St.

Dominic College of Asia

School of Arts, Sciences and Education
General Education Department

Module 1, Section 4
Intellectual Revolutions and Society
Mesoamerican, Asian,
Middle Eastern, and African

Prof. Luzviminda P. Corpuz

Professor, STS (Science, Technology, and Society)
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of this section, the students should be able to:
1. identify intellectual revolutions in various geographical locations;
2. explain how these intellectual revolutions transformed the society
in terms of science and nature; and
3. discuss how these intellectual revolutions influenced the social,
political, cultural, and economic contexts of the society.
This unit will focus on the intellectual revolutions
and civilizations in the following geographical
locations:
• Mesoamerica
• Asia
• Middle East
• Africa
Mesoamerica
This is the region and cultural area in North
America that spans territories from Mexico to
Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador.
Mesoamerica contributed greatly in terms of
agriculture. As early as 7,000 BC they were
cultivating beans, corn, squash, cacao as well
as cotton plants and rubber trees.
Various cultivation and irrigation techniques
were done; formed terraces along the slopes
of mountains; and created “chinampas” or
artificial islands.
Mesoamerica
The earliest Mesoamerican civilization is the Olmec
civilization established at around 1200 BC. The others
were Maya, Aztec and Inca civilizations at around 900-
1500 AD.
The Mayan civilization was scientifically advanced.
They had a system of writing called “Maya
hieroglyphics”; predicted solar eclipses; and devised a
calendar based on a 365-day solar year.
They were also advanced in architecture, arts,
agriculture, and warfare; built pyramids and temples;
created complex waterways using hydraulic
technology for their agriculture; and used metals and
minerals for warfare.
Mesoamerica
The Aztec people also flourished in agriculture,
predicted astronomical events, and devised calendar.
They were also advanced in their cultural and social
systems, used pictographs as system of writing, and
had massive stone temples for religious rituals.
The Incan Empire was the largest Mesoamerican
civilization. They had great innovative engineers who
developed elaborate system of roads, built bridges and
canals for irrigation, and constructed architectural
buildings.
In medicine, they performed surgeries; also produced
textiles and musical instruments; and recorded
information such as tax records, census records, and
calendar information.
Asia
Asia had two of the world’s great early civilizations – from
India and from China.
In India, about 4,000 years ago, civilization arose in the Indus
River Valley. The people introduced new techniques of
metallurgy, handicrafts, brick houses and buildings, drainage
system, water storage, accurate weighing and measurements,
writing system, advanced agricultural practices, and
domesticated animals.
India served as the birthplace of two world’s known religions
– Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism was based on the
sacred books called Vedas and the people were divided based
on the caste system. Buddhism praised Buddha who believed
that human greed and selfishness lead to human pain.
Asia
The Indians had Ayurveda, a traditional Hindu medicine
based on the idea of balance in bodily systems and uses
diet, herbal treatment, massage, meditation and yogic
breathing.
Ancient China is known to be one of the oldest and
longest lasting civilizations of the world. It made
important advancements in science and technology,
mathematics and astronomy.
They recorded solar eclipses; developed the accounting
device called abacus; introduced acupuncture and
herbal medicine; invented paper and movable printing
press; invented porcelain; cultivated and produced silk;
produced gunpowder; and traded with other countries.
Asia
China created the religion Confucianism
based on the teachings of Confucius who
believed in ancestor worship and human-
centered virtues for living a peaceful life.
They built the Great Wall of China, a
series of fortifications, to protect
themselves from the invasions of
barbarians from other parts of Asia.
Several walls were built from as early as
the 7th century BC and then continued
until the 17th century AD.
Middle East
Middle East is considered as the home to the “Cradle of
Civilization” where many of the world’s oldest cultures
and civilizations were seen. This Mesopotamian region
includes the present day Iraq (Sumeria), Iran (Persia),
Syria, Kuwait, Turkey and others.
The Middle east was the first to practice intensive year-
round agriculture and currency-mediated trade. They
developed the first writing system in cuneiform tablets;
invented the potter’s wheel and then the vehicular and
mill wheel; built sailboats; developed number system;
and created the lunar calendar.
Middle East
They constructed the Tower of Babel and the
Hanging Gardens of Babylon with its own
irrigation system linked to a river.
The Islamic Empire grew as one of the largest
empires in history. The Muslims are the
followers of Islam and their holy book is called
the Qur-an or Koran. They believe that nothing
can happen without Allah’s permission, but
humans have free will.
They had notable innovations in the field of
science and technology. They developed
astronomy, philosophy, mathematics, chemistry,
medicine, and botany.
Middle East
Some of the contributions were made by the following:
• Hasan Ibn Al-Haytham – known as the Father of Modern
Optics
• Abu Ali Ibn Sina – studied human anatomy and diseases
• Abu Qasim Al-Zahrawi – known as the Father of Surgery
• Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi – laid the foundations of Algebra
• Abu Rayhan Al-Biruni – studied the Earth’s radius and
rotation
• Jabir Ibn Hayyan – known as the Father of Chemistry
Africa
According to some historians, Africans were nothing more
than savages whose only contributions to the world were
farming and slaves.
The lineage and culture of achievements have emerged at
least 40,000 years ago by the present-day people of
Zaire, Nigeria, Kenya, Mali, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda,
Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Egypt.
These are in the fields of metallurgy and tools,
agriculture, textile production, mathematics, engineering,
astronomy, navigation, and even medicine.
In metallurgy and tools, they developed tools and
weapons made of steel and bronze, steam engines, and
furnaces.
Africa
They created their numeration system, developed
accurate calendar (Stonehenge), studied the
planets and galaxy, constructed massive stone
complexes, and built grand palaces, mosques and
universities.
Their medicine is advanced as they used salicylic
acid for pain, kaolin for diarrhoea, and antibiotics;
treated malaria; and performed medical
procedures such as vaccination, surgery,
anaesthesia, autopsy, and filling of dental cavities.
Africa
One of Africa’s most famous civilizations was the
ancient Egyptian civilization, which was born along the
Nile River.
One of their scientific innovations is in the field of
agriculture. They constructed canal for irrigation,
developed the plough for cultivating the soil, used
shadoof for watering farms.
The Egyptians also made paper from papyrus plants,
invented mints from frankincense and myrrh, used
cinnamon and honey, and invented the cosmetics.
They developed medicines to treat illnesses and
practiced mummification to preserve dead bodies.
They are rich in architectural feats characterized by
monuments like the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx
of Giza and other great structures.
Activity – Research & Discussion
Choose one S&T intellectual revolution from the various geographical
locations and research on its nature and significance. Discuss in 150-
200 words the highlights of your chosen intellectual revolution using
the following guide questions:
1. What is the S&T intellectual revolution all about?
2. Who are the key figures in this intellectual revolution?
3. How did the revolution advance modern science and scientific
thinking at that time?
4. What controversies met this S&T intellectual revolution?