LESSON 2

Evidences of Science and Technology during

Ancient Times
(3500 B.C.- 1200 in the Old world)

Content Standard:
The learners demonstrate an understanding of the development of Science and
Technology during Ancient times.

Learning Outcomes:
The students will be able to:
1. Describe the development of Science and technology during ancient times;
2. Determine and recognize the significance of the development of science and technology
during ancient times and its impact to society.

Word Bank:
Sumerian, clay tablet, cuneiform, Babylonian, Hammurabi, Egyptian, Hieroglyphics,
embalming

DISCUSSION

First civilizations emerged independent of one another along fertile river valleys in
(Tigris-Euphrates), Egypt (Nile), china (Huang Ho valley), and India, People developed a
unique way of life, religion, form of government, language and system of writing, arts and
crafts, advances of science and technology: They grew plants and agriculture, medicine,
mathematics, engineering, and architecture. domesticated animals and settled down in
places.

I. Sumerian civilization (Sumer, Mesopotamia (Iraq)

Location: Sumer was the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq
and Kuwait). It is cradle of the world's earliest known civilization and was first
established in the region in about 3600 BC. It is also known as the the first cities’ in the
world. It transformed families into tribes that occupied territories which soon became
cities and later were called the states.

Science and Technology Development:

a. Cuneiform is the first writing system, it is a set of word pictures depicted in symbols
made of triangular marks around 3100 BC. Pictograms or drawings representing
actual things, were the basis for cuneiform writing.
 b. Sumerian clay tablet – contains the Sumerian historical information and culture. It
began as record keeping for trade and evolved into the use of symbols for writing
down Jaws and stories.
c. The concept of the wheel actually grew out of a mechanical device that the
Sumerians had invented shortly after 3500 B.C.—the potter's wheel. This was a heavy
flat disk made of hardened clay. It was spun horizontally on ah axis to allow the
potter to form evenly. The Sumerians simply turn this clay-splattered wheel on its
end and hook it to a wagon to make a wheel as a means of practical method for
moving heavy objects from one location to another.
.

d. Sailboat was also first invented by Ancient Mesopotamia. Five thousand years ago
Mesopotamians started using sailing boats. Since Mesopotamia was situated
between two famous rivers, namely the Euphrates and the Tigris, they needed water
transportation for travel and trade.
e. The Sumerians were among the first astronomers, mapping the movement of stars,
planets and into sets of constellations, many of which survived in the zodiac and
were also recognized by ancient Greeks.
f. Sumerians were also recognized for building the foundation of logic, mathematics,
engineering, architecture, agriculture, transportation and medicine;
g. Sexagesimal system of counting in units of 60 which served as the basis of 360-degree
circle and the 60-minute hour.
h. Developed systematized technique of farming: seed plow and irrigation
i. Wool from sheep made into textiles, mastered the arts of bleaching and dyeing

II. Babylonian Civilization

Location: Babylonia was the ancient region bordering the Tigris and Euphrates river
(Iraq). Babylon is the capital, and served as commercial and religious center in the Tigris-
Euphrates valley.
Science and Technology Development:
a. Hammurabi (1792-1750 B.C.), the first leader of the old Babylonian Empire,
promulgated the famous law code that served as rule and standards which heléed
maintain a period of stability in this region, as well as the establishment of science
and technology.
b. Nebuchadnezzar Il was the Neo Babylonian Emperor who ordered the construction
of the famous hanging Gardens of Babylons” (one of the seven wonders of the world)
and the Isthar Gate.
c. Contributed to the development of science and technology such as: irrigation system
of canals flanked by earthen dikes; system of book keeping, double entry accounting,
multiplication and division tables and calculations using geometry.
d. Adopted the Sumerian sexagesimal system of counting in units of 60; made accurate
predictions of solar and lunar eclipses and other astronomical phenomena.

Ill. Egyptian Civilization

Location: Situated in the northeastern part of the African continent, Egypt is located
along the Nile River which provided a fertile delta.

Science and Technology Development:

Ancient Egypt depended on the waters of the River Nile, which flows through harsh
and arid desert. The Nile river gave life to the civilization of Egypt. The early settlers were
animal hunters, they were nomadic. Later changed their lifestyle to be farmland settlers.
Agriculture was supported mainly by extensive irrigation system.

Ancient Egyptians learned to heat metal ore (copper, gold and bronze) and made
weapons and utensils. They may have been the first people to learn how to make glass
(glass-blowing). They learned how to heat sand in very hot furnace and then blow the
molten sand into glass. They made glass jars and glass beads.
Egyptian writing wrote with ink and brushes on paper made of papyrus reeds; their
writing was in the form of pictorial symbols known as hieroglyphics. Their knowledge of
human anatomy, physiology surgery and medical plants enabled them to master the art and
science of embalming their dead.

Created the calendar based on the phases of the moon, consisting of 29 and 1/2 days.
The first 365-day calendar was devised by IMHOTEP, early in the Old Kingdom. They were
the first to divide the day into 24 hours, calculated the time by means of water clock. Their
interest in Astronomy was focused on the stars and early calendar was based on the
appearance and disappearance of stars Sirius, the brightest in their horizon which coincide with
the annual rise and fall of the Nile river, help them forecast the seasons and predict the annual
flooding on the Nile river.

They were engaged in Pottery of various shapes and sizes artistically done such as
pots, jars, cups and bowls, they built houses made of sun-dried mud bricks. Pyramids still
stand today as the monumental evidence of the scientific expertise and technical skills of the
ancient Egyptians in geometry, engineering, architecture and labor management. Iconic
monuments such as the Giza Necropolis and its Great Sphinx, as well as the Ruins of
Memphis, and the Valley of the Kings, reflect this legacy and remain a significant focus of
archaeological study. The Giza Necropolis is the oldest of the ancient wonders and the only
one still in existence.
The Egyptians also engaged in ship building; Construction of canals, dikes and
ditches with outlet system; Planted wheat, barley. Food was broiled, baked, stewed, fried,
grilled or roasted. They bred ducks, geese, pigs, goats, cattle and sheep; Manufactured
soaps, creams, oils, perfumes and eye make-up.

Pyramid Papyrus

IV. Cretan (Minoan) Civilization

Location: arose on the island of Crete and other Aegean islands such as Santorini and
flourished from approximately 2600 to 1400 BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of
the 20th century through the work of British archaeologist Arthur Evans. Will Durant
referred to it as "the first link in the European chain." Minoan civilization was an
Aegean Bronze Age civilization, ruled by King Minos. Knossos was the capital of Crete,
the grandest site of Bronze age palaces, built between 2100 and 1575 B.C. Crete is a
mountainous island with natural harbors located midway between Turkey, Egypt and
Greece.

Science and Technology Development:

The Minoans were primarily a mercantile people engaged in overseas trade. Their
culture, from 1700 BC onward, shows a high degree of organization. Many historians and
archaeologists believe that the Minoans were involved in the Bronze Age's important tin
trade: tin, alloyed with copper apparently was from Cyprus. Crete became the central
exporter of wine, oil, jewelry, and highly crafted works; in turn, they became importers of
raw materials and food. In the process they built the first major navy ship in the world. Its
primary purpose, however, was trade, not war or conquest.

Minoans made sophisticated carved statues, ceramics, frescoes, jewels, and

inscriptions on these showed their knowledge of mathematics, engineering, and
architecture which were applied scientifically and artistically. They constructed well
drainage system, public halls, courtyards, and religious shrines. They were skilled in ship
building.

The Minoan cities were connected with stone-paved roads, formed from blocks cut
with bronze saws. Streets were with good drainage and water and sewer facilities were
available to the upper class, through clay pipes. Houses built from sandstone, gypsum, or
limestone often had flat tiled roofs; plaster, wood, or flagstone floors, that stood two to three
storeys high. Typically, the lower walls were constructed of stone and rubble, and the upper
walls of mudbrick. Ceiling timbers held up the roofs.
The Minoans raised cattle, sheep and goats and grew wheat, barley, lettuce, celery,
asparagus, carrots, peas, grapes, pears, figs, olives and poppies for poppy seed and perhaps
opium. The Minoans also domesticated bees.

They developed Mediterranean polyculture, the practice of growing more than one
crop at a time. Their more varied and healthy diet resulted in the growth of population.
Theoretically this method of farming would maintain the fertility of the soil, as well as offer
protection against low yields in any single crop.

Around 1600, B.C., Akrotiri was shaken by a violent earthquake. Sometime later, an
eruption occurred. The Theran eruption was one of largest in human history—blasting more
than 10 million tons of ash, gas, and rock 25 miles into the atmosphere. Incredibly, despite
Crete's close proximity to the volcano, the debris from Thera largely missed the major
Minoan towns. 50 years later the civilization was wiped out. Earthquakes and fires
destroyed Knossos and the other palaces and the towns were deserted.
 DO YOU KNOW?

Clay tablets were used as a writing medium, especially

for in cuneiform. Cuneiform characters were imprinted
on a wet clay tablet with a stylus often made of reed pen.
the Sumerians used a wooden stylus to place simple
shapes and lines into moist clay, which were then baked
until hard. This form of writing became known as
cuneiform because of the wedge-shaped markings made
in the clay. The Sumerians had enormous libraries of clay
tablets containing their laws, business transactions, and
literature.

Obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering

monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the
top. These were originally called "tekhenu" by the
builders of the Ancient Egyptians.

Sundial or shadow clock was used by the Egyptian

about 1000-1500 BC. This instrument will tell time by
means of the shadow casted by the object as reflected
by the sun. The gnomon is the shadow-producing
device, usually a metal plate set parallel to the earth's
axis and pointing toward the celestial pole.