Historical Antecedents in the Course of Science and Technology

 Science and technology plays major roles in our lives.

 The developments in science and technology are not just products of people's imagination, they
are also brought about by gradual improvements to earlier works from different time periods.

Ancient Times

Transportation was significant during that time because people were trying to go to places and discover
new horizons. They travelled to search for food and find better locations for their settlements. They also
travelled to trade their surplus goods in exchange for things that they lacked. Navigations assisted them
in their journeys to unfamiliar and strange areas in the world. It allowed them to return home after they
discovered new places or completed an important trade with another group of people.

Communication was also essential in their endeavors to discover and occupy new places. They needed a
way to communicate with the natives of the arcas they visited so as to facilitate trade and prevent
possible conflicts, Record keeping was ako important since they needed to remember the place they had
been to and document the trades they nade with each other.

Weapons and armors were important as well in the discovery of new places or the establishments of
new alliances with other tribes. At that time, there was always a risk of conflict when people met others
with different culture and orientations.

Engineering field allowed humans to build structures that would address their specific needs and wants.
Some of the structures built during the ancient times still exist today and continually awe people.

The development in engineering also ushered in the introduction of architecture. Others might see
architecture as a mere style, but during the ancient times, elaborate architectural designs were signs of
teleological advancement of a particular civilization. In generations to come architecture would be
considered a status symbol among nations.

Sumerian Civilization

Sumeria is located on the southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia. They are known for high degree
cooperation with one another and desire for great things,

Cuneiform - it is the first writing system. It is a system that utilizes word pictures and triangular symbols
which are carved on clays. It allowed Sumerians to keep records of things with great historical values.

Uruk City - it is a great wonder not only because it is considered to be the first true city in the world but
also for the way it is erected. The construction is a big challenge to them. They made the city using only
mud or clay from river mixed with reeds. producing sun baked bricks.
The Great Ziggurat of Ur - known as mountain of god, was built in the same manner that they
constructed the City of Uruk. The ziggurat served as a sacred place of their chief god where only their
priests were allowed to enter.

Irrigation and Dikes - Sumerian built this 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.

Sailboats - main mode of transportation was through waterways such as rivers and seas. It was used to
carry large quantities of products and were able to cover large distances.

Wheel - the first wheels were not made for transportation but for farm work and food processes. With
the use of this, production was made easier. Farmers were able to mill grains with less time.

The Plow - it was invented to dig the earth in a faster pace. As the plow breaks the ground, the farmer
would just drop the seeds and work is done already

Road - to hare faster and easier travel, Sumerians developed the first roads. The flow of traffic became
faster and more organized. They used sun baked bricks that they laid on the ground.

Babylonian Civilization

It emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The Babylonians were great builders, engineers and
architects

Hanging Gardens of Babylon - it is 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.

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 the infrastructures
established by the pharaohs. Aside from engineering technology, the Egyptians have contributed other
practical things that the world now considers as essential.

Paper/Papyrus - earlier contributions of Egyptian civilization. Egypt was not the first to develop a system
of writing, they were able to make writing easier for the world. Before Egyptian innovation, clay tablets
were used where keeping and transporting them were a major problem. Clay tablets were very heavy,
and delicate to handle. So bringing them to places was a challenge. Papyrus was a plant that grew along
Nile River that they produced into thin sheets so they can write on it.

Ink - when the Egyptians invented papyrus/paper, engraving ceased to be used in writing As a result,
they invented ink by combining soot with different chemicals to produce inks of different colors. It is
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 - Egyptians developed a system of writing using symbols. Although some say that
hieroglyphics was adapted from the carly writing system in Mesopotamia, the Egyptians believed that
this writing system was provided to them by their gods. It was the language that tells the modern world
of the history and culture of the ancient Egyptians.

Cosmetics - function of cosmetics for the ancient Egyptians 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. If they wear this, they believe that they are protected from evil
and it is a sign of holiness.

Wig - are used to enhance the appearance of people who are balding or those who want to try new hair
trends. During the ancient Egyptian times, it is worn for health and wellness rather than for aesthetic
purposes. It is used to protect shaved heads of the wealthy Egyptians from harmful rays of the sun.
Moreover, it was considered cleaner than natural hair because it prevented the accumulation of head
lice.

Water Clock/Clepsydra – it utilizes gravity that affects the flow of water from one vessel to the other.
The amount of water remaining in the device determines how much time has elapsed since it is full. It is
widely used as a timekeeping device during the ancient times.

Great Pyramid of Giza and Great Pyramid of Cheops – was done by thousands of slaves, peasants and
prisoners of war using their bare hands, ropes, ramps and sledges. The pyramid still stand today as an
evidence of scientific expertise and technical skills in geometry, engineering, architecture and
manpower management.

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.

Alarm clock - one of the most utilized gadgets today. Although the alarm clock during that time did not
resemble the present-day alarm clock, the only similarity is to tell an individual when to stop and when
to start. It used large complicated mechanisms to time the alarm. They made use of water/small
stones/sand that dropped into drums which sounded the alarm. Plato used his own version of alarm
clock where he used four water vessels lined up vertically

Water Mill - used in agricultural processes like milling of grains which was necessary form of food
processing Because milling was made possible by the use of watermills, mass production of rice, cereals,
flours and the like became common. It is better than mills powered by farm animals because it only
required access to rivers/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 it is so large, other
civilizations looked up to it as their model in terms of legislation and codified laws. Aside from their
contribution in politics, a lot of discoveries and inventions still relevant today can be attributed to the
Roman Empire

Newspaper - 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 is invented, it became casier for the Romans to "publish"
matters that needed the attention of the Roman citizens. This way, they enjoyed easy access to
government information the same way we benefit from present day newspaper.

Bound Books/Codex - it became casier for civilizations to write down everything that happened in their
time. Record keeping was much easier since paper did not easily break and lightweight. Aside from
Romans writing down information about history and politics, literature also changed fro clay tablets to
parchment paper. According to sources, Julius Caesar started the tradition of stacking up papyrus to
form pages of a book.

Roman Architecture - most visual contribution of the ancient Rome Empire. Roman architecture was
still regarded as pioneering since the Romans were able to adapt new building and engineering
technology. In this manner, they were able to preserve great and elaborate architectural designs
because they could produce sturdier and stronger infrastructures. Their known architectures were
churches (cathedrals and basilicas), aqueducts, colosseum, amphitheaters, and residential houses

Roman Numerals - although other number systems had been established before Roman numeral, these
old systems could not keep up with high calculation requirements. Because of this, 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.

Chinese Civilization

The Chinese civilization is considered to be the oldest civilization in Asia, if not the world. Also known as
the middle kingdom, China is located on the far cast of Asia. It was famous among other ancient
civilizations because of its silk trade.

Silk - it is one of the things that connected Far East China to the world. Chinese 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 - it 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. It was developed
when an unknown Chinese inventor created a machine that was able to shred tea leaves into strips. This
machine was done using wheel-based mechanism attached to wooden/ceramic pot.

Great Wall of China - only man-made structure that could be seen from outer space, the Great Wall of
China is said to be the largest and most extensive infrastructure that the nation built. It was constructed
to keep to keep our foreign invaders and control the borders of China. Made with stone, brick, wood,
earth, and other materials, it showcased the extent of Chinese engineering at that time

Gunpowder - originally, it 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. It is
widely used to propel bullets from guns and cannons which cause countless deaths.

Medieval/Middle Ages

It is known as Dark Age. It is the period of colonization and adventure. There is a war between religion
and science. The start of the middle age 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, there was a rise in population.

Printing Press - after developing woodblock printing. Johann Gutenberg was able to invent the printing
press, amore 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 a piece of paper, which then made an exact impression on paper,

Microscope - due to more people that transferred to polluted and populated urban areas, it resulted to
more people getting sick and needing medical attention. The experts must understand the sickness
through investigation thus they need a device that could magnify things invisible to the eye. The same
with the eyeglasses, Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the first compound microscope. With this,
they can observe organisms that were normally unseen by naked eye.

Telescope - since Middle Age is considered as Age of Exploration, the need for nautical inventions was
high. Considering the vast and empty oceans that separated lands, ship captains needed to sec far and
wide for them to navigate or to avoid dangers at sea. This helps in the observation of remote objects.
Together with the telescope is the compass, oars, and rudders made sea travelling easier

War Weapons - since war is widespread in this period, all sides must develop weaponries not only as
offensive tools but also as defensive instruments. For open-area, people developed crossbows and long
bows so that they could attack the enemies at long ranges, keeping themselves safe because of walls
and fortresses. While in close-range hand to hand combat, soldiers should wear something to protect
themselves by iron body armors.

Trebuchet - was used by the French to pull down ropes or pivoting, and to counterbalance weight.

Spectacle Lens - replaced the magnifying glasses in terms of usage, to view small letters on writings.

Wind Mill – were used as mills proper, for grinding corn into flour

Magnetic compass - important advance in navigation because it allowed mariners to determine their
direction even if clouds obscured their usual astronomical cues such as the North Star. It uses a
magnetic needle that can turn freely so that it always points to the north pole of the Earth's magnetic
field. Knowing where north is allows the other directions to be determined as well.

Modern Times

The booming world population during the nineteenth century onwards demanded that more goods to
be produced at a faster rate. People needed efficient means of transportation to trade more goods and
cover a larger distance. Machines that require animals to operate must thus be upgraded. Faster and
easier means to communicate and compute should be developed to establish connections among
nations.

A. Survival - includes health, food, medicine, defense

Pasteurization - the challenge to keep manufactured food from deteriorating was greater for dairy
products, especially milk, since they spoil faster. 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 harmful bacteria that causes spoilage.

Leonardo Da Vinci - he was interested in astronomy, geology, anatomy and mechanics. He is the first
Modern Anatomist. He dissected bodies and discovered maxillary sinus, the moderator band and the
heart and ventricles of brain, making precise anatomical drawings.

Andreas Vesalius - he published the book "On the Fabric of the Human Body" he was a surgeon and
anatomist who laid out in detail the first scientifically accurate description of human anatomy. He is
considered as founder of modern medicine.

Gabriel Fahrenheit - inventor of first mercury thermometer

Robert Hooke - conducted experiments in artificial respiration using a dog proving that air is essential to
respiration. He also made the description of cell.

B. Trade and Commerce

Calculator - 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 casier arithmetic calculations,
but also resulted in the development of more complex processing

Petroleum Refinery - at first, people used animal oils for generating light to illuminate their homes.
However, the production of animal oils could not keep up with the demand. Because of this, Samuel Kier
was able to invent 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.

Gas Lightning

1792 by William Murdoch

Bunsen Burner

By Robert W. Von Bunsen

Photograph

1839 by Nicéphore Niépce

Electric Light
1879 by Thomas Edison

C. Transportation

1761 - canals running from coal mine (James Brindley)

1769 - steam automobile (Nicolas Cugnot)

1788 - steam boat (John Fitch)

1800 - Roman method of road building

1802 - Macadamizing (John Macadam)

1802 - steam locomotive (Richard Treyrthick)

1838 - steam ship

1885 - gasoline powered automobile (Karibenz and Gottlieb Daimler)

D. Communication

Electric Telegraph

-1882 Samuel F.B Morse (beginning of digitalization)

- words carry deeper meaning

First Transatlantic Cable between England and USA

1866 by Cyrus Field

Telephone

1876 by Alexander Graham Bell

Radio

1901 by Guglielmo Marconi

Important Inventions during the Modern Age

1902 - air condition by Willis Carrier

1940 – 1st colored TV

1903 - airplane by Orville and Wilbur Wright

1945 - atomic bomb, artificial kidney

1906 - crystal radio, animated cartoon film, motion picture and AM radio

1957 - developed laser, Sputnik orbits the Earth

1958 - 1st nuclear power plant

1961 - manned spacecraft

1962 - mini computer, robotics

1969 – moon landing, video cassette

1970 - computer floppy disk

1972 - video disk, video game

1973 - micro computer

1975 – 1st laser printer, betamax, VHS video

1978 - test tube baby

1984 – Motorola introduced the first commercial cellular phone

1985 - 1st baby born from frozen embryo

1994 - X-ray laser

Energy Alternatives

Nuclear power plant

Solar power

Biogas
Wind mill

hydro

Genetic Engineering

Cloning Genetically Modified Organism

Computer and Microelectronics Technology

Laser

internet

Medicine

CT Scan

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

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. Many of the discoveries and inventions made by the Filipinos were
therefore built from indigenous materials or seated to adapt to the harsh tropical environment

Salamander Amphibious Tricycle - Filipino innovation is the addition of a sidecar to a motorcycle,

transforming it into a tricycle to accommodate more passengers. During rainy season and then flooded,
tricycles find it 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.
Salt Lamp - one of the major needs of the Philippines, as a developing nation is electrification. In many
rural areas, activity would cease when it gets dark. Filipinos resorted to using candles and kerosene
lamps but they carry some hazards. Solar panels are also expensive for ordinary Filipinos. Fortunately,
Aisa Mijeno invented lighting system Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt) lamp that uses abundant
material in Philippines, the saltwater. It is safer because it poses no risk of fire and emits non toxic gases.

Medical Incubator - a common problem in Philippines is the high mortality rate of newborn babies. One
reason was lack of available incubators especially in farflung rural areas due to lack of resources and
electricity. Dr Fe del Mundo, Filipino pediatrician and first Asian woman admitted to Harvard Medical
School devised a medical incubator made from indigenous and cheap materials which did not run on
electricity. A native laundry basket is placed inside a bigger on. 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 newborn, usually a pre-term baby.

Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap System - Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral illness, is endemic in

tropical and subtropical areas, including Philippines. This is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito,
rampant during rainy season. Insecticides were previously used but it is found it harmful not only to
humans but also to environment. In 2010, the Department of Science and Technology Industrial
Technology Development Institute was able to introduce Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap System also
known as OL Trap. It is made up of natural ingredients that are lethal to mosquitoes but safe for
environment and humans.

Ejeepney - this vehicle was built using the military | jeeps left by the Americans after World War II. The
chassis and the body of military jeeps were extended to accommodate more load and passengers. It is
considered as the primary mode of transportation in the Philippines because of its usefulness. But diesel
powered jeepneys produce large quantities of black smoke and noise pollution. To counter these
disadvantages, electronic jeepney was developed which uses electricity that is cheaper than diesel and it
is more eco-friendly

Fluorescent Light - by Agapito Flores. Most commonly used lighting device in the world

Karaoke by Roberto Del Rosario (Sing Along System)

Quick Ink - by Francisco Quisumbing. One of the best selling ink for fountain pens of the millennium.

Single chip graphical user interface accelerator by Diosdado Banatao. It allowed computer users to use
graphics for commands and not the usual typed commands in older computers

Plastic to Diesel converter by Jayme Navarro, discovered a surprising way to convert plastic bags into
usable fuel, namely gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. The process, called Pyrolysis, starts by drying the
plastics, shredding them into smaller pieces, and heating them in a thermal chamber. Navarro and his
company, Poly green Technology, and Resources, Inc., which is based in the Payatas area where most of
the plastic waste comes from produce around 1,600 liters of fuel from recycling two metric tons of
plastic daily. In 2008, his research was even awarded the winner of the Outstanding Creative Research
category by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS

There are instances when advancements in science and technology changed people's perceptions and
beliefs. Much of these events happened in a period now known as the Intellectual Revolution.

The developments during the Intellectual Revolution showed how society was transformed by science
and technology.

Copernican Revolution

Many Greek philosophers and intellectuals wrote about planets in an attempt to explain the movements
of heavenly bodies and their effects on the world as they knew it. A famous philosopher and astronomer,
Claudius Ptolemý, stated that the planets, as well as the sun and the moon, moved in circular motion
around the Earth. The sun and moon's revolution explained the existence of days and nights. He
believed that the Earth was at the center a concept known as geocentrism. Ptolemy geocentric model
was widely accepted by the people and was one of the greatest discoveries of that time.

In 16th century, Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish mathematician and astronomer, challenged the Ptolemaic
model. He introduced a new concept known as heliocentrism, which suggested that the center of the
Solar System was not the Earth but actually the sun. This idea was rejected at first by the public. It
appalled many since their religious belief had taught them that the Earth was created first before all
other things. Copernicus was even persecuted as a heretic because this teachings were against what was
widely accepted by religion. After some time, astronomers realized that Copernican model simplified the
orbits for planets. It also answered issues that could not be explained using geocentric model. Other
works that supported this model started to emerge as well. It was eventually accepted by the people in
a period which was called birth of modern astronomy.

Kepler's Law of Planetary Motion (Johannes Kepler)

1. All planets revolved around the sun not in circular orbits but elliptical orbits.

2. The closer a planet to the sun the faster it moves.

Darwinian Revolution

considered to be one of the most controversial intellectual revolutions of its time. In 1859, Charles
Darwin, an English naturalist, biologist and geologist, published his book, On the Origin of Species. In this
book, Darwin introduced the theory of evolution, which posited that populations pass through a process
of natural selection in which only the fittest would survive. He stated that organisms have the ability to
adapt their environment and would gradually change into something that would be more competitive to
survive, a process known as evolution. However, this theory became controversial as people perceived it
to be contradictory to he church's teachings that the source of life is a powerful creator Because of this
conflict, the people were divided-some believed that the theory explained the origin of life, but religious
strongly refuted it. It even sparked a massive debate between science and religion

Freudian Revolution

In the past, the field of psychology was always classified under philosophy. Psychology was considered
more of an art rather than a science. In the late 19th century, Sigmund Freud was able to change
people's perception of psychology with his revolutionary theory of psychoanalysis - study that explains
human behavior. In this theory, he explained that there are many conscious and unconscious factors
that can influence behavior and emotions. He also argued that personality is a product of three
conflicting elements id ego and superego. Science hardliners brushed off the legitimacy of
psychoanalysis as a science Despite criticisms, Freud still continued to work on refining his theory and in
tried to explain how psychoanalysis can be a clinical method in treating some mental disorders.

Science, Technology and Nation-building

The development of science and technology in the Philippines has already come a long way.

Many significant inventions and discoveries have been accomplished by or attributed to Filipinos.

Pre-Colonial Period

Scientific and technological development in the Philippines began in the pre-colonial period. Even before
the Spaniards came to the Philippine islands, early Filipino settlers were already using certain plants and
herbs as medicine. Systems of farming and animal-raising were also implemented. Moreover. Filipinos
developed modes of transportation.

Complicated engineering feat was achieved by the natives of the Cordilleras when they built rice
terraces by hand. Through these terraces, the people were able to cultivate crops on the mountainsides
in cold temperatures. They incorporated an irrigation system that uses water from the forests and
mountain tops to achieve an claborate farming system.

Extraction of iron ores until the importation of cast iron from Sarawak and China. Learned to weave
cotton make glass ornaments, cultivate lowland rice dike fields and in terraced fields and to build boats
Colonial Period

Colonization by the Spaniards provided the Philippines with modern means of construction. Walls, roads,
bridges and other large infrastructures were built using some of the engineering skills and tools brought
by the Spaniards. In addition, the Spanish government developed health and education systems that
were enjoyed by the principalia class. Some schools and hospitals were also established.

Schools: Colegio de San Ildefonso (Cebu 1595); Colegio de San Ignacio (Manila 1595): Colegio de Nuestra
Senora del Rosario (Manila 1597); Colegio de San Jose (Manila 1601): University of Santo Tomas (Manila
1611)

Hospitals: San Lazaro Hospital (1578) and Hospital de Los Banos (1590) specializes in Infectious Diseases:
San Juan de Dios (1596): Chinese General Hospital (1891)

The American occupation modernized almost all aspects of life in the Philippines. They established a
government agency, the Bureau of Science, for the sole purpose of nurturing development in the field of
science and technology,

Promotion of Science and Technology in the Philippines was intensified. The establishment of schools,
universities, boards and bureaus Bureau of Science (1905); University of the Philippines (1908). The
growth of higher education, rise of professional organization of scientists and engineers.

Post-Colonial Period

After achieving independence from the colonizers, the Philippines, under different administrations,
continue pursue programs in science and technology. Each leadership had its own science and
technology agenda. However, it is important to note than some Philippine presidents posted more
developments in the field than others. There was deterioration of science in the Philippines that led to
the creation of National Science Development Board (NSDB). The reasons are lack of government
support, lack of scientist and lack of public awareness of science. The formulated policies for the
development of science and to coordinate the work of science agencies like: Philippine Atomic Energy
Commission (PAEC); National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST); The Philippine Inventors
Commission (196+): The Philippine Coconut Research Institute (1964): The Philippine Textile Research
Institute (1967): The Forest Products Research (1969), One of the presidents who ushered
advancements was Ferdinand Marcos. The agencies under him were: Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA): National Academy of Science and
Technology (NAST) and National Science and Technology

Authority which is now the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).