Science and Technology in Ancient Times

• People were concerned with transportation and navigation, communication and record keeping, mass
production, security and protection, as well as health, aesthetics and architecture.

Ancient Mesopotamians

Sumerian are known for their contribution with the first writing system called as cuneiform.

 convey ideas on trade and communicate using a tool known as the ‘stylus’.
 The term came from the Latin ‘cuneus’ for “wedge” as the words written by pressing a wedge-
like stylus into the clay tablets.

The Wheel and Sail

 used largely for the ‘potter’s wheel’,

 which later was used for carts, chariots to facilitate transportation. 􀀀 basis for the creation of
the sail where the effect of the wind on a sail was used to navigate bodies of water.

Challenge to mass produced food, they invented plowing, irrigation and dikes and wheel for farming.

• Throughout the existence of this civilization, their main mode of transportation was through
waterways such as rivers and seas.

• They are also known to develop the first road.

MATHEMATICS

Sexagesimal numeral system with the mathematical operations, quadratic and cubic equations and
fractions. Sexagesimal place-notation based on the concept of 60.

ASTRONOMY

Celestial phenomenon through observatories used astronomy to chart the stars, which subsequently led
to the creation of the calendar.

MEDICINE

Signs and symptoms of illnesses and diseases provided facts 􀀀 Code of Hammurabi found the earliest
evidence of an understanding of the concepts of diagnosis, prognosis, physical examination and
prescriptions. Medicines were also developed and found in the herbal handbook in the Library of
Ashurbanipal, which revealed the descriptions of the herbs and their indications.

Babylonian Civilization

Babylonian civilization, which emerged near Tigris and Euphrates River were famous for being great
builders, engineers and architects. One of major contributions is the hanging garden of Babylon which
one of the seven wonders of the world.
Egyptian Civilization

 It is known for its renowned archaeological artifact like the death mask of Tutankhamen and
Pyramid of Giza.
 Also, ancient Egyptians are known for their earlier contributions like water clock or clypsedra,
paper or papyrus, ink and a system of writing known as hieroglyphics.
 They have also invented cosmetics for aesthetic reason. Meanwhile, during this time, wigs were
worn by wealthy Egyptian to protect the shave of the heads from the harmful rays of the sun.
 The famous pharoah Hatshepsut- the rock cut tomb in the Valley of the King for the pharoah
Tutankhamun
 Imhotep- Egypt’s first engineer; the Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx which were built as
tombs of pharoahs found in the Nile.

Greek and Roman Science

 Major achievements of Greeks include in-depth works on Philosophy and Mathematics.

 They are also celebrated for their contribution to the world like coliseum, Olympics, alarm clock
and water mill.

Roman Empire

Roman Empire was considered to be the cradle of politics and governance and model in terms of
codified laws and legislation.

 newspaper, bound books or codex.

 In terms of architecture and engineering, Romans are known for building elaborate churches,
basilicas, aqueducts, coliseums, amphitheaters and residential houses.
 They have also devised their own number system which is the Roman Numeral System.

Anaximenes (c. 586- c. 526 BC)

 pioneer thinker in the Western world

 aer (“mist”, “vapor”, “air”) is the fundamental substance of which all natural things are made.
 The spread out, invisible, infinite air condenses and then formed into clouds and precipitates.
 His ideas became the foundation for understanding the existence of different substances,
materials, and elements according to atomic arrangements.

Hippocrates (c. 460 BC- c. 375 BC)

 a Greek doctor who developed the tradition of systematic medical science.

 Father of Medicine
 He was credited as the first individual who reiterated that all diseases are caused by natural
causes and not because of superstitious beliefs.
Ptolemy (AD 127-145)

 Caludius Ptolemaeus/Ptolemy from Alexandria is an ancient astronomer, geographer, and

mathematician.
 Ptolemic system- he considered the Earth as the center of the universe.
 His astronomical work is found in the book ‘He mathematike syntaxis’ or the Mathematical
Collection.
 Pro-astrological authority of the highest magnitude

Aristotle (384-322 BC)

 developed the concept of scientific method

 stated that the sun goes around the earth at it is a natural phenomenon which has a specific
cause based on order.
 He placed the earth at the center of the cosmos with the terrestrial and celestial regions made
up of different elements; earth, water, air and fire.
 Aristotelian astronomical theories explained the observed irregular motion of celestial bodies in
multiple uniform circular motions.

Socrates (470-399 BC)

 Greek philosopher from Athens.

 considered as the most authoritative founders of Western Philosophy
 applied philosophy in the study of human nature and knowledge, which brought forth the rise of
the ‘Socratic Method’ used to search for truths through science.

Plato (424/423-38/347 BC)

 Athenian philospher in ancient Greece. He founded the Platonist school of thought as well as
the ‘Academy’
 Reiterated o the harmony between the three parts of the soul which includes the reason, spirit
and appetite.

China

 known for the silk trade, tea production, gun powder and the living legend great wall of China.

Science and Technology in Middle Ages

 marred by the massive invasions and migrations.

 Wars are prevalent during this time. Trade and commerce among nations increased, which
resulted in greater demands for transportation technology. Some of the most innovative minds
came from this period.

This general invention soon evolved to be the mechanical printing press which was eventually used all
over the world. The printing press was invented to address the need of publishing books that would
spread information to many people at a faster rate. This invention also made works accessible to
individuals who could not even write (Streissguth, 1997). Johann Gutenberg Printing Press

 Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the first compound microscope (Davidson, 2015).
  The invention of the telescope, an optical instrument that helps in the observation of remote
objects, was a great help for navigators during this time.

 cross bows and long bows

 Additionally, on close range hand-to-hand combat, soldiers should wear something to protect
themselves, a need addressed by the creation of iron body armors.
 Chainmail

Science and Technology in Modern Times

Nineteenth century onwards demanded that more goods to be produced at faster rate. People needed
efficient means of transportations to trade more goods and cover a large distance. Machines that
required animals to operate must thus be upgraded. Faster and easier means to communicate and
compute should be developed to establish connections between and among nations.

Food processing and medicine posed some of the bigger challenges since health was of great concern.

 Louis Pasteur, a French biologist, microbiologist and chemist found a way to solve the problem.
 Pasteurization, the process of heating dairy products to kill the harmful bacteria that allow them
to spoil faster.
 Other contributions of Pasteur to Science and Technology and Medicine included his works on
molecular asymmetry, fermentation and vaccination.
 Kerosene
 petroleum refinery industry
 invention of telephone by Alexander Graham Bell was one of the most important inventions at
that time.

The creation of modern calculators did not only pave the way for easier arithmetic calculations, but also
resulted in the development of more complex processing machines like computer.