RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig
MODULE NO.1
INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED
SOCIETY
Study Guide
Topics to be delivered in the module:
1. Introduction to Science and Technology
2. Some Intellectuals and their Revolutionary Ideas
3. Cradles of Early Science
Learning Objectives
1. Discuss how the ideas postulated by Copernicus, Darwin, and Freud
contributed to the spark of scientific revolution; and
2. Analyze how scientific revolution is done in various parts of the world like in
Mesoamerica, Asia and Africa.
Overview
This lesson will give light to the development of science and scientific ideas in
the heart of society. It is the goal of this lesson to articulate ways by which society is
transformed by science and technology.
Science, Technology and Society – a. morada 1
RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig
Topic Presentation
Introduction
Science
➢ The human attempt to understand the natural world, with or without
concern for practical uses of that knowledge.
➢ It tries to discover facts and relationships and then tries to create theories
that make sense of these facts and relationships.
Technology
➢ The human attempt to change the world by creating products that can help
people.
➢ It involves tools, techniques and procedures for putting the findings of
science to use.
Interconnections between Science and Technology
1. Science explores for the purpose of knowing, while technology explores
for the purpose of making something useful from that knowledge.
2. Science drives technology by making new technology possible through
scientific breakthroughs.
3. Without technology, some science experiments would not be possible.
Without science, technology could not proceed.
4. Science is a way of knowing while Technology is a way of doing.
5. Science drives Technology, Technology drives Science.
Science and technology are not the product of some unstoppable force, but are
human products which both shapes, and are shaped by the society from which
they emerged.
Scientific Revolution
Scientific revolution was the period of enlightenment when the developments
in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology and chemistry
transformed the views of society about nature.
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Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig
Scientific revolution is very significant in the development of human beings,
transformation of the society and in the formulation of scientific ideas. It
significantly improved the conduct of scientific investigations, experiments and
observations. The scientific revolution also led to the creation of new research
fields in science and prompted the establishment of a strong foundation for
modern science. In many ways, scientific revolution transformed the natural
world and the world of ideas.
Some Intellectuals and their Revolutionary Ideas
Nicolaus Copernicus
➢ Developed a model of the universe in which everything moved around
a single center at unvarying rates, The Heliocentric Model.
➢ Copernicus finished the first manuscript of his book, "De Revolutionibus
Orbium Coelestium" ("On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres") in
1532. However, he didn't publish the book until 1543, just two months
before he died.
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Charles Darwin
➢ Made a significant contribution in the field of evolutionary biology and
philosophy of science.
➢ Famous for his Theory of Evolution.
➢ He published his book The Origin of Species which presented evidence on
how species evolved over time and presented traits and adaptation that
differentiate species.
➢ In 1871 Darwin published The Descent of Man, which argued that human
beings shared a recent common ancestor with the great African apes.
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RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig
Sigmund Freud
➢ Freud developed an important observational method to gather data to study
human mind and neurological conditions. This method is called
Psychoanalysis.
➢ He believed ALL behaviors have a meaning or purpose and mental activity
that’s motivated by the unconscious (Principle of Psychic Determinism), in
other words, a childhood shapes the adult personality.
Cradles of Early Science
Development of Science in Mesoamerica
➢ Mesoamerica includes the entire area of Central America from Southern
Mexico up to the border of South America.
Maya Civilization
• Known for their works in astronomy.
• Uses their temples and religious structures for astronomical
observation.
• They are also known for:
o Predicting eclipses and using astrological cycles in planting
and harvesting.
o Measuring time using two complicated calendar systems.
o Developed technology for growing different crops and
building elaborate cities using ordinary machineries and
tools.
o Built hydraulic systems to supply water to their communities.
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o Built looms for weaving cloth.
o One of the first people to produce rubber products.
o First civilization to use a writing system known as Mayan
hieroglyphics.
o Skilled in mathematics and created a number system based
on the numeral 20.
o Developed the concept of zero and positional value.
Inca Civilization
• The following were the scientific ideas and tools that they developed
to help them in everyday life:
1. Roads paved with stones;
2. Stone buildings that surmounted earthquakes and other
disasters;
3. Irrigation system and technique for storing water for their
crops to grow in all types of land;
4. Calendar with 12 months to mark their religious festivals and
prepare them for planting season;
5. The first suspension bridge;
6. Quipu, a system of knotted ropes to keep records that only
experts can interpret; and
7. Inca textiles since cloth was one of the specially prized
artistic achievements.
Aztec Civilization
• They also made substantial contributions to science and technology
and to the society as a whole. Some of their contributions are:
1. Mandatory education – it is an early form of universal or
inclusive education.
2. Chocolates – they developed chocolate and used it as
currency. They highly value cacao beans and made it also
as part of their tribute to their gods.
3. Antispasmodic medication – help prevent muscle
spasms and relax muscles which could help during surgery.
4. Chinampa – a form of Aztec technology for agricultural
farming in which the land was divided into rectangular areas
and surrounded by canals.
5. Aztec calendar – this enabled them to plan their activities,
rituals and planting season.
6. Inventio of the canoe – a light narrow boat used for
traveling in water system.
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Development of Science in Asia
India
• They are known for manufacturing iron and in metallurgical works.
• They are also famous in medicine. Ayurveda is a system of
traditional medicine that originated in ancient India. They
discovered some medicinal properties of plants that led them to
develop medicines to cure various illness.
• India is also notable in the field of astronomy. They developed
theories on the configuration of the universe, the spherical self-
supporting Earth, and the year of 360 days with 12 equal parts of
30 days each.
• India is also known for their mathematics. The people in Indus
Valley Civilization tried to standardize measurement of length to a
high degree of accuracy and designed a ruler, the Mohenjo-Daro
ruler (Bisht 1982).
• Famous Indian astronomers Aryabhata (introduced number of
trigonometric functions, tables & techniques and algorithms of
algebra), Brahmagupta (suggested that gravity was a force of
attraction and explained the use of zero as both a placeholder and
a decimal digit) and Madhava (considered as the founder of
mathematical analysis).
China
• Chinese civilizations have greatly influenced many of its neighbor
countries like Korea, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand,
Cambodia, Myanmar and other countries.
• They are known for traditional medicines. They discovered various
medical properties and uses of different plants and animals to cure
human illnesses.
• In terms of technology, the Chinese are known to develop many
tools. Famous discoveries and inventions were compass,
papermaking, gunpowder, printing tools, iron plough, wheelbarrow,
propeller among others.
• In the field of astronomy, they made significant records on
supernovas, lunar and solar eclipses and comets. They are also
known in the field of seismology.
• Chinese is one of the ancient civilizations with substantial
contribution in many areas of life like medicine, astronomy, science,
mathematics, arts, philosophy, and music.
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Middle East Countries
• Middle East countries are dominantly occupied by Muslims. The
common language of Arabic, access to Greek texts from the
Byzantine Empire and their proximity to India were contributory to
the intellectualizations of the Muslims and provided their scholars
knowledge to create innovations and develop new ideas.
• A Muslim scientist named Ibn al-Haytham is regarded as the
Father of Optics, especially for his empirical proof of the
intromission theory of light.
• Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi gave his name to the concept
of algorithm.
• Muslim mathematicians did make several refinements to the
number system such as introduction of decimal point.
• They also played important role in the foundation of the modern
chemistry.
• In the field of medicine, Ibn Sina pioneered the science of
experimental medicine and was first physician to conduct clinical
trials (Jacquart,2008)
Development of Science in Africa
• Africa is blessed with natural and mineral resources. Science also
emerged in this part long before the Europeans colonized it.
• Egyptian civilization has contributed in the field of astronomy,
mathematics and medicine. The development of geometry was a
product of necessity to preserve layout and ownership of farmlands
of the Egyptians living along the Nile River.
• Egypt was known to be a center of alchemy. They tried to study
human anatomy and pharmacology and applied important
components such as examination, diagnosis, treatment and
prognosis for the treatment of diseases.
• Astronomy was also famous in the African region. Documents
show that Africans used three types of calendars: lunar, solar and
stellar or combination of three.
• Metallurgy was also known in the African region. They invented
metal tools used in their homes, agriculture and in building
magnificent architectures.
• Mathematics was also known to be prominent in the life of early
people in the Africa.
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RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig
Additional Knowledge
Turning Points in History - Scientific Revolution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hodYUDDfsY
Guided Exercises / Learning Activities
Activity 1
List at least 5 inventors or scientists with their invention that have great impact
to the society.
References
Serafica, JP. J. (2018) et.al. Science Technology and Society. Rex Book Store
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/OrbitsHistory/page2.php
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/big-history-project/big-bang/how-did-big-
bang-change/a/nicolaus-copernicus-bh
https://www.space.com/15684-nicolaus-copernicus.html
https://www.britannica.com/science/anthropology/History-of-anthropology
https://pmhealthnp.com/pmhnp-topics/sigmund-freud-psychoanalytic-theory/
Science, Technology and Society – a. morada 9
