EVIDENCES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DURING:
ANCIENT TIMES
(3500 B.C.- 1200 IN THE
OLD WORLD)
First civ ili z at io n s
emerged in d e p e n de n t
of one a n o th e r a lo n g
fertile ri v er v a l le y s in

Mesopoto m ia (T ig ri s-

Euphrates),
Egyp t(N ile ), Ch in a

(Huan g H o V a lle y)

and India.
Sumerian
Civilization
located in Sumer, the southernmost region of
ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq and Kuwait now).
the earliest known civilization and was the
first established in the region in about 3600 BC.
“first cities”
“states”
Science and
Technology
Development
of Sumerians
 CUNEIFORM
the first writing system
a set of word pictures depicted in symbols of
triangular marks around 3100 BC.
Pictograms or drawings symbolizing actual
things were the basis for Cuneiform writing
CUNEIFORM
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 laws
and stories.
SUMERIAN CLAY TABLET
The concept of Wheel
Sumerians come up with the concept of
wheels that will carry their wagons after
they invented the potter’s wheel shortly
after 3500 BC. This was a heavy flat disk
made up of hardened clay. 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 place to
another.
 Sailboat
This is also invented by Ancient
Mesopotamia. Sumerians used this for water
transportation and trade in the two famous
rivers, namely the Euphrates and Tigris.
Sumerians were among the first astronomers, mapping the
movement of stars, planet and moon into sets of
constellations, many of which survived in zodiac and were
also recognized by ancient Greeks. They were also recognized
for building the foundations of logic, mathematics,
engineering, architecture, agriculture, transportation and
medicine.
 Sumerians also developed systematized technique of
farming such as seed plow and irrigation. They also used
wool from sheep into textiles, mastered the arts of
bleaching and dyeing.
They also used sexagesimal system of counting in units of
60 which served as the basis of 360 degree circle and the
60-minute hour.
SEED PLOW
Babylonian
Civilization
It is located in Babylonia, the ancient region
bordering the Tigris and Euphrates river. It is the
capital, and served as commercial and religious
center in the Tigris and Euphrates valley.
Science and
Technology
Development of
Babylonians
Science and Technology Development
of Babylonians
Code of Hammurabi
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”, this
is the famous code enacted by Hammurabi,
the first leader of old Babylonian Empire.
This served as rule and standards which
helped maintain a period of stability in this
region, as well as the establishment of
science and technology.
Hanging Gardens
Hanging Gardens of Babylons is Described
as a remarkable feat of engineering with an
ascending series of tiered gardens
containing a wide variety of trees, shrubs,
and vines, resembling a large green
mountain constructed of mud bricks, and
said to have been built in the ancient city of
Babylon. The construction of this and the
Isthar Gate was ordered by King
Nebuchadnezzar II. This place is now
considered as one of the seven wonders of
the world.
Babylonians 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.
They also adopted the Sumerian’s sexagesimal system that
made accurate predictions of solar and lunar eclipses and
other astronomical phenomena.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
It is located in the northeastern part of the
African continent, Egypt is located along the
Nile River which provided a fertile delta The
success of ancient Egyptian civilization came
partly from its ability to adapt to the
conditions of the Nile river valley for
agriculture.
Science and
Technology
Development
of Egyptians
Ancient Egypt depended on the
waters of the Nile River, which
flows through harsh and arid
desert. The Nile River gave life to
the civilization of Egypt. The early
settlers were nomadic animal
hunters and later change their
lifestyle as farmland settlers. Their
agriculture was supported mainly
by extensive irrigation system from
the Nile River.
They learned how to heat metal
ore such as copper, gold and
bronze to make weapons and
utensils. Egyptians may have
been the first people to learn
how to make glass. They learned
how to heat sand in a very hot
furnace and then blow the
molten sand into glass products
such as jars and beads.
Egyptian writing was in
the form of pictorial
symbols known as
hieroglyphics. It is being
written in a paper made
of papyrus reeds
with ink and brushes.
 Their knowledge of
human anatomy,
physiology, surgery and
medical plants enabled
them to master the art
and science of
embalming their dead
through mummification.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT OF EGYPTIANS

Sundial or shadow clock was used by

Egyptians to tell time by means of the
shadow casted by the object as reflected by
the sun..

Obelisk is originally called “tekhenu”, a tall,

four-sided, narrow tapering monument
which ends in a pyramid-like shapeat the top.
Egyptians created calendar based on the phases of the moon,
consisting of 29 and ½ days. The first 365-day calendar was devised
by IMHOTEP. 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 star in
their horizon, helped them predict the seasons and annual flooding on
the Nile River.
EGYPTIANS’ CALENDAR
EGYPTIANS’ WATERCLOCK
They were engaged into
pottery of various shapes
and sizes such as pots , jars,
cups and bowls. They built
houses made of sun dried
mud bricks. Pyramids still
stands today as the
monumental evidence of
the scientific expertise and
technical skills of Egyptians
in geometry, engineering,
architecture and labor
management.
PYRAMID OF GIZA VALLEY OF KINGS
GREAT SPHINX RUINS OF MIMPHIS
Cretan Civilization
(Minoan)
Arose on the island of Crete and other Aegean
islands such as Santorini approximately 2600 to
1400 BC.
Rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century
through the work of British archaeologist Arthur
Evans.
“the first link in the European chain” by Wil
Durant.
Aegean bronze age civilization ruled by King Minos.
Knossos- capital of Crete (grandest site of Bronze
Age palaces)
Science and
Technology
Development
of Minoans
MINOAN SPOUTED JAR
used for pouring or
“feeding” oil into
ancient oil lamps.
The spout made it
easier to pour oil into
the small openings in
ancient oil lamps.
STORAGE JARS
“Pithos” is the
Greek name of a
large storage
container.
The storage of large
quantities of
agricultural
produce, mainly
grain crops, olive oil
and wine.
FRESCO
They are believed to
have invented true
fresco, a technique
which results in the
pigment becoming
part of the wall.
Typical subjects
include nature and
ritual.
MINOAN SNAKE GODDESS
Minoan Snake
Goddess - possibly
immortality and
renewal.
The serpent's ability
to shed its skin
made it a symbol of
rebirth and
transformation.
PALACE OF KNOSSOS
The expansive
palace structures at
Knossos are
evidence of the
Minoans' superior
knowledge of
architecture and
engineering.
SEWERS
Waterways were
built in order to
protect the
growing
population.
LINEAR A SCRIPT
It was used by the
Minoan civilization
centered on Crete
during the Bronze
Age. Used from
around 1850 to
around 1450 BCE,
the script has never
been deciphered.
TIN ALLOYED WITH COPPER
Minoans were
involved in the
Bronze Age's
important tin trade:
tin, alloyed with
copper apparently
from Cyprus, was
used to make
bronze.
 The Minoans were primarily a mercantile
people engaged in overseas trade. Their culture
shows a higher degree of civilization. Crete
became the central exporter of wine, oil, jewelry,
and highly crafted works and became importers
of raw materials and food. In the process, they
built the first major navy ship in the world. Its
primary purpose was trade not war or conquest.
 The Minoans raised cattle, sheep and goats and
grew wheat , barley, lettuce, celery, asparagus, carrots,
peas, grapes, pears, fig, olives and opium. They 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 protection against low yield in any single
crop.
 Around 1600 BC, Akrotiri, a Minoan Bronze Age
settlement on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini
(Thera) was shaken by a violent earthquake. This Thera
eruption was one of the largest in human history--
blasting more than 10 million tons of ash, gas and rock
25 miles into the atmosphere. Despite of 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.
THANK
YOU