HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS
Throughout history, ancient civilizations thrived out of necessity for survival, and the
innate talents of people. Science and technology have been present since the earliest times,
evolving as people sought to enhance their lives. Tools, machines, and techniques were developed
and used without a full understanding of their workings or compositions.
The influence of science and technology on modern society is extensive, affecting areas
such as politics, medicine, transportation, agriculture, and communications. The impacts of these
advancements are pervasive, shaping various aspects of our daily lives.
ANCIENT TIMES
In ancient times, people were concerned with transportation and navigation,
communication and record-keeping, mass production, security and protection, health aesthetics,
and agriculture.
SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION
Sumer was the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and
Kuwait) which is generally considered the cradle of civilization. The name comes from
Akkadian. The Sumerians called themselves “the black headed people” 3500 B.C. – 2000 B.C
(although other sources say that civilization started as early as 3000 B.C). The word Mesopotamia
is a Greek word meaning “Land between the Rivers.” The Sumerians were also skilled. They
created the story of Gilgamesh, an epic, a long story about a hero.
INVENTIONS:
➢ Built temples called ziggurats in the center of their cities.
➢ Developed trade, and established industries,
➢ They invented the sailboat.
➢ Cuneiform
➢ Cart and Wheels
➢ HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
➢ AGRICULTURE
➢ The plow
➢ Mass-Produce Bricks
➢ Mathematics
➢ Roads
➢ Calendar
➢ The Architecture and Arts
• ZIGGURAT - They were made of mud bricks, had tiered levels with a shrine or temple at
the top, and symbolized the connection between heaven and earth. Ziggurats played a
pivotal role in Mesopotamian society, attracting worshippers and influencing later
architectural traditions. The reason for the construction of ziggurats by ancient
Mesopotamians was primarily religious. They believed that these structures served as
physical homes for their gods, providing a means to connect with the divine. Ziggurats
were seen as sacred places where rituals and offerings could be performed to honor and
communicate with the gods. Additionally, ziggurats also had administrative functions,
serving as centers for managing religious affairs and overseeing the distribution of
resources in society.
• DEVELOPED TRADE AND ESTABLISHED INDUSTRIES
1. Purpose and Function: Ziggurats were religious structures where people worshipped gods.
They were believed to be homes for the gods and places for ceremonies.
2. Architectural Characteristics: Ziggurats were made of stacked platforms or steps, often from
mud bricks. They had a shrine or temple on the top and ramps or stairs to reach higher levels.
3. Religious Significance: Ziggurats were linked to specific gods worshipped by the people who
built them. They were seen as sacred places where rituals were performed to honor the gods.
4. Symbolic Importance: Ziggurats represented a connection between heaven and earth. The
shape and tiers of the ziggurat showed the order of the gods and their relationship to humans.
5. Construction and Decoration: Ziggurats were built using sun-dried mud bricks and sometimes
had colorful bricks and carvings. Inscriptions and reliefs depicted religious stories.
6. Role in Society: Ziggurats were important gathering places for religious activities. They
attracted worshippers and were managed by priests who conducted rituals.
7. Influence and Legacy: Ziggurats influenced later cultures' architectural designs, like the
stepped pyramids in Assyria and Mesoamerican civilizations. They left a lasting impact on
temple complexes worldwide.
• SAILBOAT - The reason they build sailboats is to navigate the rivers and waterways of
Mesopotamia, enabling efficient transportation of goods and facilitating trade. Sailboats
played a crucial role in the growth of their economy, allowing them to expand their
influence through maritime exploration and establish connections with neighboring
cultures. The development of sailboats also fostered cultural exchange, as the Sumerians
interacted with other civilizations, sharing ideas, knowledge, and technologies.
• CUNEIFORM - The purpose of cuneiform writing was to facilitate record-keeping,
communication, cultural preservation, legal and administrative functions, and education in
ancient Sumerian society. It provided a means to document and transmit information across
time and space, allowing for the organization of data, the exchange of messages, and the
expression of cultural and intellectual ideas.
• CART AND WHEELS - The introduction of the wheel and cart had a profound impact
on Sumerian society. It made the transportation of heavy loads more efficient, enabling the
movement of goods between distant regions and fostering trade networks. The carts
facilitated the growth of cities and the development of centralized economies.
• HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING - The knowledge and techniques of Sumerian hydraulic
engineering were passed on to subsequent civilizations in the region, such as the
Babylonians and Assyrians, who further developed and expanded upon these practices.
• MATHEMATICS - The Sumerians used cuneiform writing to record mathematical
knowledge on clay tablets. These tablets contain mathematical problems, calculations, and
tables. One of the most famous mathematical tablets is the Plimpton 322 tablet, which
contains a list of Pythagorean triples, showing that the Sumerians had knowledge of the
Pythagorean theorem long before the ancient Greeks.
• CALENDAR - The Sumerian calendar also incorporated a seven-day week, which had a
significant impact on the development of the seven-day week that is widely used today.
Each day of the week was associated with a celestial body or deity. It is important to note
that the Sumerian calendar evolved over time and was later adopted and adapted by other
civilizations in the region, such as the Babylonians and Assyrians, who made further
refinements to the calendar system.
• BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION - Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers. The Babylonians were great builders, engineers, and architects. One of
their major contributions is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of
the ancient world.
• EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION - Well-known for their engineering feats especially the
infrastructures established by Pharaoh, the Egyptians also contributed other practical things
that the world now considers as essential.
• Paper or Papyrus One of the earlier contributions of Egyptians - Papyrus – a thick type
of paper made from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus (plants that grew
abundantly along the Nile River in Egypt). They were able to process the plant to produce
thin sheets on which one could write down things. Lighter and thinner than clay tablets, it
was easy to carry and store. A major accomplishment in Egyptian record-keeping and
communications.
• Ink - Invented by the Egyptians used to write in papyrus. Made by combining soot with
different chemicals to produce inks of different colors. Withstands the elements of nature
since it was used to record history, culture, and codified laws. Tamper-proof so that it could
not simply tinker with those written down by authorities.
• Hieroglyphics - Formal writing system used by the ancient Egyptians that combined
Logographic and alphabetic elements. A character of the ancient Egyptian writing system.
Egyptians used cursive hieroglyphics for religious literature on papyrus and wood. Can be
seen today and remains to be as famous as the pyramids where they were found.
• Cosmetics - Used for both health and aesthetic reasons. Kohl – used around the eyes to
prevent and even cure eye diseases. It is 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.
• Wig - Another cosmetic invention of ancient Egyptians. Worn for health and wellness
rather than aesthetic purposes. Used to protect the shaved heads of the wealthy Egyptians
from harmful rays of the sun, better than putting on scarf. Considered cleaner than natural
hair because it prevented the accumulation of head lice.
• The Great Pyramids - Built during a time when Egypt was one of the richest and most
powerful civilizations in the world, the pyramids—especially the Great Pyramids of
Giza—are some of the most magnificent man-made structures in history. Their massive
scale reflects the unique role that the pharaoh, or king, played in ancient Egyptian society.
Ancient Egyptians believed that when the king died, part of his spirit (known as “ka”)
remained with his body. To properly care for his spirit, the corpse was mummified, and
everything the king would need in the afterlife was buried with him, including gold vessels,
food, furniture and other offerings. The pyramids became the focus of a cult of the dead
king that was supposed to continue well after his death. Their riches would provide not
only for him, but also for the relatives, officials and priests who were buried near him.
GREEK CIVILIZATION
• Water clock or clepsydra - A clepsydra, also known as a water clock, uses a controlled
flow of water from one container to another to measure time. The volume or level of the
water indicates how much time has passed. Plato used a water clock during his lectures that
consisted of four vessels aligned vertically. The top vessel provided water to the one below,
filling it within a set time. Once filled, water flowed faster into the third vessel, creating a
whistling noise by expelling air. Finally, the third vessel emptied into the bottom one, likely
serving as a timer during his lectures.
• Water Mill - In ancient Greek civilization, a water mill is often referred to as a "noria" or
"nory." The term "noria" is derived from the Greek word "nórē," which means "pipe" or
"water conduit." One significant Greek contribution to the world was the use of water mills,
crucial for food production in ancient times, particularly in grain milling for agriculture.
These mills, preferred over those powered by farm animals, were efficient, requiring less
effort and time as they operated with a large wheel and attached water buckets, needing
only access to rivers or flowing water.
ROMAN CIVILIZATION
• Roman gazettes - pivotal contributions, conveyed announcements to the people.
Engraved on metal or stone, these gazettes were publicly displayed. With the advent of
paper, Romans found it easier to "publish" crucial information for citizens, editing and
swiftly releasing documents on the same day they were recorded.
• Bound Books or Codex - A codex is a book with pages bound together, replacing ancient
scrolls, and allowing for easier reading and storage of information. The invention of paper
made it easier to keep records due to its durability, lightweight nature, and space
efficiency. This led to many civilizations adopting the practice, especially in documenting
historical events and new laws. Julius Caesar is credited with starting the tradition of
stacking papyrus to create book pages, with early covers made of wax that were later
replaced by more durable animal skin covers.
• Roman Architecture - Ancient Rome made significant contributions to the world of
architecture. The Roman builders were innovative and incorporated new technologies into
their designs while also updating old patterns to keep up with contemporary trends. The
impressive endurance of these majestic Roman structures over time and exposure to harsh
elements is a testament to their resilience.
• Roman Numerals - Roman numerals are a system of numbers used in ancient Rome and
still in use today in some contexts. They use letters from the Latin alphabet, such as I, V,
X, L, C, D, and M, to represent numbers. Each letter has a specific value, and their
combinations are used to express different numerical values.
CHINESE CIVILIZATION – Oldest Civilization in Asia, if not the world
known as the “middle kingdom.”
• Silk - One of the things that connected far east china to the world. It is silkworms that
naturally create silk; however, it is Chinese people that invented how to harvest the silk
and use it in clothing and paper thousands years ago. The oldest silk, which was found in
Henan Province, came from the Chinese Neolithic period and dates to around 3,630 BC.
Silk excavated from the Liangzhu culture site in Zhejiang Province dates to roughly 2570
BC.
• Alcohol - The earliest alcohol makers in Chinese legend were Yi Di and Du Kang of the
Xia Dynasty (about 2000 BC-1600 BC). Research shows that ordinary beer, with an
alcoholic content of 4% to 5%, was widely consumed in ancient China and was even
mentioned on oracle bone inscriptions as offerings to spirits during sacrifices in the Shang
Dynasty (1600 BC–1046 BC). Chinese discovered that adding more cooked grain in water
during fermentation could increase the alcohol content, so stronger drinks began to appear.
The inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula were widely believed to be the first brewers.
However, in 2013, a 9000-year-old pottery found in Henan province revealed the presence
of alcohol, 1000 years before. Alcohol is known as Jiu in Chinese and is often used as a
spiritual offering to Heaven and the Earth or ancestors in ancient China.
• Mechanical Clock - The world’s first clock was invented by Yi Xing, a Buddhist monk
and mathematician of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Yi’s clock operated with water steadily
dripping on a wheel that made a full revolution every 24 hours. Clocks were made with an
iron and bronze system of hooks, pins, locks and rods, but still followed Yi Xing’s clock
design. Hundreds of years later, Su Song, an astronomer and mechanist of the Song
Dynasty (960-1279), created a more sophisticated clock, making him the ancestor of the
modern clock. The world’s first mechanical clock -Water-driven Spherical Birds – was
invented by Yi Xing, a Buddhist monk in 725 A.D. It was operated by dripping water which
powered a wheel that made one revolution in 24 hours.
• Tea - 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 inventor created a machine that was able to
shred tea leaves into stripes. The machine was done using a wheel-based mechanism with
sharp edge attached to a wooden or ceramic pot. China thus became known for its tea
exports aside from its silk production. According to Chinese legend, tea was first drunk by
the Chinese Emperor Shen Nong around 2,737 BC. During the Tang (618-907) and Song
(960-1279) dynasties, tea production developed rapidly, and tea became a popular drink
around the country and the world. Cha Jing, written by Lu Yu in the Tang Dynasty, is
widely recognized as the world’s first scientific work about tea Production.
• Iron and Steel Smelting - Archaeological evidence revealed that iron smelting technology
was developed in China as early as 5th century BC in the Zhou Dynasty (1050 BC-256
BC). During The Spring & Autumn and Warring States periods (776-221 BC) China went
into a flourishing period for iron smelting. In the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) the central
government monopolized iron smelting, seeing remarkable development. The first famous
metallurgist in ancient China is Qiwu Huaiwen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-557AD),
who invented the process of using wrought iron and cast iron to make steel.
• Porcelain -a very specific kind of ceramic produced in extreme temperatures of a kiln.
Early in the 16th century BC during the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC), the ancient
prototypes of porcelain had already appeared in China. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the
skill of making porcelain was perfected, while in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the art of
Chinese porcelain reached its peak and became popular and famous throughout the world.
In 1708, the German Physicist Tschirnhausen invented European porcelain, thus ending
the Chinese porcelain monopoly.
• Compass - The earliest Chinese compasses were probably not originally invented for
navigation, but to harmonize environments and buildings in accordance with the geometric
principles of Feng Shui. It is proved that the earliest Chinese reference recording a
magnetic device used as a “direction finder” is in a Song Dynasty book dated from 960
to1279. A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions. The compass was
invented by the Chinese between the 2nd century BC and 1st century AD.
• Gunpowder - was developed by Chinese alchemists who aimed to achieve immortality.
They mixed charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate, but instead of creating an elixir of life,
they accidentally invented a black powder that could generate large amounts of heat and
gas in an instant. In ancient China, gunpowder and gunpowder-based weapons were
invented. And widely used by military forces to dispel invasion at the borders. The
interesting fact is that the Chinese used this discovery mainly for firecrackers while
Europeans created cannons and guns and dominated China in the mid-1800s.
• Movable-type Printing - The Chinese invention of Woodblock printing first appeared
over 2,000 years ago and produced the world’s first printings. In the Tang Dynasty (618-
907), Chinese began to print with carved blocks. Then in the 1040s, Bi Sheng of the
Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) invented movable clay type printing, which marked
the beginning of a major revolution in the history of printing. Until the Song Dynasty (960-
1279), a man named Bi Sheng (990–1051) invented movable type printing, making it
quicker and easier. These movable type pieces were later glued to an iron plate to print a
page and then broken up and redistributed for another page.
• Paper making - It is known to all that China was the first country in the world to make
proper paper. Paper was first made during the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-9 AD). Cai
Lun of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) successfully invented the world’s first batch of
paper using fishnets, tree bark, bits of rope and rags. Before paper was invented, the ancient
Chinese carved characters on pottery, animal bones and stones, cast them in bronzes, or
wrote them on bamboo or wooden strips and silk fabric. The invention and use of paper
brought a revolution in writing and paved the way for the invention of printing technology.
• Umbrella - The inventions of umbrellas can be traced back as early as 3500 years ago in
China. Lu Ban, a Chinese carpenter and inventor created the first umbrella. Inspired by
children using lotus leaves as rain shelter, he created an umbrella by making a flexible
framework covered by a cloth.
• Acupuncture - The oldest Chinese medicine book “Neijing”, also known as “The Classic
of Internal Medicine of the Yellow Emperor”, shows that acupuncture was widely used as
a therapy in China much before the time it was written.
• Earthquake Detector - According to court records of the later Han Dynasty, a
seismograph was created by the brilliant inventor Zhang Heng (78-140 AD) in 132 AD. In
138 AD, this instrument indicated an earthquake occurring in Longxi a thousand kilometers
away. Modern seismographs only began development in 1848 in Europe.
• Rocket - China is the hometown of rockets, ancient Chinese inventors created rockets by
applying counterforce produced by ignited gunpowder. According to history, in 228 A.D.
the Wei State already used torches attached to arrows to guard Chencang against the
invading troops of the Shu State.
• Bronze - The skill of producing bronze was mastered by ancient Chinese by 1700 B.C.
The Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 B.C.) and Zhou dynasties (1046-256 BC) brought China
into the Bronze Age and the making of bronze wares reached its peak in this period. Used
to make weapons, bronze tools and ritual vessels at that time. Improved ones were widely
used in military and entertainment activities in China.
• The Kite - Developed around 3,000 years ago by ancient Chinese. Mainly used for military
purposes such as sending messages, measuring distances, testing the wind and signaling.
• The Seed Drill - The seed drill is a device that plants the seed into soil at a uniform depth
and covers it. Without this device farmers had to plant the seeds by hand, resulting in waste
and uneven growth. Chinese use of seed drills can be dated back to the 2nd Century BC.
• Row Crop Farming - Chinese started planting crops in rows from the 6th century BC.
They planted individual seeds in rows, thus reducing seed loss and making crops grow
faster and stronger. This technology was not used in the western world until 2200 years
later.
• Toothbrush - The bristle toothbrush was invented in 1498 by Chinese who made
toothbrushes with coarse horse hairs attached to bone or bamboo handles. It was later
brought to the new world by Europeans.
• The Paper Money - First developed by the ancient Chinese, who started using folding
money at the end of the 8th or beginning of the 9th century AD. Originally used as privately
issued bills of credit or exchange notes.
• The Great Wall of China - Man-made structure that could be seen from outer space, The
Great Wall of China is said to be 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. The structure was so
massive and strong that it was said to have literally divided China from the rest of the
world.
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.
• Printing Press - Johann Gutenberg was able to invent the printing press, a more reliable
way of printing using a cast type. Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the "movable type"
printing press is one of the most important.
• Microscope - Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the first compound of microscope.
With this device. People were able to observe organisms that were normally unseen by the
naked eye.
• Telescope - Galileo was considered the first to invent the telescope but there is confusion
between Hans Lippershy and Galileo. Galileo also made a book by using the Telescope
called The Starry Messenger. The Telescope magnified 10 times what you could see
without it. The Telescope was made from wood and leather, which had a convex main lens
and a concave eyepiece.
MODERN TIMES - The booming world population during the 19th century onwards
demanded that more goods be produced at a faster rate. People needed efficient means of
transportation to trade goods, machines that needed animals to operate must be upgraded to faster
communication to establish connections between and among nations. Food and medicine were
some of their biggest challenges since health was of great concern.
• Pasteurization - The process of heating dairy products to kill the harmful bacteria that
allow the food to spoil faster. In this process, milk could be stored and consumed for a
longer time.
• Petroleum Refinery- Better means of powering homes and transportation. At first the used
animal oil for generating light to illuminate their homes. Samuel M. Kier was able to invent
kerosene by refining petroleum and it was later referred to as "illuminating oil" then it was
widely used in industry. An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant
where crude oil is transformed and refined into more useful products such as petroleum
naphtha, gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas,
jet fuel and fuel oils.
• Telephone - The development of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell was one of the
most important inventions because it was used to easily maintain connections and
communications and the government used to allow them to administer their states well.
• Calculator - It was made to compute large numbers faster and easier. This device is easy
to carry. Calculators have not only greatly enhanced our ability to perform the regular
computations that are involved in everyday life but provided humans with the ability to
understand mathematics on a greater scale than ever imagined.
• TELEVISION - is a machine with a screen. Televisions receive broadcasting signals and
change them into pictures and sound. The word Telegram television (also known as a TV)
is a machine with a screen. Televisions receive broadcasting signals and change them into
pictures and sound. The word "television" comes from the words tele (Greek for far away)
and vision (sight). The Scottist Jhn Logie Baird is largely credited for the invention of the
modern television. Baid successfully televised objects in outline in 1924, recognizable
human faces in 1925, and moving objects in 1928. Baird’s television technology caught on
swiftly.
PHILIPPINE INVENTIONS - The Philippines is known to be one of the most vulnerable
countries in terms of Natural disasters. Some of their build is from material indigenous materials
or created to adapt to the harsh tropical environment.
Salamander Amphibious Tricycle?
• Salt Lamp - One of the major needs in the Philippines, as a developing nation, is
electrification. Electricity powers various types of machines, including light sources. A
young Filipino inventor named Aisa Mijeno was able to invent a lightning (SALT) lamp,
an environment friendly light source that light on saltwater. A salt lamp is safer as it poses
no risk of time and no toxic gases.
• Medical Incubator - Dr. Fe del Mundo a Filipino pediatrician and the first Asian woman
admitted into Harvard Medical Scholl, devised a medical incubator made from indigenous
and cheap materials which did not run on electricity.
• Mosquito Ovicidal / Larvicidal Trap System - Dengue, a mosquito borne viral illness, is
endemic in tropical and subtropical areas, including the Philippines. This virus is usually
transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, rampant during the rainy season. The DOST-
ITDI OL trap research team designed the trap to detect, monitor, and control the population
of the dengue-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The trap works by attracting female
mosquitoes to lay eggs on the paddle drenched with an organic solution.
• E-jeepney - A major innovation that changed the transportation industry in the Philippines
was the development of the jeepney.
• Erythromycin - Dr. Abelardo Aguilar, a Scientist from the Philippines who discovered the
Erythromycin in 1949. Dr. Abelardo was testing samples of soils from his backyard and
isolated micro-organisms – a bacteria that lead to the development of the Antibiotic called
Erythromycin.
• Banana ketchup or banana sauce - is a popular Philippine fruit ketchup condiment made
from mashed banana, sugar, vinegar, and spices. Banana ketchup was first produced in the
Philippines during World War II, due to a lack of tomatoes and a comparatively high
production of bananas. Filipina food technologist Maria Y. Orosa (1893–1945) is credited
with inventing a banana ketchup recipe.
• Mole Remover - Rolando de la Cruz is a multi-awarded Filipino scientist and inventor who
developed an ingenuous formula that could easily remove deeply grown moles or warts
from the skin without leaving marks or hurting the patient. His formula was extracted from
cashew nut (Annacardium occidentale), which is common in the Philippines and locally
known as "kasoy". He was able to formulate a cream to remove warts and moles on the skin
and later, a painless treatment for the most common type of skin cancer, which the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently hailed as the outstanding
invention of the year.
