HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN

THE COURSE OF S & T

Prepared by: Engr. Renato G. Agustin

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 Learning Outcomes

• Explain how science and technology affected

the society and environment and vice versa;
• Identify inventions and discoveries that
changed the world over the course of history
and
• Discuss the scientific and technological
developments in the Philippines.

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 Ancient Times
• In the ancient times, people were concerned
with:
➢ Transportation and navigation
➢ Communication and record keeping
➢ Security and protection
➢ Health
➢ Aesthetics
➢ Architecture

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 Sumerian Civilization
• Cuneiform-a system that utilizes word pictures
and triangular symbols which are curved on
clay.

ancient Sumerian
or Assyrian The World's Oldest Writing -
Archaeology Magazine
Cuneiform lagash scribe statue

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Source: Google images
 Sumerian Civilization
• Uruk City-the Sumerians were able to built the
city using only mud or clay from the river,
which they mixed with reeds, producing
sun-baked bricks.

Phase E of Uruk III,Sumerian city Uruk - Ancient History Encyclopedia

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 Sumerian Civilization
• The Great Ziggurat of Ur-mountain of chief
god where only their priests were allowed to
enter.

The Great Ziggurat of Ur | Ancient Origins

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 Sumerian Civilization
• Irrigation and dikes-Sumerians created dikes
and irrigation canals to bring water to
farmlands and at the time control the flooding
of the rivers.

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 Sumerian Civilization
• Sailboats-essential in transportation and
trading as well as fostering culture,
information and technology.

Ancient Mesopotamia Sailboat

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 Sumerian Civilization
• Wheel-the first wheels were not made for
transportation but for farm work and food
processes.

Sumerian wheel
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 Sumerian Civilization
• The Plow-with this tool, farmers could cultivate
large parcel of land faster.

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 Babylonian Civilization
• Civilization emerged near the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers.
• Babylonians were great builders engineers
and architects.

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 Babylonian Civilization
• The hanging gardens of Babylon-structure
made up of layers of gardens that contained
several species of plants, trees, and vines.
According to legends, King Nebuchadnezzar II
built gardens for his wife, Queen Amytis.

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 Egyptian Civilization
• Paper or Papyrus-a plant that grew
abundantly along the Nile River. They were
able to process in order to produce thin
sheets on which one could write down things.

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 Egyptian Civilization
• Ink-when Egyptian invented the papyrus,
engraving ceased to be used in writing.

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 Egyptian Civilization
• Hieroglyphics-the language that tells the
modern world of the history and culture of the
ancient Egyptians.

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 Egyptian Civilization
• Cosmetics-Egyptians also invented the use of
cosmetics for both health and aesthetic
reasons. They believed that a person wearing
make-up was protected from evil and that
beauty was a sign of holiness.

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 Egyptian Civilization
• Wig-during ancient times, wigs were worn for
health and wellness. The wigs were used to
protect shaved heads of the wealthy Egyptians
from the harmful rays of the sun.

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 Egyptian Civilization
• Water Clock/Clepsydra-utilizes gravity that
affects the flow of water from one vessel to
the other and widely used as a time keeping
device.

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 Greek Civilization
• Known as the birth place 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, has contributed
much to the world in the fields of science and
technology.

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 Greek Civilization
• Alarm Clock-they made use of water(or
sometimes small stones or sand) that dropped
into drums which sounded the alarm.

The alarm clock of Plato Ancient Greeks Invented Alarm Clocks

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 Greek Civilization
• Water Mills-one of the most important
contributions to the world. They were
commonly used in agricultural processes like
milling of grains. Mass production of rice,
cereals, flours and others became common.

Greece, Ancient Greek Technology 21

 Roman Civilization
• Strongest political and social entity in the
west. Aside from their contribution to politics,
a lot of discoveries and inventions still
relevant today can be attributed Roman
Empire.

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 Roman Civilization
• Newspaper-the first newspapers, known as
gazettes, contained announcements of the
Roman Empire to the people.

Ancient Rome Newspaper Roman invention

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 Roman Civilization
• Bound Books or Codex-civilizations became
fond of record-keeping. Caesar started the
tradition of stacking up papyrus to form pages
of book. Later on they were able to provide
covers made of wax then replaced with animal
skin.

Earliest Form of a Bound Book Greatest Inventions of the Roman Empire

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 Roman Civilization
• Roman Architecture-one of the most visual
contributions of the ancient Roman Empire to
the world. The quality of Roman structures
can be seen by the way they withstood time
and the harsh elements of the environment.
•

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 Roman Civilization
• Roman Numerals-the Romans devised their
own number system specifically to address
the need for standard counting method that
would meet their increasing communication
and trade concerns.

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 Chinese Civilization
• The oldest civilization in Asia and also known
as the middle kingdom.
• Silk-one of the things that connected Far East
China to the world.

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 Chinese Civilization
• Tea-it was believed that the first tea was
drunk by a Chinese emperor.

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 Chinese Civilization
• The Great Wall of China-made of stone, brick,
wood, earth and other materials. It is
considered the only man-made structure that
could be seen from outer space.

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 Chinese Civilization
• Gunpowder-it was developed by Chinese
alchemists who aimed to achieve immorality.
• They mixed sulfur, charcoal and potassium
nitrate and invented the black powder.
•

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 Medieval/Middle Ages
• Massive invasions and migrations(War times)
• People’s concern:
✓ Weaponry
✓ Navigation
✓ Mass food and farm production
✓ Health

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 Medieval/Middle Ages
• Printing Press- Johannn Gutenberg invented
the printing press. (Wooden machine,
attached in metal impression of letters and
with extracted fruit juices used as ink!)

Gutenberg’s printing press, 1450s

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 Medieval/Middle Ages
• Microscope-guided by the principles used for
the invention of eye glasses in earlier years,
Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the
first compound microscope.

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 Medieval/Middle Ages
• Telescope-together with the invention of
compass, oars, and rudders made sea
travelling made easier and safer.

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Medieval/Middle Ages

compass

rudder

oars

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 Medieval/Middle Ages
• War weapons-developed not only as offensive
tools but also as defensive instruments.

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 Modern Times
• Industrial development
• Health concerns

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 Modern Times
• Pasteurization-Louis Pasteur invented the
process of heating dairy products to kill
bacteria. Through this process milk could be
stored in longer period. His other
contributions include his works on molecular
asymmetry, fermentation, and vaccination.

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 Modern Times
• Telephone-important day-to-day decisions
must be discussed and addressed at the
fastest time possible. The development by
Alexander Graham Bell was one of the most
important inventions at that time.

Bell Invents Telephone: 1876

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 Modern Times
• Calculator-the creation of modern calculators
did not only prove the way for easier
calculations, but also resulted in the
development of more complex processing
machines like computers.

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 Philippine Inventions
• Many of the discoveries and inventions made
by the Filipinos were built from indigenous
materials or created to adapt to the harsh
tropical environment.

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 Philippine Inventions
• Salamander Amphibious Tricycle-Water
Technologies headed by Dominic N. Chung
and Lamberto Armada, together with chief
designer Victor “Atoy” Llave invented the
Salamander that can cross not only flooded
streets but also rivers and lakes.

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 Philippine Inventions
• Salt Lamp-Aisa Mijeno was able to invent a
lighting saltwater-an environment-friendly
light source that runs on saltwater(2
tablespoons of salt and a glass of water)

Please read:
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https://www.rappler.com/science-nature/ideas/113626-salt-lamp-how-it-works-challenges
 Philippine Inventions
• Medical Incubator-made from indigenous and
cheap materials that does not run with
electricity in a far-flung rural areas, devised by
Dr. Fe del Mundo.

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 Philippine Inventions
• Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap
System-made of natural ingredients that are
lethal to mosquitos but safe for humans and
environment.

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 Philippine Inventions
• Ejeepney-the iconic public utility vehicle is
transformed into electric jeepney.

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Thank you!

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