TITLE OF SUBJECT: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Major Topic: Historical Antecedents in the Course of Science and Technology

INTRODUCTION
Science comes from the Latin word Scientia meaning “knowledge”. It refers to a systematic
and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge about how the universe behaves
through observation , experimentation or both. It was originally called philosophy of the natural
world” since it stemmed from the ancient Greek's desire to know about nature. The task of the
philosophers of nature was to observe the world and beyond, and to discover what makes
materials the same and what makes them different.
Technology comes from the Greek words tekhne meaning “art or craft” and logia meaning a “
subject or interest”. It is the application of scientific knowledge, laws and principles to produce
services, materials, tools, and machines aimed at solving real-world problems
Science and Technology mean the “practical applications of what we know about nature” using
scientific principles for the betterment of the human situation.

Source:
McNamara, Daniel J. (2018). Science, technology and society. Historical antecedents in the
course of science and technology. (pp. 3 – 38). Quezon City, Philippines: C & E
Publishing, Inc.

LESSON 1 – ANCIENT TIMES AND MEDIEVAL/MIDDLE AGES

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1.Explain how science and technology affected the society and environment and vice versa;
2. Identify inventions and discoveries that changed the world over the course of history.
3. Appreciate the significance of technology to society.
MOTIVATION/PROMPTING QUESTIONS
 Have you ever wondered about the pretty things from the past civilization?
 How ancient people build a solid and stable infrastructure, and how they come up with
some of the most ground-breaking inventions like clock, battery, system of writing, even
the cosmetics?

DISCUSSION
ANCIENT TIME
In the ancient times, people were concerned with
transportation and navigation, communication and record
keeping, mass production, security and protection, as well
as health, aesthetics, and architecture.
Transportation was significant during that time because
people were trying to go places and discover new horizons.
They travelled to search for food and find better locations
for their settlements. They also traveled to trade their
surplus goods in exchange for things that they lacked.
Communication was also essential in their endeavors to
discover and occupy new places. They needed a away to communicate with the natives of the
areas they visited so as to facilitate trade and prevent possible conflicts .Record-keeping was also
important since they needed to remember the places they had been to and document the trades
they made with each other.
The increase in size and number of nations connoted increased demand for food and other
and other basic necessities. This condition also implied that people must be able to produce food
at a given time and space since resources were getting scarcer as more people struggled to share
the basic necessities. The people thus needed a form of technology that would enable them to
increase food supplies and other survival needs without them traveling more or working harder.
Weapons and armors were important as well in the discovery of new places or the new
establishment of new alliances with other tribes. Conflicts were common especially if different
groups struggled to control vital resources. Stronger nations tended to invade weaker ones so
they could take much needed resources. As such, the development of weapons and armors for
security and protection was considered a major achievement.
A primary challenge they faced was the conservation of life. Different illnesses and diseases,
both natural and man-made, hampered the full potential of a human being. Given this
predicament, science and technology played a major role in the discovery of cures to, if not the
prevention of, illnesses.
Moreover, in order to integrate their needs – for better transportation, establishment of
structures for protection from human attacks and natural disasters, and construction of bigger and
stronger infrastructures – people ventured into what is now known as the field of engineering.
The development in this field allowed humans to build structures that would address their
specific needs and wants.
The development in engineering also ushered in the introduction of architecture. In the
generations to come, architecture would be considered a status symbol among nations of how
advanced their technology is. It may also establish the identity of a nation.

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.
CUNEIFORM
One of the major contributions of the Sumerians is the development of the first writing system
known as the cuneiform. It is a system that utilizes word pictures and triangular symbols which
are carved on clay using wedge instruments and then left to dry. Cuneiform allowed the
sumerians to keep records of things with great historical value.

URUK CITY
Another important contribution of the Sumerians is
the City of Uruk. It is made up of clay and mud from
the river which they mixed with reeds, producing
sun-baked bricks. They use the bricks to make houses
that protected them from harsh weather and to build a
wall around the city that prevented wild animals and
neighboring raiders from entering.

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. The building
was constructed using sun-baked bicks.The
ziggurat served as the sacred place of their
chief god, where only their priests were
allowed to enter. The temple showcases not
only the elaborate and intricate sumerian
architecture but also the remarkable
technology used to build it. Even until today,
people still enjoy and marvel at the preserved
Great Ziggurat of Ur.

IRRIGATION AND DIKES

The Sumerians created dikes and irrigation canals to
bring water to farmlands and at the same time control
the flooding of the rivers. This method was
considered as one of the world's most beneficial
engineering works.Through dikes and canals, the
Sumerians were able to enjoy year-long farming and
harvesting , which increased their food production.

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. However they
wanted to discover faraway lands to settle since the population
was getting larger, and boats were not enough to accommodate more people and products. They
needed a mode of transportation that did not require much human resource. Sailboats were
essential in transportation and trading as well as in fostering culture, information, and
technology.
WHEEL
Sumerians were able to invent the wheel since the
specialized tools needed to create it were already
available. The first wheels invented were not made for
transportation but for farm work and food processes.
With the use of wheel and axle, mass production was
made easier. Farmers were able to mill grains with
less effort in less time.

THE PLOW
Farmers needed a technology which would enable them to dig the
ground where seeds would be planted. The plow was invented to
dig the earth in a faster pace. As the plow breaks the ground, the
farmer would just drop the seeds and farm work would already be
done. Using this tool, farmers could cultivate larger parcels of the
land faster, enabling them to mass produce food without taking so
much effort and time.

ROADS
In order to facilitate faster and easier travel, the
Sumerians developed the first roads. With this work,
the flow of traffic became faster and more organized.
They made the roads with the same technology they
used in making the sun-baked bricks that they laid
down on the ground.
They poured bitumen, a black sticky substance similar
to asphalt, to smoothen the roads. The invention of
roads was very useful especially during the rainy season
when traveling in soft and muddy roads proved to be
too difficult.

BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION
Emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The
Babylonians were great builders, engineers and architects.

HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON

Is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It is a
structure made up of layers upon layers of gardens that
contained several species of plants, tress, and vines.
Since time
immemorial,
people have
been debating
about the existence of the said mythical place. Its
exact location is unknown.True or not, hearing
the stories and description of the place would be
enough to inspire everyone. One can imagine the thick greenery decorated by beautiful flowers
coming from different places in the graden and complicated design of the infrastructure. If the
stories were true, the hanging gardens of Babylon maybe considered as one of the greatest
engineering and architectural achievements of the world that is almost impossible to replicate.

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

PAPER OR PAPYRUS
Aside from Sumerians , Egyptians also developed a system
of writing. They were able to make writing easier for the
world. Before they were using tablets made from clay but
they find it fragile, heavy and delicate to handle. Hence, the
Egyptian invention of paper or papyrus was a welcome
development. They were able to process the plant in order
to produce thin sheets on which one could write down
things.

INK
When the Egyptians invented the papyrus,
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. The ink must
withstand the elements of nature since it was
used to record history, culture and codified laws.
It must be tamper- proof so that people could not
simply tinker with those written down by
authorities.
HIEROGLYPHICS
Like the Sumerians, the Egyptians also developed a
system of writing using symbols, called hieroglyphics. The
Egyptian believed that this writing system was provided to
them by their gods. 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 Egyptian structures.

COSMETICS
The function of cosmetics 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 believed that a person
wearing make-up was protected from evil and that
beauty was a sign of holiness.

WIG
Another cosmetic invention of ancient Egyptian is the wig.
At present, wigs are used to enhance the appearance of
people who are balding or those who want to try new hair
trends. Wigs were worn for health and wellness rather than
for aesthetic purposes. It is 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
head cover since a wig allowed heat to escape.It was
considered cleaner than natural hair because it prevented
the accumulation of head lice.

WATER CLOCK/ CLEPSYDRA

Water clock is a device utilizes gravity that affects the
flow of water from one vessel to 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 it is full. In the process, time is measured.
There are two types of water clocks: inflow and outflow.
In an outflow water clock, a container is filled with water,
and the water is drained slowly and evenly out of the
container. This container has markings that are used to
show the passage of time. As the water leaves the
container, an observer can see where the water is level with the lines and tell how much time has
passed. An inflow water clock works in basically the same way, except instead of flowing out of
the container, the water is filling up
 GREEK CIVILIZATION
Greece is an archilpelago 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.

ALARM CLOCK
One of the most utilized gadgets today that was invented by the
Ancient Greeks is the alarm clock. The clock 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.
Plato was believed to have utilized an alarm clock to signal the
start of his lecture. His version used four water vessels lined up
vertically . The upper vessel supplied the water which dropped to
the vessel below it., which was set to be filled in a given time. After it was full , water was
siphoned off at a faster rate into the third vessel which would cause the expulsion of contained
air, creating a whistling noise. Afterwards, the vessel would empty towards the bottom vessel
for storage and reuse.

WATER MILL
Watermills were used in agricultural process like
milling of grains which was necessary form of food
processing during that time. Because milling was
made possible by the use of watermills, the mass
production of rice, cereals, flours, and the like became
common. Watermill was considered better than mills
powered by farm animals because they required less
effort and time to operate since the farmer did not
have to raise animals. They only required access to
rivers or flowing water where a mechanism of a large
wheel with small buckets of water attached to it could
be installed.

ROMAN CIVILIZATION
The Roman empire was perceived to be the
strongest political and social entity in the west.
It was considered to be the cradle of politics and
governance during that period. Because the
Roman Empire was so large that other
civilizations looked up to it as their models in
terms of legislation and codified laws.

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. When paper
was invented, it became easier for the Romans to publish matters that needed the attention of the
Roman citizens. With the advent of paper, minutes of the proceedings of the Roman senate were
done in shorthand. 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.

BOUND BOOKS OR CODEX

The first book of the Roman Empire is called codex.
Record keeping was much easier since paper did not
easily break, was lightweight, and did not occupy much
space. As a result, civilizations became fond of record-
keeping, especially documenting historical events and
newly legislated laws.
- According to sources, Julius Caesar started the tradition
of stacking up papyrus to form pages of a book. Later on,
they were able to provide covers to protect the papyrus.
-the earlier covers were made of wax but were later on
replaced by animal skin which proved to be stronger and
longer lasting.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
Roman architecture is one of the most visual contributions of
the Ancient Roman Empire to the world, and considered a
continuation of Greek architecture. Roman architecture was
still regarded as pioneering since the Romans were able to
adapt new building and engineering technology on
architectural designs established in the past. In this manner,
they were able to preserve great and elaborate architectural
design because they could produce sturdier and stronger
infrastructures. Engineering and architecture was fully
supported and funded by the Roman government so they
were able to implement major projects such as large churches(cathedrals and basilicas),
aqueducts, coliseums, amphitheaters, and residential houses. Today, people of the world still
enjoy these marvels, and these structures are proofs of ancient Roman technology.

ROMAN NUMERALS
Although other number system had already been established
before the Roman numeral, these old number systems could
not keep up with high calculation requirements due to the
increasing rate of communication and trade among nations.
Since the Roman empire was expanding , it had to deal with
many nations to maintain its power. For this reason, the
Romans devised their own number system specifically to
address the need for a standard counting method that would
meet their increasing communication and trade concerns.
Although the Roman numeral is no longer widely used today
due to its inherent limitations.
quite a number of enthusiats would still use it over other more
popular number systems, like the Hindu - Arabic system, due
to its aesthetic and historical value.

CHINESE CIVILIZATION
The Chinese civilization is considered to be the oldest
civilization in Asia. Also known as the middle kingdom,
China is located on the far east of Asia. It was famous
among other ancient civilizations because of its silk trade.

SILK
One of the things that connected Far East China to the
world is silk. Although silk is naturally produced by silk
worms, the Chinese were the ones who developed the
technology to harvest the silk and process it to produce
paper and clothing. Silk production resulted in the
creation of a product for trade. The silk trade opened
China to the outside world, making way for cultural,
economic, and scientific exchanges. It bridged the gap
between the western world and the middle kingdom.

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 inventor created a machine that was
able to shred tea leaves into strips. Because of this
invention , China became known for its tea exports aside
from its silk products. Tea production developed by the
ancient Chinese may have resulted in making tea as one
of the most popular beverages in the world today.

GREAT WALL
OF CHINA
The Great Wall of China is said to be the largest and
most extensive infrastructure that the nation built. It was
constructed to keep foreign invaders and control the
borders of China.
Made with stone, brick, wood, earth, and other
materials. The structure was so massive and strong that
it was said to have literally divided China from the rest
of the world. The wall's construction put the nation
among the powerful civilizations during the ancient
times. It was the pride of their land and their crowning
glory.

GUNPOWDER
Gunpowder was developed by Chinese Alchemists who aimed
to achieve immortality.
They mixed charcoal,
sulfur, and potassium
nitrate, but instead of
creating an elixir of life,
they accidentally
invented a black
powder that could actually generate large amounts of heat and gas in an instant. Gunpowder-
propelled weapons are preferred by raiders who plan to attack at a distance. Gunpowder is also
used in fireworks during important celebrations in China.

MEDIEVAL/MIDDLE AGES
The start of the middle ages was marred by massive invasions and migrations. Wars were
prevalent during this time which 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. Some of the most
innovative minds came from this period.

PRINTING PRESS
Printing press was invented by Johann Gutenberg, a more
reliable way of printing using a cast tape. He utilized wooded
machines that extracted juices from fruits, attached to them a
metal impression of the letters, and pressed firmly the cast
metal into a piece of paper, which then made an exact
impression on paper. The printing press was invented to
address the need for publishing books that would spread
information to any people at a faster rate.

MICROSCOPE
Microscope is a device that could magnify things invisible to the eye.
Growing populations caused massive migration and urbanization during
the period. More people transferred to polluted and populated urban area
which resulted in more people getting sick and needing medical
attention. Zacharias Janssen develop the first compound microscope.
People were able to observe organisms that were normally unseen by the
naked eye. The microscope was a key discovering new means in
preventing and curing various illnesses.

TELESCOPE
Since the Middle Ages was also known as the Age of
Exploration, the need for nautical inventions was high.
Considering the vast and empty oceans that separated
lands, ship captains needed to see far and wide area for
them to navigate or to avoid dangers at sea. The
invention of the telescopes , an optical instruments 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.

WAR WEAPONS
Since wars were widespread during the Middle ages,
great development in the weaponry technology also
occurred. All sides must develop weaponries not only
as offensive tools but also as defensive instruments.
For open-sea battles, people developed cross bows and
long bows so that they could attack the enemies at long
ranges. In close-range hand-to-hand combat, soldiers
should wear something to protect themselves. The
creation of iron body armors were addressed. However, body armors were heavy and limited
their movements. The problem was eventually solved by the invention of the chainmail.

Source:
McNamara, Daniel J. (2018). Science, technology and society. Historical antecedents in the
course of science and technology. (pp. 3 – 38). Quezon City, Philippines: C & E
Publishing, Inc.

LESSON 2 – MODERN TIMES AND PHILIPPINE INVENTIONS

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to :
1.Explain how science and technology affected the society
2. Identify inventions and discoveries in the modern times
3. Discuss the scientific and technological developments in the Philippines.

MOTIVATION/PROMPTING QUESTIONS
 What technology are you using in the present time? Do you find it very essential
nowadays? What benefit did you get from using it?

DISCUSSION
MODERN TIMES
The booming world population during the 19th 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. Faster and easier means to communicate and compute should be developed to
establish connections between and among nations. All these needs resulted in the development of
industries. However, due to massive industrialization, the modern times again faced more
complicated problems. Food processing and medicine posed some of the bigger challenges since
health was of great concern.

PASTEURIZATION
Pasteurization was invented by Louis Pasteur, a French
biologist, microbiologist, and chemist.
It is a process of heating dairy products to kill the
harmful bacteria that allow them to spoil faster.
Through this process, milk could be stored and
consumed for a longer period. It also prevented
illnesses caused by harmful bacteria. Other
contributions of Pasteur to science and technology , and
medicine included his works on molecular asymmetry,
fermentation, and vaccination.

PETROLEUM REFINERY
The modern times demanded better means of powering
homes and transportation. At first people used animal oils for
generating light to illuminate their homes, but production of
animals oils could not keep up with the demand.
Faced with this concern, Samuel M. Kier invented kerosene
by refining petroleum. Kerosene was later on referred to as
the illuminating oil, because it was used at first to provide lighting to homes. At present,
petroleum is widely used in powering automobiles, factories, and power plants.

TELEPHONE
The more people got connected by trade and exploration,
the more they needed a way to easily maintain these
connections and communicate with each other in real
time. Governments likewise needed some kind of
communication system which would allow them to
administer their states well. 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.

CALCULATOR
Although an earlier version of the calculator had already been
developed, circumstances in the 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 INVENTIONS
Despite being considered a developing country, 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 or created to adapt to the harsh tropical
environment.

SALAMANDER AMPHIBIOUS
During the rainy seasons, flooding is a common occurrence in
many areas in the country. Tricycles find it very difficult to
traverse the streets. To remedy the issue, Victor Llave and his
team at H2O Technologies were 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.

SALT LAMP
Aisa Mijeno - a young Filipina inventor, 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. The SALt
lamp is safer as it poses no risk of fire and emits no toxic gases. Aside from people who live in
coastal areas, it may also benefit those from far-flung barrios because they can make their own
saltwater by mixing two tablespoons of salt and a glass of tap water.

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. Hot water bottles were
inserted between the baskets to provide warmth and
a makeshift hood to allow oxygen circulation. Its
main purpose was to maintain conditions suitable for
a newborn, usually a pre-term baby.

MOSQUITO OVICIDAL/ LARVICIDAL TRAP SYSTEM

Also known as OL trap. Introduced in 2010 by the
Department of Science and Technology - Industrial
Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI). This trap
system is made of natural ingredients that are lethal to
mosquitos but safe for humans and the environment.
EJEEPNEY
Ejeepney or electric jeepney is a modern type of transportation
that utilizes electricity instead of the more expensive diesel. It is
environment-friendly since it does not emit any smoke and noise.

Source:
McNamara, Daniel J. (2018). Science, technology and society. Historical antecedents in the
course of science and technology. (pp. 3 – 38). Quezon City, Philippines: C & E
Publishing, Inc.