SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY

AND SOCIETY IN THE

MIDDLE AGES
• The period from 450 A.D. is commonly called the middle ages.
• This is usually divided into the so called Dark Ages, from 450 A.D. to 1450
A.D.
• Classical culture slowly died out.
• Only the Christianized Empire in Constantinople was able to guard the
classical heritage.
• The economy of the Middle ages from the 5th Century maybe described as
feudal.
• The economic basis of the feudal system was landmarked by its
independence on local agricultural production mostly consumed on the spot
and on handicraft industry.
• By the 11th century towns were well established and by the 12 th they were
growing in Northern France, England and Germany.

• The establishment, of these towns was crucial importance because it was

from tem that eventually were to come the bourgeois class to found
capitalism.

• European Universities were established in the 1100’s the science and

mathematics were given emphasis.
 THE IMPACT OF GREEK AND ARAB KNOWLEDGE

• It was in the avid intellectual activities in the Universities that

the came the bulk of Arab and Greek knowledge that had been
preserved in the Dark ages translated into Latin mostly from
Arabic and some directly from Greek.
 MEDIEVAL SCIENCE
• The totality of the medieval natural science achievement can be
summarized as:

 A few notes on minerals and natural history by St. Albert Magnate;

 A treaties on sporting birds by Emperor Frederick II;

 Some improvements in Alhazen’s optics by Dietrich or Witelo and

Frieburg, including an account of the rainbow.
 MEDIEVAL SCIENCE
 Criticism of Aristotle’s theory of motion by Buridan and Oreseme.

 Groteste thought science basically as means of illustrating theological

truths.

 Believing that the light was analogous to the divine illuminations, he

studied optics.

 At the common level however life in medieval times was full of

irrational beliefs, mysticism and superstitions.
TECHNOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE AGES
OF EUROPE

• New Horse Harness–the

horse-collar pulling on the
shoulders of the horse
instead of a band hugging
his breast, allowed the horse
to increases its “attractive”
effort five times.
The water-mill and windmill
was invented in the stone age.
By using a suitable mechanism
, its rotary motion could be
converted to reciprocal motion
making it a source of general
power.
 Windmill from Persia
reached Europe about
1100 A.D. It was
primarily for blowing
below, filling cloth,
forging iron, sawing,
weaving and threshing.
 Clock and Watch – just like the
horse collar, the clock and watch
seemed to have come from China,
though it was developed into the
present form in Europe. In the 11 th
century an indigenous mechanism
was devised which imparted a to
and fro motion, thus the
mechanical clock was born.
 The Mariner’s magnetic
compass – the ability of a
natural magnet to show
direction was known to
the Chinese several
centuries ago or about the
6th century.
 The sternpost rudder
– it came also from
China, this led to the
development of the
sail that could be
adjusted such that ship
voyages could be
made rougher weather.
 Lenses with spectacle –
the discovery of the
lenses resulted in the
invention of the
spectacles in Italy around
1350 A.D. this gave
impetus to the study of
light or optics.
• Gunpowder and cannon – of
all the inventions introduced to
Europe in the middle ages
gunpowder of Chinese origin
was to have a greatest effect
scientifically, politically, and
economically. Their use and
was initiated a technical
revolution in warfare
comparable only to what
happened at the start of the Iron
Ages.
 Paper– paper and
paper-making originated
from China based on
vegetable fibers. It was
already widely used in
China as a cheap writing
material in the 1st
century B.C.
 Printing– like paper,
printing originated in
China using movable
wooden type. It was
introduced in Europe in
the middle of the 15th
century A.D. and spread
extraordinarily and
rapidly for books.
 Distillation and Alcohol -
the first preparation of strong
spirits of wine was made in
Europe in the 12th century.
As the distillation of
perfumes and oil was already
known, alcohol was
probably produced by
accident in the course of the
some medical preparation.
 MEDICINE IN THE MIDDLE AGE
 Astrology ruled prognosis, diagnosis was largely limited to
inspection of the urine.
 Medical learning was devoted to the study of ancient authoritative
texts.
 Therapy was through prayer, magic, charms, amulets, and faith
healing.
 Various herbs were used widely.
 The medical school of Salermo that flourished from the 10 th to the
end of the 13th century was the first organized medical school in
Europe.
 THE INTERACTION OF MEDIEVAL TECHNOLOGY
AND MEDIEVAL ECONOMY

 By the middle of 13th century, the rich merchants and town

oligarchies acquired monopoly position and cooperated for the
common exploitation of less territories.
 The new bourgeoisie was initially were interested in profit than
belief. When they found that church an obstacle to their increasing
wealth and power, they became most ardent advocates of reform.
 The increase in the wealth of merchants and bourgeoisie resulted in
the following:
1. Interest in mathematics which they used in commercial
accountancy, astronomical tables and maps.

2. A new impulse to art technology and science, art

becoming more secular and more naturalistic. In pottery,
textiles, glass and metal work there was incentive and
opportunity for practical research on the properties of matter,
chemical and physical or providing the materials basis for
the revival of science.
 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN CHINA

• The first civilization in China emerged independently in the

fertilized river valleys of Huang Ho (yellow river) and Yangtze
rivers.

• Farming communities existed along the Huang Ho and Yangtze

rivers where rice was first cultivated in 5000 B.C.

• Silk production was developed about 2500 B.C.

• Bronze productions around 1700 B.C. were more perfect
and sophisticated, a result of long experimentation.

• The first Chinese writing was on flat shoulder bones of

cattle and tortoise shells.

• During this period China became the most technically

advanced country in the world.
• Paper– paper making
started in 140 B.C. but
was officially used in
writing starting in 105
A.D.. Paper was also
used for clothing, wall
décor, art work and even
in toilet.
• Seismograph – a bronze vessel
with pendulum sensitive to
vibration was invented to detect
earthquakes in the 2nd century
A.D.

• Physics – motion of solid objects

was thought to be caused by force
and cessation of motion due to
obstacle. Studies of magnets and
magnetism were done in China
long before the it was initiated in
Europe.
• Physical Theories –
events and phenomena
are due to the interaction
between feminine
principle YIN and the
male principle YAN.

• Science – It was
qualitative and dynamic.
• Worldview – Organists views are
which every phenomenon was
connected with hierarchical order.

• Mathematics – The ancient Chinese

expressed numbers decimally and
analytically. Decimal place-value and
a blank space for zero had began in
earlier than anywhere else in the
ancient world together with
metrology . They knew how to
extract square root and evaluate the
value of n, equations and sum of
various series.
• Astronomy – they developed
calendars with 365 and ¼ days
in a year and divided a circle
similarly in to 365 and ¼
degrees. They plotted names
and catalogue stars, describe
and predicted eclipse. They
kept records of comets,
meteors, novae and eclipses.
• Medicine and Biology – the ancient
Chinese believe that disease are
caused by 6 chhih (Breath): heat,
cold, wind, rain, light and darkness,
physician described exercise,
hydrotherapy and wine anesthesia.
They tried to describe the size of
organs, blood circulation between
heart and organ. They compared body
to a state, heart to a king, lungs to
ministers and liver to a commander in
chief. They were the greatest pioneer
of inoculation
(acupuncture).
• Engineering – Mechanical engineering was
field in which ancient and classical Chinese
triumphs, harness of animals and water
power for grinding and operation of
metallurgical bellows were invented.Mastery
of iron casting was made some 15 centuries
before it is used in Europe. Mechanical clock
work began in Tang China. Iron chain
suspension bridges, and segmental arch
structures were built around 610 A.D..
Hydraulic engineering such as control of
water ways, irrigation and tax grain transport
were prominent. The wheel barrow was
invented in 100 A.D.
• Gun powder – appeared around
9th century A.D., vigorous
development of explosive
weapons from 1040 A.D., about
three centuries before it appeared
in Europe. From fire-lance using
a rocket combination and bamboo
tube a close combat weapon, all
barrier guns and cannon were
constructed at the beginning of
the 12th century A.D.
Printing Press – wooden
block printing was done in
China around 7000 A.D.. In
1020 A.D. the first movable-
type printer made from
pottery was developed. Mass
printing of paper money and
Confucian work were made
around 1200 A.D.
Magnetic compass and
Sternpost rudder – magnetic of
loadstones a naturally occurring
magnetic iron led to magnetizing
floating needle a prototype of
magnetic compass. The magnetic
compass and the invention of
stern-post rudder in 6th century
A.D. predated modern ships by
centuries.
 Jessa Mae Bon
Onelim Bonavente
Marla Bongalonta
Vincent Paul P. Bonggao
Shaira Borbe
Leah Jane Borero
Desimae Borjal
Jenica Buella
John Rey Buella

GROUP 2 (STS)
BSED SCIENCE 1