HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN

THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY
ANCIENT TIMES

Transportation
Communication
Weapons and armors
Conservation of Life
SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION
Sumeria is located on the
southernmost tip of ancient
Mesopotamia.. Sumerians are
known for their high degree of
cooperation with one another and
their desire for great things. They
are not contented with the basic
things that life can offer. This desire
pushed them to develop many
things connected with science and
technology.
CUNEIFORM

It is the first writing system known

as cuneiform.
It is system that utilizes word
pictures and triangular symbols
which are curved on clay wedge
instruments and then left to dry.
 URUK CITY
Another important contribution of the
Sumerians is the City of Uruk. It is a great
wonder not only because it is considered
to be the first true city of the world but
also for the way it was erected. There
were no building stones in the location of
this city and lumber was limited, making
the construction a big challenge. The
Sumerians were able to build the city
using only mud or clay from the river,
which they mixed the reeds, producing
sunbaked bricks- a true engineering feat.
THE GREAT ZIGGURAT OF UR
Another engineering and architectural
feat of the Sumerians is the Great
Ziggurat of Ur. The ziggurat, also called
the mountain of god, was built in the
same manner that they constructed the
City of Uruk, Without much building
materials, the structure was constructed
using sunbaked bricks. The ziggurat
served as the sacred place of their chief
god, where only their priests were
allowed to enter. As such, even today,
people still enjoy and marvel at the
preserved Great Ziggurat of Ur.
IRRIGATION AND DIKES
As population increased, so did the demand for food. The Sumerians
were challenged to mass produce food items but the elements in the
environment seemed uncooperative.
 SAILBOATS

Another challenge to the Sumerians

was transportation. At that time, the
wheel was not yet invented; the main
mode of transportation was through
waterways such as rivers and seas.
Boats were used to carry large
quantities of products and were able
to cover large distances.
WHEEL
In the latter part of their history, the
Sumerians were able to invent the
wheel since the specialized tools
needed to create it were already
available. The first wheels were not
made for transportation but for farm
work and food processes. With the
use of the wheel and axle, mass
production was made easier.
Farmers were able to mill grains
with less effort in less time.
THE PLOW
Another farm technology invented b the
Mesopotamians is the plow. Humans evolved
from being food gatherers to farm
cultivators. However, farmers needed a
technology which would enable them to dig
the ground where the seeds would be
planted. The plow was invented to dig the
earth in a faster pace. As the plow breaks
the ground, the farmer would just drop the
seeds and farm work would already be done.
With this tool, farmers could cultivate larger
parcels of land faster, enabling them to
mass produce food without taking so much
effort and time.
THE ROADS
In order to facilitate faster and
easier travel, the Sumerians
developed the first roads. With
this work, the flow of traffic
become faster and more
organized. They made the roads
with the same technology they
used in making the sunbaked
bricks that they laid down on the
ground.
BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION
Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers. The Babylonians were great builders,
engineers, and architects. One of their major contribution
is the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the seven
wonders of the ancient world.
 HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON
Today, people can only marvel at the
beauty of the famous Hanging Gardens
of Babylon from stories of historians
and paintings that portray the place. It
was said to be a structure made up of
layers upon layers of gardens that
contained several species of plants,
trees, and vines. According to legends,
the great Babylonian King
Nebuchadnezzar II built the gardens
for his wife, Queen Amytis. However, no
physical evidence has been found to
prove the existence of the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon. Its exact location
is also unknown.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
Another early civilization famous for its
legacy is the Egyptian civilization located in
North Africa. Many stories tell about the
engineering feats of the Egyptians
especially regarding about the
infrastructures established by the
pharaohs. Aside from engineering
technology, the Egyptians have contributed
other practical things that the world now
considers as essentials. It is thus safe to
say that the pyramids are not the only
contribution of the Egyptians civilization to
the modern world.
PAPER OF PAPYRUS
One of the earlier contributions of
Egyptian civilization was the paper or
papyrus. Although Egypt was not the
first to develop a system of writing,
they were able to make writing easier
for the world. Before the Egyptian
innovation, clay tablets were used.
However, safe-keeping and
transporting them were a major
problem. Clay tablets were very
fragile, heavy, and delicate to handle.
So, bringing them to places was a
major challenge.
INK
When the Egyptians invented the
papyrus of the paper, engraving
ceased to be used in writing. As a
result, the Egyptians invented ink by
combining soot with different
chemicals to produce inks of
different colors. The ink must
withstand the elements of nature
since it was used to record history,
culture, and codified laws. It must
also be tamper-proof so that people
could not simply tinker with those
written down by authorities.
 HIEROGLYPHICS
Like the Sumerians, the Egyptians also
developed a system of writing using
symbols, known as hieroglyphics. This
form of writing can still be seen today
and remains to be a famous as the
pyramids where they were found.
Hieroglyphics was the language that tells
the modern world of the history and
culture of the ancient Egyptians. Their
records were well-preserved since they
were carved at the walls of pyramids and
other important Egyptians structures.
COSMETICS
The Egyptians also invented the use of
cosmetics. Although cosmetics in the
modern times are used to improve and
highlight the facial features of a person,
their function in ancient Egypt was for both
health and aesthetic reasons. Egyptians
wore Kohl around the eyes to prevent and
even cure eye diseases. Kohl was created
by mixing soot or malachite with mineral
galena. Egyptians also believed that a
person wearing make-up was protected
from evil and that beauty was a sign of
holiness. At present, the cosmetic industry
is a booming multibillion industry
 WIG
The wigs were used to protect the
shaved heads of the wealthy
Egyptians from the harmful rays of
the sun. Wearing a wig was better
than putting on a scarf or any other
head cover since wig allowed heat
to escape. Moreover, it was
considered cleaner than natural
hair because it prevented the
accumulation of head lice.
 WATER CLOCK/CLEPSYDRA
This device utilizes gravity that
affects the flow of water from one
vessel the other. The amount of
water (or its height, depending on
the method used) remaining in the
device determines how much time
has elapsed since its full. In the
process, time is measured. The
water clock was widely used as a
timekeeping device during the
ancient times.
GREEK CIVILIZATION
Greece is an archipelago in the
southeastern part of the Europe.
Known as the birthplace of western
philosophy, some of the major
achievements of the Greeks include
in-depth works on philosophy and
mathematics. More than coliseums
and the Olympics, the Greek
civilization has contributed much to
the world especially in the fields of
science and technology.
ALARM CLOCK
One of the most utilized gadgets today
that was invented by the ancient Greeks
is the alarm clock. Although the alarm
clock during that time did not resemble
the present-day alarm clock, the
purpose was just the same- to tell an
individual when to stop or when to start.
The ancient Greek’s alarm clocks used
large complicated mechanisms to time
the alarm. They made use of water (or
sometimes small stones or sand) that
dropped into drums which sounded the
alarm.
 WATER MILL
Watermills were also
considered as one of the
most important contributions
of the Greek civilization to the
world. They were commonly
used in agricultural
processes like milling of
grains which was a necessary
form of food processing
during that time.
ROMAN CIVILIZATION
The Roman Empire was perceived to be the strongest political and social
entity in the west. It was considered to be the cradle of politics and
governance during that period. Because the Roman Empire was so large,
other civilizations looked up to it as their model in terms of legislation and
codified laws. Aside from their contributions in politics, a lot of discoveries
and inventions still relevant today can be attributed to the Roman Empire.
NEWSPAPER
The first newspapers, known as gazettes,
contained announcements of the Roman
Empire to the people. Made before the
invention of paper, these gazettes were
engraved in metal or stone tablets and then
publicly displayed. These documents were
edited and published on the same day that
they were recorded. This way, the Romans
enjoyed easy access to government
information the same way we benefit from
present-day newspapers.
BOUND BOOKS or CODEX

According to sources, Julius Caesar

started the tradition of stacking up
papyrus to form pages of a book.
Later on, they were able to provide
covers to protect the papyrus
ROMAN ARCHITECHTURE
Roman architecture is one of the most
visual contributions of the ancient
Roman Empire to the world. Roman
architecture was considered a
continuation of Greek architecture,
hence the resemblance.
ROMAN NUMERALS

Roman devised their own number

system that would meet their
increasing communication and trade
concerns.
CHINESE CIVILIZATION

The Chinese Civilization is considered to be

the oldest civilization in Asia, If not the
world. Also known as the middle kingdom,
China is located on the far east of Asia.
 SILK
One of the things that connected far East
China to the world is Silk. Although silk is
naturally produced by silk worms, the
Chinese were the ones who developed
the technology to harvest the silk and
process it to produced paper and
clothing. Silk production resulted in the
creation of a product for trade.
 TEA PRODUCTION
Tea is a beverage produced by pouring
hot or boiling water over crushed or
shredded dried tea leaves. It was believed
that the first tea was drunk by a Chinese
Emperor. Tea production was developed
when an unknown Chinese investor
created a machine that was able to shred
tea leaves into strips.
 GREAT WALL OF CHINA
Once considered the only man made
structure that could be seen from outer
space, the Great Wall of China is said to
the largest and most extensive
infrastructure that the nation built. It was
constructed to keep out foreign invaders
and control the borders of China. Made
with stone, brick, wood, earth, and other
materials, it showcased the extent of
Chinese Engineering technology at that
time.
 GUNPOWDER
The gunpowder is one of the most
interesting inventions in China. Originally,
it was developed by Chinese Alchemists
who aimed to achieved immortality. They
mixed charcoal, sulphur and potassium
nitrate, but instead of creating an elixir of
life, they accidentally invented a black
powder that could generate large
amounts pf heat and gas in an instant.
 MEDIEVAL/MIDDLE AGES
The start of the middle ages was marred
by massive invasions and migrations.
Wars were prevalent during this time. As
such, great technology was needed in the
fields of weaponry, navigation, mass food
and farm production, and health. The
wars have resulted I population decline,
but during the latter part of the period,
there was significant rise in population.
Trade and Commerce among nations
increased which resulted in greater
demands for transportation technology.
 PRINTING PRESS
After the Chinese developed woodblock
printing, Johann Gutenberg was able to
invent the printing press, a more reliable
way of printing using a cast type. He
utilized wooden machines that extracted
juices from fruits, attached to them a
metal impression of the letters, and
pressed firmly the cast metal into the
piece of paper, which then made an exact
impression on paper. This general
invention soon evolved to be the
mechanical printing press which was
eventually used all over the world.
 MICROSCOPE
To develop the proper medicines for
illnesses, expert must understand the
sickness through an investigation. Thus,
they needed the device that could
magnify things invisible to the eye. Guided
by the principles used for the invention of
eyeglasses in earlier years, Zacharias
Janssen was able to develop the first
compound microscope.
 TELESCOPE

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. Together with
the telescope, the invention of the
compass, oars, and rudders made sea
travelling easier and safer.
WAR WEAPONS
Since wars were widespread during the
Middle Ages, great development in the
weaponry technology also occurred. All
sides must develop weaponries not only
as offensive tools but also defensive
instruments. For open-area battles,
people developed cross bows and long
bows so that they could attack the
enemies at long ranges, keeping
themselves safe with the protection of
walls and fortresses.
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 must thus be
upgraded.
PASTEURIZATION
Louis Pasteur, a French biologist,
microbiologist, and chemist, found
a way to solve the problem. He
invented pasteurization, the
process of heating dairy products
to kill the harmful bacteria that
allow them to spoil faster. Through
this process, milk could be stored
and consumed for a long period. It
also prevented illnesses caused by
harmful bacteria.
PETROLEUM REFINERY
Samuel M. Kier was able to invent
kerosene by refining petroleum.
Kerosene was later on referred to
as “illuminating oil” because it was
used at first to provide lighting to
homes. After some time, it was
applied for heating purposes. The
development of kerosene
established the petroleum refinery
industry.
TELEPHONE

Important day to day decisions

must be discussed and addressed
at the fastest time possible. Thus,
the development of the telephone
by Alexander Graham Bell was one
of the most important inventions at
that time.
CALCULATOR
Although an earlier version of the
calculator had already been developed,
circumstances in the modern times
required a faster way to compute more
complicated equations. Computing
devices must also be easy to carry since
they would be utilized on a day to day
basis. 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 the
computer.
 PHILIPPINE INVENTION
The Philippines also contributes to the
global advancement of science and
technology. It is quite remarkable to
note the ingenuity of the Filipinos
despite the lack in resources. The
Philippines is known to be one of the
most vulnerable countries in terms of
natural disasters. Many of the
discoveries and inventions made by the
Filipinos were therefore built from
indigenous materials or created to
adapt to the
 SALAMANDER AMPHIBIOUS
TRICYCLE
H2O Technologies headed by Dominic
N. Chung and Lamberto Armada,
together with Chief Designer Victor
“Atoy” Llave, was able to invent the
Salamander, an amphibious tricycle that
can cross not only flooded streets but
also rivers and lakes. It may also be
utilized to travel from island to island.
Since the Philippines is an archipelago,
the Salamander is a useful invention
that has a lot of potential.
 SALT LAMP
A young Filipina inventor named Aisa
Mijeno was able to invent a lighting
system that utilizes a material abundant
in the Philippines- saltwater. She
invented the Sustainable Alternative
Lighting (SALt) lamp, an environment-
friendly light source that runs on
saltwater.
 MEDICAL INCUBATOR
Dr. Fe del Mundo, a Filipino pediatrician
and the first Asian woman admitted into
Harvard Medical School, devised a
medical incubator made from
indigenous and cheap materials which
did not run on electricity. Dr. del
Mundo’s incubator made by placing a
native laundry basket inside a bigger
one. Hot water bottles were inserted
between the baskets to provide warmth
and a makeshift hood to allow oxygen
circulation.
 MOSQUITO
OVICIDAL/LARVICIDAL TRAP
SYSTEM
In 2010, the Department of Science and
Technology-Industrial Technology
Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) was
able to introduce the Mosquito Ovicidal
Larvicidal Trap System, also known as
OL trap. This trap system is made of
natural ingredients that are lethal to
mosquitos but safe for humans and the
environment.
EJEEPNEY
The jeepney dominated the Philippine
streets and is considered as the primary
mode of transportation of most
Filipinos. However, the diesel-powered
jeepney produces large quantities of
black smoke And is usually a major
contributor of noise pollution due to its
primitive exhaust system. To counter
these disadvantages, the electric
jeepney (eJeepney) was developed. This
modern type of transportation utilizes
electricity instead of the more
expensive diesel. It is environment-
friendly since it does not emit any
smoke and noise.
 ACTIVITY
Divide the class into SEVEN groups. The three groups will be assigned to
each of the three time periods. (ancient, middle, modern) and the last
group to the Philippine invention. Each member of the group should
search for one great achievement during their assigned time period from
those discussed in the chapter. Afterwards, accomplish the following:
1. Draw or print a picture of your chosen achievement. As a group, collect
and paste these inventions on a ¼ illustration board. Design the board with
a theme appropriate to the assigned time period.
2. Explain in your own words how each invention works. Also identify their
use and purpose. Paste the information at the back of the illustration
board.
3. Present your project in class. Conclude your report by discussing how
these inventions impacted the people and the society during the time
period when they were made.
THANK YOU... 