Science & Technology
in Ancient Civilizations
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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.
Early Civilizations
Nomads
Basic Needs
• Food
• Shelter
• Clothing
Source: Alamy stock photo
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Early Civilizations
• people who stay on the
move looking for food
• without a permanent
home
• lived in area of bountiful
resources of foods
• small tribes of hunter-
gatherers Source: Agefotostock.com
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Early Civilization
• used stone tools for
survival
• hunting fish and wild
animals
• preparing foods
• making shelter
• protect territory from
invasion
Source:
https://sites.google.com/site/1ancientcivilizationsforkids
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Mesopotamia
• The foundation of
human civilization
began in Mesopotamia.
meso - middle
potam – river
Settlers of Mesopotamia
• Sumerians https://whbailey.weebly.com/mesopotamia.html
• Babylonians
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Sumerian Civilization
• the first people to settle in Mesopotamia
• Sumerian civilization lasted for short of 2,000 years before the
Babylonians took charge in 2004 B.C.
• created a civilization by the development of methods and
technologies in
• architectures
• language
• agriculture
• governance
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City of Uruk
• Sumerians built cities along the
rivers in South Mesopotamia in
4500 BCE
• City of Uruk - considered to be
the first true city in the world
• No building stones used
• Lumber was limited
• Mud / clay from the river Source: https://www.crystalinks.com/uruk.html
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.
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 Source: thoughtcatalog.com
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Agriculture
• Sumerian agricultural
products
• wheat and barley
• fruits and vegetables like
grapes and onions
• sheep, goats and cows
• 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
• Brought water to farmland
• Controlled flooding of the
rivers
Source: Google sites
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Cuneiform
• first writing system
• pictures and triangular
symbols
• curved in mud/clay:
tablet
• using reed stylus
• trading
• recording goods and
livestock
• temple activities
• businesses
• presenting stories, myths, Source: 123mesopotamia.weebly.com
and personal letters
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Sumerian Cuneiform Alphabet
Source: dreamstime.com Source: sciencesource.com
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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
• Made of reeds
• To travel along the river
• To carry products for
trading
Source: sites.google.com
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Wheel
• The 1st wheels were
not used for
transportation but for
farm work in 2000 BC
Source: ancientcivilizationlist.com
Source: Pinterest.com COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
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.
Source: Pinterest.com
Mass produced food
without taking too
much effort and time
Source: link.springer.com
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Medicine
• Sumerians believed
that diseases were
punishment from god
• committed sins
• wrong-doing
• action of demons
• bad spirits
Source: Pinterest.com
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• Priest - sufficient magic power to
fight the mystic force of disease
and illness
• Diseases due to supernatural
causes
• Exorcists - drive away the spirits Source: Pinterest.com
by charms and spells.
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Babylonian Civilization
• Emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
• Great builders, engineers and architects
https://www.historycentral.com/dates/Babylonia/Overview.ht
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Weapons
• Babylonian civilization
transpired during Bronze
age
• Weapons - bronze material
• alloy of copper and tin
Source: Pinterest.com
https://www.strengthinbusiness.com/ancient-babylonians-marketing-
campaigns/ COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
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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Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Myth?
• 75 feet high
• approximately 8,200
gallons of water each day
to keep the plants watered
• No physical evidence to
prove such existence
• Exact location is also
unknown
• No records Source: Pinterest.com
• Mythical place
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Babylonian Number System
Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Egyptian Civilization
• Around 3150 BCE, the creation of the Egyptian civilization began with
Egypt brought together under one ruler, King Narmer
https://www.ancient.eu/Narmer/
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Temples
• believed that temples were the
homes of the gods and
goddesses.
• every temple was dedicated to
a god or goddess
• worshipped by temple priests
and the pharaoh.
Everyday, temple priest
• washed the god’s statues
• changed cloths with fine linen
• put jewelry
• offered food and wine
Source: Q-files
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Ancient Egyptian Temples
Source: Third hour
Source: Touropia
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Mummification
• Egyptians believed in life
after death
• eternal life was only
possible if the
individual’s corpse
remained intact
• believed that if the body
decayed, so as the soul
• deceased’s soul should
Source: nbcnews.com
be recognized and
returned in the next life
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Mummification Process
1. Washing of the body
2. Removal of the different internal organs by making a cut in the left
side of the abdomen.
(intestines, stomach, liver, and lungs)
3. Internal organs are placed in the corresponding canopic jar.
Hapi Imsety Duamutef Qebehseneuf
baboon-headed human-headed jackal-headed falcon-headed
god of the North god of the South god of the East god of the West
Lungs Liver Stomach Intestines
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Mummification Process
4. Brain is removed through the nose by using hooked instrument then being
thrown away
Heart is untouched as believed to be used for intelligence and
emotion in the next life
Heart also revealed evidence of the deceased’s true character.
5. The inside of the body is rinsed with wine and spices.
6. Moisture from the body is eliminated
7. Application of a salt called natron for 70 days is done to preserve the body.
8. Lastly, the body is wrapped in linen cloth and placed in a sarcophagus
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Source: Egypt Independent
Source: Pinterest
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Hieroglyphics
• Pictures of living
creatures and symbols
of objects used in
daily living
• Hieroglyphics writings
were well-preserved
since these were
carved at the walls of
pyramids and other
structures Source: medium.com
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Source: Pinterest
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Medicine and Physician
• knowledge of healing herbs
• repairing physical injuries
• knew how to stitch a wound
• eye-surgery operation
• knowledge of Anatomy came from the practice of embalming the
dead
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Medicine and Physician
• practiced dentistry
• extracted teeth,
• drained abscesses
• made false teeth
Source: reddit
Ancient Egyptian Dental Work
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Source: surgicaltechnologyhistory.weebly.com Source: Pinterest
Ancient Egyptian Medical Tools
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Irrigation System
• Canals and Ditches
• Shaduf
Source: Egypt Guide
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Calendar
• 12 months = 30 days each
• 1 year = 360 days
• In 4000 B.C. added 5
extra days at the end of
every year
• Solar year = 365 days
Source: Ancient Egyptian Facts
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• Used to protect the
shaved heads of the
wealthy Egyptians from
harmful sun rays
• Symbol of social status
• Used by both sexes
• Were worn for beauty,
vanity and personal
hygiene Source: takealookatancientegypt.weebly.com
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Source: solarey.net
Other Discoveries and inventions
• Paper from papyrus
Source: historyaanswers.co.uk
Source: latour-marliac.com
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Greek Civilization
• Government
• Art
• Architecture
• Philosophy
• Sport
• Polytheistic society
• Believed in Mythology to explain natural mysteries
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• Greek Mythology
Source:Realm of history
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Theater
• Art and Literature performances
Source: ancient.eu
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Theater
• large
• open-air structures
• tiered seating area - theatron
• a circular space for the actors to
perform - orchestra
• stage - skene
Source:Google Sites
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Source: The Travel Company
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Water Mill
• Was used in agricultural processes like milling of grains
• Mass production of rice, cereals, flours and the likes
Source:ancienthistorylists.com
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Greek Houses
• Poor Greek - rural area or crowded urban slums
• multi-story blocks of apartments
Source:colourboxcom Source:pinterest.com
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For well-to-do
craftsmen or
farmers:
• large and luxurious
• accommodation for
a large household
including many
slaves
Source:sites google.com
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Trade
• 150 years after 750 BC
• Sea for their livelihood
• Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea
Source:sites ngc coin.com
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Greek Philosophers
Socrates
•known to developed the "Socratic Method" of analyzing
good and justice
•The problem is broken down into series of inquiries that
would lead to answers to the problem.
Plato
•became student of Socrates
•laid the foundations of Western philosophy and science.
•founded The Academy of Athens, the first institution of
higher learning in the Western world.
Aristotle
•became student of Plato
•developed Empirical approach in studying nature
•founed Theory of Four causes (material, formal, efficient ,
final)
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Greek Philosophers
Thales
•believed that water was the only substance that was souce of all
things
Pythagoras
•made important contributions in the field of mathematics
•developed the Pythagorean Theorem
Empedocles
•believed in the four fundamental elements (fire, air, earth and
water)
Democritus
•established the concept of atomisim
•everything in nature is made up of indivisible elements called
atoms
Archimedes
•known for his physical law of buoyancy
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Roman Civilization
https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/key- https://www.unrv.com/military/legion.php
romans-dates-timeline-fall-rome-empire-when-founded-
romulus-remus/ A Roman legion is a military
• Foundation of Rome: around 753 BC organization, originally the largest
• According to legend, Mar’s twins permanent organization in the armies
Remus and Romulus, suckled by a of ancient Rome
She-wolf, and raised by a shepherd. It denotes a military system by which
imperial Rome conquered and ruled
the ancient world.
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Roman Civilization
• Left: The Praetorian
Guard, legionnaires
and elite soldiers.
Marble relief in the
Louvre Museum,
Paris.
• Right: Constantine I,
also known as
Constantine the
Great, was the first
Roman emperor to
https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/key-romans-dates-timeline-fall- profess Christianity
rome-empire-when-founded-romulus-remus/
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Roman City: The Forum
Many important buildings were in or around the forum.
Some of these include:
The Regia - A place where the original kings of Rome
lived. Later it became the office for the head of the Roman
priesthood, the Pontifex Maximus.
The Comitium - The main meeting place for the Assembly
and the center of politics and judicial activity in Rome.
Temple of Caesar - The main temple where Julius Caesar
was honored after his death.
Temple of Saturn - Temple to the god of agriculture.
Tabularium - The main records office of Ancient Rome.
Rostra - A platform where people would make speeches.
Senate Curia - The place where the Senate met.
Arch of Septimius Severus - A giant triumphal arch.
https://museumbrochurep6.weebly.com/the-forum.html
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Roman Architecture
• Cathedrals
• Basilicas
• Coliseums
• Amphitheaters
• Aqueducts
Source: pinterest.com
Source: Inflyte COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Roman Architectures
The Pantheon
• temple of all the Roman gods
Colosseum
• largest amphitheater
• seating capacity of 50,000
Arch of Septimius Severus
• monumental arch
• built in recognition of Roman victories over Parthians
Maison Carree
• the only temple that is completely preserved up to this
day
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Source: Smarthistory Source: Pinterest
The Pantheon
Source: darkrome.com
Source: realmofhistory.com Colosseum COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Building Materials
• volcanic stone native - Tufa
• during 2nd century B.C.E. travertine white limestone was utilized in
the late substitute for marble.
• Sun-dried and fire-dried mud bricks
Source: Quatr.us Stusy Guides
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Roman Aqueducts
• Aqueducts -convey
water from far away
springs and mountains
into cities and towns
through gravity to
supply water in:
• fountains
• gardens
• public and private baths
• latrines Source: thinglink.com
• houses of wealthy
Romans
• agricultural lands
Source: sites.google.com
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Roman Numerals
• Old number systems could
not keep up with high
calculations requirements
due to increasing trade
among nations
• Roman numeral became Source: alamy.com
the standard counting
system for trade concerns
• symbols: I, V, X, L, C, D and
M
• Used for communication
and trading
Source: moruzzi.it
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Other discoveries and inventions
Bound books:
Cover was
made of wax
but later
changed to
animal skin
Source: pinterest.com
Wax-protected
books
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Chinese Civilization
“Ancient China is responsible for a
rich culture, still evident in modern
China. From small farming
communities rose dynasties such as
the Zhou (1046-256 B.C.E), Qin
(221-206 B.C.E), and Ming (1368-
1644 C.E.). Each had its own
contribution to the region. During
the Zhou Dynasty, for example,
writing was standardized, iron
working refined, and famous
thinkers like Confucius and Sun-Tzu
lived and shared their philosophies.
During the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi
Huang commissioned the Great Wall illustration from French translation of an 1843 book
by Thomas Allorn / Wikimedia Commons
Terracotta Army, and the Ming
Dynasty refurbished the Great Wall
to protect the nation from Mongol
attacks.”
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Production of Silk
Source: travelchinaguide.com Source: knowrealchina.com
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Source: lunss.com
Tea Production
• Tea leaves were harvested, processed and compressed
into cake form.
• The dried teacake known as brick tea was ground with
the used of stone mortar.
• Ancient tea was produced by pouring hot water to
shredded or crushed tea leaves
Source: China Highlights Wheel-based mechanism for shredding tea Source: Quatr.us Study Guides
leaves
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Great Wall of China
• The Great Wall was
successful in
blocking the semi-
nomadic invaders or
the Huns, except on
very large-scale
attacks.
• Built during the
Ming Dynasty, the
giant wall stretched Source: History.com
21,196 km in length
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Gunpowder
• Originally, it was developed by
Chinese alchemists to achieve
immortality
• used for fireworks to drive away
evil spirits
• used for artillery Source: timetoast.com
• Usually made up of:
75% saltpeter
(potassium nitrate)
15% charcoal
10% sulfur
Source: php.scripts.psu.edu
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Compass
• an artificial
magnetic pointing Source: whatchina.cn
Compass during Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220AD)
device made from
lodestone
• the oldest south-
pointing navigational
device
Source: sciencesource.com
Compass during Song Dynasty (960-1279)
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wheel-how-the-ancient-sumerians-got-humanity-rollin/
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rome/history-of-roman-numerals/
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•
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ancient-babylon-center-of-mesopotamian-civilization.html
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east1/the-ancient-near-east-an-introduction/a/cuneiform
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