated, thus making
it practically the first rudimentary steam engine.

A roman author, architect, a civil engineer, described

the aeolipile as a scientific invention through which
“the mighty and wonderful laws of the heavens and
the nature of winds” may be understood and judge.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Bronze Age
Copper was discovered for finding pigments used to color
the human skin.

Alloying the copper with tin resulted into bronze which in

those days were used to make swords and other weapons.

Today, we use it to build machinery, medals, statues, belts

and shoe buckles.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
URBANIZATION
Development of large city, and the first city popped.

First pyramid was built in Egypt – the most outstanding

development in Science and technology and are still
marvel up to the present.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
MIDDLE AGES

Gave birth to many scientific and technological

development.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
MIDDLE AGES
Heavy Plough

It harness clay soil.

The heavy plough stirred an agricultural

revolution in Northern Europe marked by
higher and healthier agricultural yields
and more efficient agricultural purposes.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
MIDDLE AGES
Gunpowder

Chinese alchemist accidentally invented

black powder or gunpowder.

The gunpowder has prompted foundation

for the functionality of almost every new
weapon used in war since its invention.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
MIDDLE AGES
Paper Money

Traced back to the Chinese in 17th

century AD as an offshoot of the
invention of block printings, which is
similar to stamping.

It made the transportation easier

compared to the previous forms of
currencies.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
MIDDLE AGES
Mechanical Clock

It paved the way for accurately keeping

track of time.

The sophistication of clockwork technology

of the mechanical clock drastically
changed the way days were spent and
work patterns were established, particularly
in the more advanced Middle Ages cities.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
MIDDLE AGES
Spinning Wheel

A machine used for transforming fiber into

thread or yarn and eventually woven into
cloth on a loom.

Prior to the invention of spinning wheel,

weaving was done predominantly through
the more time-consuming and tedious
process of hand spinning.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
RENAISSANCE ERA
Europe – rebirth of knowledge
Printing press (books)
Leonardo da Vinci, a great pioneer in Arts, Architecture,
Engineering and Science, stressed the importance of
experiment. (series of notebooks with observations on
anatomy, cloud formations, plans for sites, military
inventions, tanks, flying machines and submarines)
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Modern Ages
As the world population steadily 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 safety, and environment which had to be
addressed as scientific and technological progress unfolded
at an unimaginable speed.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Modern Ages
Compound Microscope

Zacharias Janssen is credited for the invention of the

first compound microscope in 1590.
Janssen’s compound microscope was an important
progression from the single lens microscope.
It was capable of magnifying objects three times
their size when fully closed and up to ten times when
extended to the maximum.
Today, the compound microscope is an important
instrument in may scientific studies.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Modern Ages
Telescope

Invented by Galileo Galilei

This invention could magnify objects 20 times
larger than the Dutch perspective glasses.
He was the first man used the telescope
skyward and made important astronomical
discoveries, and identified the presence of
craters and mountains on the moon.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Modern Ages
Jacquard Loom

Prior to the invention of Jacquard loom, a draw loom

was used which required two individuals to operate-
“the weaver and draw boy”
The Jacquard loom has series of cards with punched
holes automatically created complex textile designs
and made mass production easier.
It is also an important antecedent of modern computer
technology as it demonstrated the use of punched
cards to instruct a machine to carry out complex tasks.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Modern Ages
Engine-Powered Airplane

Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright are credited for

designing and successfully operating the first engine-
powered aircraft.
Their pioneering success marked an age of powered
flights.
Sans modern knowledge on aerodynamics and a
comprehensive understanding of the working of aircraft
wings and Wright brothers paved the way of modern
aircraft technology.
 In the World: Ancient, Middle and
Modern Ages
Modern Ages
Television

Engineer John Logie Baird is

largely credited for the invention
of the modern television.
British Broadcasting Corporation
used this for its earliest television
programming in 1929.
 MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(1600 A.D)
Galileo Galilei
Galileo was the first to use modern
scientific methods based on experiment
and testable observations.
Discovery of spyglass use for identifying
ships before entering harbor. Its
magnification is from eight up to thirty
times and is now called telescope.
Discover craters and mountains on the
moon.
Invented thermometer.
 MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(1600 A.D)
Isaac Newton
Defines the laws of gravity
and planetary motion, co-
founded calculus, and
explained the laws of light
and color.
 MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(1600 A.D)
Albert Einstein
The most famous scientist of
20th century. Work on quantum
theory to nuclear power and
the atom bomb.
 MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(1600 A.D)

Modern technology
Industrial revolution brought the beginning of factories
being built to produce goods and massive quantity.

1800
The light bulb began to replace lamp and oil lamps.
 MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(1600 A.D)

20th century
Gave birth to the radio, the first car to run with engine
power. The first an went to space in a rocket. The
beginning of communication, electronic and computer
era.