Science & Technology

in Ancient Civilizations
(Part 1)
Prepared by:
Prof. Aileen I. Atienza

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Overview
This chapter tackles the historical antecedents of
science and technology of early civilizations, ancient
Mesopotamian (Sumerian and Babylonian), Egyptian,
Greek, Roman and Chinese civilizations.
Specific Objectives
At the end of this chapter, you should be able to
Identify the relationship between science and
technology
Determine the impact of science and technology in the
society
Know the historical antecedents of science and
technology
Cite the discoveries and inventions transpired during
ancient times.
 Ancient Civilizations
1.1 Early Civilization
1.2 Sumerian Civilization
1.3 Babylonian Civilization
1.4 Egyptian Civilization
1.5 Greek Civilization
1.6 Roman Civilization
1.7 Chinese Civilization

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Science
cumulative inquiry into nature using the scientific
method or system of verifiable concepts, methods,
principles, theories and laws which seek to understand,
describe, explain, and predict nature and its
phenomena

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Technology
is the application of science

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 SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
Meaning Science is a methodical way of Technology alludes to the practical
gaining knowledge on a particular application of the scientific
subject, through observation and knowledge for various purposes.
experiments.

What is it? It is the process of exploring new It is the use of laws of science to
knowledge. create new products.
Effect It is useful It can be useful or harmful.
Change May or may not be changed Changes continuously
Stresses on Discovery Invention
Deals with Study of structure and behavior Putting those premises into
of natural and physical world, to practice.
create premises.
Method of Analysis, deduction and theory Analysis and synthesis of design.
evaluation development
Use Used to make predictions Simplify the work and fulfill the
needs of people.

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Early Civilization

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 Early Civilization

Nomads
Basic Needs
Food
Shelter
Clothing

Source: Alamy stock photo

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Early Civilization
Nomads
used stone tools for survival
hunting fish and wild animals
preparing foods
making shelter
protect territory from invasion

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 Early Civilization
Nomads
lived in area of bountiful
resources of foods
small tribes of hunter-
gatherers

Source: Alamy stock photo

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 Early Civilization

Nomads
people who stay on the move
looking for food
without a permanent home

Source: Agefotostock.com

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 Ancient Tools

Source: https://sites.google.com/site/1ancientcivilizationsforkids

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Ancient Mesopotamia
The foundation of human civilization began in
Mesopotamia.

meso - middle
potam - river

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Source: Pinterest

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Source: Pinterest

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Ancient Mesopotamia
• Sumerians
• Babylonians

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Sumerian
Civilization

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Sumerian Civilization
the first people to settle in Mesopotamia

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Sumerian Civilization
created a civilization by the development of methods
and technologies in
architectures
language
agriculture
governance

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Sumerian Civilization
Sumerians built cities along the rivers in South
Mesopotamia in 4500 BCE
Eridu
Uruk
Ur
Larsa
Isin
Adab
Kullah
Lagash
Nippur
Kish

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Sumerian Civilization
City of Uruk - considered to be the first true city in the
world

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 City of Uruk

Source: https://www.crystalinks.com/uruk.html
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City of Uruk
No building stones used
Lumber was limited
Mud / clay from the river added with reeds and bricks
Houses made of sun-baked bricks

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Ziggurats
cities had corresponding king living in ziggurat
with temple at the top reserved for their high priests to
serve their patron gods and goddesses.

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Source: thoughtcatalog.com
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 The Great Ziggurat of Ur
“Mountain of God”

sun-baked bricks - inside structure

fired bricks - outside structure
no inner chambers
height of around 170 feet
took 12 years of excavation
primarily built as a temple to Nanna, the moon of god

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 Source: Odysseyadventures.ca

Source: amusingplanet.com

Source: Pinterest COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Source: Pinterest Source: Pinterest

View of the Ziggurat of Ur, with mounds of weather-worn mud bricks

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Source: khanacademy.org

Re-constructed Great Ziggurat of Ur, Iraq

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Agriculture
Sumerian agricultural products
wheat and barley
fruits and vegetables like grapes and onions
sheep, goats and cows

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 Irrigation System: Levees
Levees
Dug wide canals from
rivers out to farms
Dug small ditches from
canals to fields to water all
the crops
Put gates on the ditches to
control the amount of
water

Source: Google sites

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 Irrigation System: Levees
Levees
Brought water to farmland
Controlled flooding of the
rivers

Source: Pinterest

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 Levee

Source: 123mesopotamia.weebly.com

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 Cuneiform
first writing system
pictures and triangular
symbols
curved in mud/clay:
tablet
 using reed stylus

Source: khanacademy.org

Source: Pinterest

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 Cuneiform

trading
recording goods and
livestock
temple activities
businesses
presenting stories,
myths, and personal
letters Source: 123mesopotamia.weebly.com

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Sumerian Cuneiform Alphabet

Source: khanacademy.org

Source: dreamstime.com
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Source: edsitement.nev.gov

An artifact of Cuneiform writing

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Activity 1.1
Writing in Sumerian way

In a one whole sheet of long bond paper, write your full

name using the Cuneiform style of writing.

First Name
Middle Name
Family Name
 Sumerian Number System

Sexagesimal
system
Base 60

Source: sciencesource.com COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Sailboats
Made of reeds
To travel along the river
To carry products for
trading

Source: Sutori

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Skin-float or raft made of hides stretched over wood
frames and a broad, short boat made of water-proof
material

Source: sites.google.com

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Source: Sutori

Sumerian Sailboat

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 Wheel

The 1st wheels were

not used for
transportation but for
farm work in 2000 BC

Source: ancientcivilizationlist.com

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Used for transporting
agricultural products

Source: Pinterest.com

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Source: Pinterest.com
Sumerian War Chariot

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Plow
Enabled the Sumerians to dig the soil land where seeds
would be planted at faster pace.
Mass produced food without taking too much effort
and time

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Source: link.springer.com

Source: Pinterest.com

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Medicine
Sumerians believed that diseases were punishment
from god
committed sins
wrong-doing
action of demons
bad spirits

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 Medicine

Priest - sufficient magic power to

fight the mystic force of disease
and illness

Source: Pinterest.com

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Diseases due to
supernatural causes

Exorcists - drive away

the spirits by charms
and spells.

Source: Pinterest.com

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Sumerian civilization lasted for short of 2,000 years
before the Babylonians took charge in 2004 B.C.

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Babylonian Civilization

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Babylonian Civilization
Emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Great builders, engineers and architects

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 Hanging Gardens of Babylon

It was said to be a

structure made up
of layers upon
layers of gardens
Species of plants,
trees and vines

Source: travel.visualstories.com

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Source: edu.glogster.com Source: Pinterest.com

King Nebuchadnezzar Queen Amytis

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 Hanging Gardens of Babylon

75 feet high

approximately 8,200
gallons of water each day
to keep the plants watered

Source: Pinterest.com

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 Hanging Gardens of Babylon

No physical evidence

to prove such
existence
Exact location is also
unknown
No records
Mythical place

Source: ermakvaguscom

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Assignment 1.1
A deeper search for evidences
Say that you are historian, search for strong evidences
that would establish whether the existence of the
Hanging Gardens of Babylon is really a fact or simply
a myth.
Weapons
Babylonian civilization
transpired during Bronze age
Weapons - bronze material
alloy of copper and tin

Source: Pinterest.com

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Babylonian Number System

Source: en.wikipedia.org

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End of Part 1

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