Science, Technology

and Society
 Module 1
Historical Antecedents
in the Course of Science
and Technology
 Lesson 1.
Introduction to Science,
Technology and Science
 Science comes from the Latin word scientia,
meaning 'knowledge'. It refers to a systematic
and methodical activity of building and
organizing knowledge about how the universe
behaves through observation, experimentation
or both. According to the famous American
science historian, John Heilbron (2003, p. vii),
“Modern science is a discovery as well as an
invention.”
 Heilbron considered science as a
discovery of regularity in nature, enough for
natural phenomena to be described by
principles and laws. He also explained that
science required invention to devise
techniques, abstractions, apparatuses, and
organizations to describe these natural
regularities and their law-like descriptions.
 Technology, for its part, is the application
of scientific knowledge, laws, and
principles to produce services, materials,
tools, and machines aimed at solving
real-world problems. It comes from the
Greek root word techne, meaning 'art,
skill, or cunning of hand'.
“What defines a technological tool-one historical
definition-is something that takes a human's sense
or ability and augments it and makes it more
powerful. So, for example, I wear contact lenses or
glasses; that is a technology that enhances my
human ability of vision and makes it better.”
 Lesson 2.
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.
 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.
 Transportation was significant during
that time because people were trying to go
places and discover new horizons. They
travelled to search for food and find better
locations for their settlements.
 Transportation was
significant during that time
because people were
trying to go places and
discover new horizons.
They travelled to search for
food and find better
locations for their
settlements.
 Communication was
also essential in their
endeavors to discover and
occupy new places. They
needed a way to
communicate with the
natives of the areas they
visited so as to facilitate
trade and prevent possible
conflicts.
 Weapons and armors
were important as well in
the discovery of new
places or the establishment
of new alliances with other
tribes. At that time, there
was always a risk of conflict
when people met others
with different culture and
orientations.
 A primary challenge
they faced was the
conservation of life. The
early people might have
been successful in
harnessing the rich
resources that the world
could provide, but their
survival posed a great
problem.
 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

One of the major

contributions of the Sumerians
is the development of the first
writing system known as
cuneiform. It is a system that
utilizes word pictures and
triangular symbols which are
carved on clay using 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 in the world but also for
the way it was erected.
 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.
 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. It was difficult
to get water from the rivers,
thus they could not maintain
farmlands.
 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 Plow
Another farm technology
invented by 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 seeds would
be planted.
 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.
 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.
 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 the infrastructures established by
the pharaohs. Aside from engineering technology, the
Egyptians have contributed other practical things that
the world now considers as essential.It is thus safe to
say that the pyramids are not the only contribution of
the Egyptian civilization to the modern world.
 Paper or 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.
 Ink
When the Egyptians
invented the papyrus or the
paper,engraving ceased to
be used in writing.
 Hieroglyphics
Like the Sumerians, the
Egyptians also developed a
system of writing using
symbols, known as
hieroglyphics.
 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.
 Wig
Another cosmetic invention
of ancient Egyptians is the wig.
At present, wigs are used to
enhance the appearance of
people who are balding or those
who want to try new hair trends.
Meanwhile, during the ancient
Egyptian times, wigs were worn
for health and wellness rather
than for aesthetic purposes.
 Wig
Another cosmetic invention
of ancient Egyptians is the wig.
At present, wigs are used to
enhance the appearance of
people who are balding or those
who want to try new hair trends.
Meanwhile, during the ancient
Egyptian times, wigs were worn
for health and wellness rather
than for aesthetic purposes.
 Water Clock/Clepsydra

Another important ancient

Egyptian contribution is the water
clock. This device utilizes gravity that
affects the flow of water from one
vessel to 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 it is 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 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.
 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. When paper was
invented, it became easier for the
Romans to "publish"matters that
needed the attention of the Roman
citizens.
 Bound Books or Codex
With the invention of
paper, it became easier for
civilizations to write down
everything that happened in
their time. Record-keeping
was much easier since paper
did not easily break, was
lightweight, and did not
occupy much space.
 Roman Architecture
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 Architecture
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.
 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. It was famous among other ancient civilizations
because of its silk trade. Not a great amount was
written about ancient China partly due to its distance
from the other civilizations. Despite its less popular
status among the early civilizations, one cannot
discredit the significant contributions of Chinese
civilization to the world.
 Silk
One of the things that
connected Far East China to
the world is silk. Although silk
is naturally produced by
silkworms, the Chinese were
the ones who developed the
technology to harvest the silk
and process it to produce
paper and clothing
 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.
 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 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.
 Gunpowder

The gunpowder is one of the

most interesting inventions in
China. Originally, it 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
actually generate large amounts of
heat and gas in an instant.
 Lesson 3.
Medieval age
 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 in population
decline, but during the latter part of the
period, there was a significant rise in
population. Trade and commerce among
nations increased, which resulted in
greater demands for transportation
technology. Some of the most innovative
minds came from this period.
 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 a
piece of paper, which then made an
exact impression on paper.
 MICROSCOPE

Another invention in the Middle

Ages is the microscope. Growing
populations caused massive migration
and urbanization during the period.
More and more people transferred to
polluted and populated urban areas
which resulted in more people getting
sick and needing medical attention. To
develop the proper medicines for
illnesses, experts must understand the
sickness through an investigation.
 TELESCOPE
Since the Middle Ages
was also known as the Age of
Exploration, the need for
nautical inventions was high.
Considering the vast and
empty oceans that separated
lands, ship captains needed
to see far and wide for them
to navigate or to avoid
dangers at sea.
 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 as defensive
instruments. For open-area battles,
people developed crossbows and
longbows so that they could attack the
enemies at long ranges, keeping
themselves safe with the protection of
walls and fortresses.
 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 as defensive
instruments. For open-area battles,
people developed crossbows and
longbows so that they could attack the
enemies at long ranges, keeping
themselves safe with the protection of
walls and fortresses.
 Lesson 4.
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.
 PASTEURIZATION
As people were able to
develop better means of
production to meet the needs of
the population, food
preservation and food safety
became an issue. The challenge
to keep manufactured food from
deteriorating was greater for
dairy products, especially milk,
since they usually spoiled faster.
 PETROLEUM REFINERY

The modern times demanded

better means of powering homes
and transportation. At first, people
used animal oils for generating light
to illuminate their homes. However,
the production of animal oils could
not keep up with the demand.
Faced with this concern, Samuel M.
Kier was able to invent kerosene by
refining petroleum.
 TELEPHONE

Governments likewise needed

some kind of communication
system which would allow them to
administer their states well.
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
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.
 CALCULATOR
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.
 Lesson 5.
Philippine Invention
 Despite being considered a developing country,
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 harsh tropical environment.
 SALAMANDER AMPHIBIOUS
TRICYCLE
It has become ordinary for
Filipinos to convert transport
vehicles into something more
useful. An example is the
conversion of American military
jeeps used in World War II into
jeepneys. Another Filipino
innovation is the addition of a
sidecar to a motorcycle,
transforming it into a tricycle to
accommodate more passengers.
 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. The SALt
lamp is safer as it poses no risk of
fire and emits no toxic gases.
 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 was 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
A major innovation that
changed the transportation
industry in the Philippines
was the development of
the jeepney.
QUESTIONS?