Jasmin C.

Damian
BSES 1-1
Activity I
1. Please download “World History: Cultures, States, and Societies to 1500” from https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/history-textbooks/2/.

2. Fill in the table below with the necessary information that may be obtained from the book (or other sources in some cases). 
Look at the item in the “Invention/Discovery” column.  Go to the page indicated.  Read about the item. Learn about what it is
and how it is used (you may consult other resources if necessary).  Browse the book for information about the civilization that
developed the item to understand why the item/s needed to be developed.  In the last column, try to justify the invention of the
item/s.

Civilization/ Period Invention/Discovery Description of the item and/or how it works Why do you think the
in history  invention/discovery was important for
the civilization/society?

Sumerians/Ancient Cuneiform (p. 29) “a written script of wedge shaped marks;” The cuneiform was essential for
“styluses made of reed to write on clay communication and record keeping. 
tablets that were dried and could be stored;” The Sumerians needed it to manage
used for keeping “written records describing the affairs of the city (financial
financial transactions, court proceedings, transactions, court proceedings,
administrative decisions, and architectural administrative decisions, and
plans;”  also used to write legends, epic architectural plans), and for trade with
poems, chants, and prayers. [Source: World other cities.  They also used it to
History: Cultures, States, and Societies to record stories, poems and prayers,
1500] ensuring that they can be passed on to
the next generation. 
Mesopotamia Irrigation, drainage -It is a process of applying controlled -It is significant because they even
Period and ditches, water amount of water and helps to increase used it for trading and communication.
Sumerian reserves (p. 37) farming crops and reproduce a disturbed These inventions of Sumerian helps
soils in dry areas and location. It is used to their agricultural process. The
regulate the flow of water in order to avoid irrigation and drainage was important
flooding, used for trading, communication, for food control. The Mesopotamia
storing water in reservoirs for agriculture also depend from the water provided
and for themselves. by the invention of agricultural
surpluses and daily necessities.

Ancient Egyptians Hieroglyphics and -Hieroglyphics is a written form combine -It is significant because the Egyptian
papyrus (p. 44) with pictures and symbols used to record the used it for administrative, commercial
history of Egypt’s elite for administrative and many other purposes. The
and other purposes. It is also used for ritual hieroglyphics and papyrus is
text. While papyrus is a paper of Egyptian, important for communication and
for maintaining official. maintaining records.

Ancient China Era Moveable-type -It is a wooden tool which systematically -This invention was essential for
printing (p. 161) organized into boxes which needed ink to education in which it was the reason
function into a paper. why the books on multitude of topics
especially classic and histories became
broadly and inexpensively available. It
also contributed to an increase in
literacy and wider exposure to new
ideas.

Ancient China Gunpowder (p. 162) -During the song dynasty, it is the weapon -The gunpowder is an essential tool
used by the ancient times. It is made from used for war. It was the reason for the
experimenting saltpeter, sulfur, and development explosives on their era
charcoal. and it is used for launching projectiles.
 It was classified as one of the great
invention because it is a useful and
helpful for them in the times of
combat.

Peloponnesian/ Catapult (p. 200) -A catapult may be a ballistic -This is useful and helpful tool and
Athenian device accustomed launch a projectile a also the most effective weapon to
good distance without the help of target something using its missiles and
gunpowder or other propellants – heavy stones during a battle. It is
particularly various sorts of ancient and essential for war use to launch big
medieval siege engines. A catapult practices projectiles to opponent or use to
the unexpected release of stored potential destroy city gates and walls.
energy to drive its payload.

Greeks/Early Hoplon (p. 187) -A gear that is well known as the helmet -The hoplon is essential in order to
Archaic which uses by a lot of warriors to protect help soldiers to protect themselves and
them and used it as a shield. It is used by it also used for their formation. It can
hoplite as a defensive tool. also use to attack their opponent by
shoving it during battle or war.

Hellenistic Period Pharos (p.212) -It is an ancient light house which is use to -It is important because it helps the
guide ships or sailors at night. ship and boat seafaring at night, it was
located beside the coastal sea. It is
important for guiding ships at night.

Hellenistic Period Heat ray (p. 212) -It transmit a narrow beam of -It is essential because this serve as
electromagnetic energy and an equipment primary weapon used by the Martians.
used in war. It is consisted of different It helps the innovation of combat
angles of mirrors in order to direct heat at which consists of usually a multiple
 one point. group of soldiers. It can also be used
to start fire to burn ships.

Period of European Heavy plow (p.434) -It is for farming that allowing farmers to -It is essential for the agricultural
plow deeper into the thick soil in order to purposes which helps plowing soil and
cultivate. It is an iron tool for farming. it eliminated cross plowing. This
invention helps a lot of farmers and it
serves as a way to prosperity and it led
to increase in population density and
in urbanization.

Period of European Three field system of -It is planting system followed by farmers -This is important because this serves
agriculture (p.435) which fields would have one third given for as a way to prosperity and it created a
cereal crops, one third to crops such as breeding ground for economic growth.
legumes (increase fertility in soil) and a It helps and allow farmers to plant a
third left fallow (unplanted). lot of crops in order to increase the
production.

Post- Classical Eyeglasses (p. 461) -The advance and development of lenses -The eyeglasses was essential to use
period in Western which use lenses or optical items that fit for vision correction. It is important
Europe inside eyewear frames to enhance and/or for people who had problem in vision
correct the wearer’s vision like magnifying and also it is a big help to read small
glass. text and to see small things.
Activity II
Reflect on the characteristics of the societies in the ancient civilizations.  What were the concerns during those times?  Write a 300-
word essay about how you think the needs of the societies in the past differ with what we need today.  How can the differences in past
and present needs partly affect the kind of inventions produced? Write your essay below.
Thousands of years had passed and the people around the world have developed, progressed and eventually created a
civilization. The traditional civilization encompasses a great impact and shaped on our lives today by its inventions, progress and
contributions. The various inventions and discoveries early period and eras contains a big contribution not only within the Philippines
but also in the world. The norms, cultures and also the way of living before was still adopted and still affect the modern world. In the
early eras, people innovated and developed new ideas and inventions that they used and became important for agriculture,
transportation and many more which is no different from the past. Some of the inventions today are just based on the past knowledge
and the present is only the continuation and development of the past inventions where different ideas is only improvised and enhanced
to increase its effectiveness and became highly functional for a better outcome.

There are important structural likenesses between ancient and modern civilization that tell continuities from the origins of
civilization to this day, but there also are some discontinuities that have changed the character of life over time. Perhaps the
foremost obvious example which will be the primary thing on everyone’s mind is that the difference in technology. It’s obvious that
technology today is far more advanced that technology within the ancient world. Technology today is additionally cosmopolitan and
comparatively cheap. Everyone uses engineering today, while the best technology gadgets manufactured within the ancient world
were relatively rare and few people owed or used technology within the sense that we understand “technology.” Lastly, over time
these advancements brought people into a more efficient living environment, with higher population and spread of cultural, political,
economic, and social ideals over large geographical areas. Without the alphabet, our government, and also the wheel, I couldn't picture
society being the identical because it is today.