Name: _______________________________ Date:_____________________

Subject: Science, Technology and Society

MODULE 2

HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE OF

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to :
1. Identify inventions and discoveries that changed the world over the course of
history
2. Discuss the scientific and technological developments in the Philippines.

Science During the Ancient Times

In the 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.
People try to go places and discover new horizons. They travelled to search for
food and find better locations for their settlements; to trade their surplus goods.
Navigation assisted them in their journeys to unfamiliar places in the world
They needed a way to communicate with the natives of the areas they visited to
facilitate trade and prevent possible conflicts. They kept records of the places they
have been and documented the trades they made. They kept records of their history
and culture.
Other achievements include:
 The development of weapons and armors for security and protection
 Discovery of the cures to or prevention of diseases to conserve life
 Establishment of structures for protection from human attacks and natural
disasters (engineering)
 Introduction of architecture (style and design)
People in ancient times were able to discover and invent things that would
impact the lives of modern people.

Sumerian civilization
The Sumerians were known for their high degree of cooperation and desire for
great things. They developed the first writing system (cuneiform) which uses word
picture and triangular symbols carved on clay using wedge instruments.
The Sumerians:
 erected the City of Uruk made from mud and clay from the river, mixed with
reeds to produce sun-baked bricks to build houses;
 built the Great Ziggurat of Ur, mountain of god;
  created dikes and irrigation canals to bring water to farmlands and control
flooding of the river
 invented sailboats;
 invented the wheels for farm works and food processes;
 invented the plow to dig the earth in faster pace;
 developed the first roads.

Babylonian Civilization
Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates . The Babylonians
were great builders, engineers, and architects. They built the Hanging Garden of
Babylon, made of layers of gardens that contained several species of plants, trees, and
vines.

Egyptian Civilization
Another early civilization famous for its legacy is the Egyptian civilization
located in North Africa. Aside from engineering feats of the Egyptians, they have
contributed other practical things that the world now considers essential. The
pyramids are not the only contribution of the Egyptian civilization to the modern
world.
Some of their inventions include:
 paper or papyrus; made writing easier for the world ( clay tablets were used
before)
 ink by combining soot with different chemicals
 hieroglyphics, a system of writing using symbols
 cosmetics for health and aesthetic reasons (Khl around the yees prevents and
cures diseases)
 wigs for health and wellness; to protect the shaved heads of wealthy
Egyptians from the harmful rays of the sun
 water clocks that use gravity that affects the flow of water form one vessel to
another

Greek Civilization
Greece is an archipelago in the southeastern part of Europe. It is known as the
birthplace of western philosophy. The Greeks are noted for in-depth works on
philosophy and mathematics. Greeks invented the alarm clocks to tell an individual
when to start or when to stop and the water mills used in milling of grains

Roman Civilization
The Roman empire was perceived to be the strongest political and social entity in
the west. It was considered as the cradle of politics and governance.
The Romans invented the Gazettes, first newspapers, engraved on metal or stone
tablets; bound books or codex; great elaborate architectural design; stronger
infrastructure; and the Roman numeral.

Chinese Civilization
The Chinese civilization is the oldest civilization in Asia. The Chinese developed
a technology that harvests the silk and processed it to produce paper and clothing;
developed tea production; and gunpowder made from charcoal, sulfur, and potassium
nitrate.
 The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure that could be seen from
outer space; largest and most extensive infrastructure that the nation built.

Science During the Medieval/Middle Ages

The Middles Ages was marred by massive invasions and migrations. It is
characterized by great technology in the fields of weaponry, navigation, mass food
and farm production, and health; increased trade and commerce; and great demands
for transportation technology
Some of the achievements of the period include: printing press, invented by
Johann Gutenberg, to address the need for publishing books that would spread
information to many people at a faster rate; microscope, to magnify things invisible to
the naked eye; invented by Zacharias Janssen; telescope, an optical instrument that
helps in the observation of remote objects; compass, oars, rudders, war weapons; iron
body armors

Science during the Modern Times

The booming world population during the nineteenth century onwards demanded
that more goods be produced at a faster rate. People needed efficient means of
transportation to trade more goods and cover a larger distance. Machines that required
animals to operate mus be upgraded. Due to massive industrialization, the modern
times faced complicated problems. Food processing and medicine posed some of the
bigger challenges since health was of great concern. There are bigger challenges in
food processing and medicine.
Some achievements of the modern times are:
 Pasteurization, process of heating dairy products to kill the harmful bacteria;
invented by Louis Pasteur
 Petroleum refinery: kerosene invented by Samuel M. Kier
 Telephone, invented by Alexander Graham Bell
 Calculator, a computing device

Philippine Inventions
Despite being considered a developing country, the Philippines also contributes to
the global advancements in science and technology. It is remarkable to note the
ingenuity of the Filipinos despite the lack of resources.Inventions were built from
indigenous materials or created to adapt to the harsh tropical environment.
 Some of these inventions are:
 Salamander amphibious tricycle
 Salt Lamp, an environment-frindly light source that runs on salt water
 Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvacidal TRap system or OL TRap, trap system made
of natural ingredients that are lethal to mosquitoes but safe for human and the
environment
 Medical incubator
 EJeepney, utilizes electricity instead of diesel

Tasks
1. Explain how the developments in science and technology shape human history.
2. Search for great achievements during the given time period (Ancient, Medieval,
Modern) and Philippine invention. Explain how the invention works; identify its use
and purpose. Discuss how the inventions impacted the people and the society during
the time period when they were made.
Enrichment Activity
Read about the development of science in
A. Mesoamerica - (Maya, Inca, Aztec civilizations)
B. Asia - (India, China, Middle East countries)
C. Africa - (South Africa)
Choose one civilization/country listed above (Maya, etc.) and discuss the
development in science and technology. Present your discussion in a sentence
outline form. Include pictures at the end of your work. Cite your references.

Assignment:
Do the task and the enrichment activity and submit on Monday, September 21, 2020.

References:
McNamara Daniel Joseph , et. al. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society. Quezon
City. C & E Publishing, Inc.
Serafica, Janice Patricia, et. al. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society. Manila:
Rex Book Store, Inc.