Science

- Systematized body of knowledge derived from a unique way of thinking and methodical
observation of natural phenomena, formulation of a hypothesis, conducting one or more
experiments to test the hypothesis, and drawing a conclusion that confirms or modifies the
hypothesis.

Technology

- Is about taking action to meet a human need rather than merely understanding the workings
of the natural world, which is the goal of science.

Society

- Is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group

sharing the same geographical or social territory.

Science, technology, and society refer to the study of how people interact with the scientific
knowledge and technology they create and how these interactions shape our social, economic,
cultural, and political structures. It also refers to:

 How scientific knowledge and technological advances impact our individual and
collective behavior.
 how technology can be used to benefit society and its citizens.
 how we can use technology responsibly to sustain our environment and society.

HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE COURSE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The medieval period was witness to the dominancy of religious doctrine, where Science and
Philosophy were relegated to the background. This was described by historians as:

- the Dark Age

- the Enlightenment Age
- the Cinquecento
- the Reformation Age
- the Renaissance
Ancient Times (Transportation, Communication, Weapons and Armors, and Conservation of Life)

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.

A. CUNEIFORM
 It is the first writing system known as cuneiform.
 It is a system that utilizes word pictures and triangular symbols which are curved on
clay wedge instruments and then left to dry.

B. URUK CITY
 Another important contribution of the Sumerians is the City of Uruk. It is a great
wonder not only because it is the first true city in the world but also for the way it was
erected. There were no building stones in the location of this city and lumber was
limited, making the construction a big challenge. The Sumerians were able to build the
city using only mud or clay from the river, which they mixed the reeds, producing
sunbaked bricks- a true engineering feat.

C. 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, without much building materials, the structure was
constructed using sunbaked bricks. The ziggurat served as the sacred place of their
chief god, where only their priests were allowed to enter. As such, even today, people
still enjoy and marvel at the preserved Great Ziggurat of Ur.

D. IRRIGATION AND DIKES

 As the 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.

E. 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.

F. 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 first wheels were not
made for transportation but for farm work and food processes. With the use of the
wheel and axle, mass production was made easier.
 Farmers were able to mill grains with less effort in less time.

G. THE PLOW
 Another farm technology invented by the Mesopotamians is the plow. Humans evolved
from being food gatherers to farm cultivators. However, farmers needed technology
which would enable them to dig the ground where the seeds would be planted. The
plow was invented to dig the earth at a faster pace. As the plow breaks the ground, the
farmer would just drop the seeds and farm work would already be done.
  With this tool, farmers could cultivate larger parcels of land faster, enabling them to
mass produce food without taking so much effort and time.

H. THE ROADS
 To facilitate faster and easier travel, the Sumerians developed the first roads. With this
work, the flow of traffic becomes faster and more organized. They made the roads with
the same technology they used in making the sunbaked bricks that they laid down on
the ground.

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 about the infrastructures established by the pharaohs. Aside from
engineering technology, the Egyptians have contributed other practical things that the
world now considers as essentials. It is thus safe to say that the pyramids are not the
only contribution of the Egyptians civilization to the modern world.

A. PAPER OF 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.
 However, safe-keeping and transporting them were a major problem. Clay tablets were
very fragile, heavy, and delicate to handle. So, bringing them to places was a major
challenge.

B. INK
 When the Egyptians invented the papyrus of the paper, engraving ceased to be used
in writing. As a result, the Egyptians invented ink by combining soot with different
chemicals to produce inks of different colors. Ink must withstand the elements of
nature since it was used to record history, culture, and codified laws. It must also be
tamper-proof so that people cannot simply tinker with those written down by
authorities.

C. HIEROGLYPHICS
 Like the Sumerians, the Egyptians also developed a system of writing using symbols,
known as hieroglyphics. This form of writing can still be seen today and remains as
famous as the pyramids where they were found.
 Hieroglyphics was the language that tells the modern world of the history and culture
of the ancient Egyptians. Their records were well-preserved since they were carved at
the walls of pyramids and other important Egyptians structures.

D. 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. Egyptians wore Kohl around
the eyes to prevent and even cure eye diseases. Kohl was 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. At present, the
cosmetic industry is a booming multibillion industry.

E. WIG
 The wigs were used to protect the shaved heads of the wealthy Egyptians from the
harmful rays of the sun. Wearing a wig was better than putting on a scarf or any other
 head cover since wig allowed heat to escape. Moreover, it was considered cleaner
than natural hair because it prevented the accumulation of head lice.

F. WATER CLOCK/CLEPSYDRA
 This device utilizes gravity that affects the flow of water from one vessel 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 its full. In the process, time is measured.
The water clock was widely used as a timekeeping device during ancient times.

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.

A. 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. According to legends, the great Babylonian King
Nebuchadnezzar II built the gardens for his wife, Queen Amytis. However, no physical
evidence has been found to prove the existence of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Its exact location is also unknown.

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.

A. ALARM CLOCK
 One of the most utilized gadgets today that was invented by the ancient Greeks is the
alarm clock. Although the alarm clock during that time did not resemble the present-
day alarm clock, the purpose was just the same- to tell an individual when to stop or
when to start.
 The ancient Greek’s alarm clocks used large, complicated mechanisms to time the
alarm. They made use of water (or sometimes small stones or sand) that dropped into
drums which sounded the alarm.

B. 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 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.
 A. 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. These documents were
edited and published on the same day that they were recorded. This way, the Romans
enjoyed easy access to government information the same way we benefit from
present-day newspapers.

B. BOUND BOOKS or CODEX

 According to sources, Julius Caesar started the tradition of stacking up papyrus to
form pages of a book.
 Later, they were able to provide covers to protect the papyrus.

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.

A. ROMAN NUMERALS
 Roman devised their own number system that would meet their increasing
communication and trade concerns.

CHINESE CIVILIZATION

 The Chinese Civilization is the oldest civilization in Asia, If not the world. Also known
as the middle kingdom, China is located on the far east of Asia.

A. 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 produced paper and clothing. Silk
production resulted in the creation of a product for trade.

B. 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.
Tea production was developed when an unknown Chinese investor created a machine
that was able to shred tea leaves into strips.

C. 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 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, it showcased the
extent of Chinese Engineering technology at that time.

D. GUNPOWDER
 The gunpowder is one of the most interesting inventions in China. Originally, it was
developed by Chinese Alchemists who aimed to achieved 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 pf heat and
gas in an instant.
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. 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.

A. WAR WEAPONS
 Since wars were widespread during the Middle Ages, great development in weaponry
technology also occurred. All sides must develop weaponry not only as offensive tools
but also 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.

B. 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 the piece of paper, which then made an
exact impression on paper. This general invention soon evolved to be the mechanical
printing press which was eventually used all over the world.

C. MICROSCOPE
 To develop the proper medicines for illnesses, experts must understand the sickness
through an investigation. Thus, they needed the device that could magnify things
invisible to the eye. Guided by the principles used for the invention of eyeglasses in
earlier years, Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the first compound microscope.

D. TELESCOPE
 The invention of the telescope, an optical instrument that helps in the observation of
remote objects, was a great help for navigators during this time. Together with the
telescope, the invention of the compass, oars, and rudders made sea travelling easier
and safer.

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. Machines that
required animals to operate must thus be upgraded.

A. PASTEURIZATION
 Louis Pasteur, a French biologist, microbiologist, and chemist, found a way to solve
the problem. He invented pasteurization, the process of heating dairy products to kill
the harmful bacteria that allow them to spoil faster. Through this process, milk can be
stored and consumed for a long period. It also prevented illnesses caused by harmful
bacteria.

B. PETROLEUM REFINERY
 Samuel M. Kier was able to invent kerosene by refining petroleum. Kerosene was later
referred to as “illuminating oil” because it was used at first to provide lighting to homes.
After some time, it was applied for heating purposes. The development of kerosene
established the petroleum refinery industry.
 C. TELEPHONE
 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.

D. CALCULATOR
 Although an earlier version of the calculator had already been developed,
circumstances in modern times required a faster way to compute more complicated
equations. Computing devices must also be easy to carry since they would be utilized
on a day-to-day basis. 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.

PHILIPPINE INVENTION

 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.

A. SALAMANDER AMPHIBIOUS TRICYCLE

 H2O Technologies headed by Dominic N. Chung and Lamberto Armada, together with
Chief Designer Victor “Atoy” Llave, was able to invent the Salamander, an amphibious
tricycle that can cross not only flooded streets but also rivers and lakes. It may also be
utilized to travel from island to island. Since the Philippines is an archipelago, the
Salamander is a useful invention that has a lot of potential.

B. 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.

C. 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. It was made by placing a native
laundry basket inside a bigger one and hot water bottles were inserted between the
baskets to provide warmth and a makeshift hood to allow oxygen circulation.

D. MOSQUITO OVICIDAL/LARVICIDAL TRAP SYSTEM

 In 2010, the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology
Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) introduced 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.

E. EJEEPNEY
 The jeepney dominated the Philippine streets and is considered as the primary mode
of transportation of most Filipinos. However, the diesel-powered jeepney produces
large quantities of black smoke and is a major contributor to noise pollution. To counter
these disadvantages, the electric jeepney (ejeepney) was developed. It is
environmentally friendly since it does not emit any smoke and noise.