Historical

Antecedents and
Inventions Across
time and context
Module 1: Section 2

ASRAF LIDASAN, KIER DELA CRUZ

Eco/Con Lab, USM BioDept.
Course Outline
• 1.1 Historical antecedents in which social consideration
change the course of science and technology.
• 1.2 In the world: Ancient, Middle and Modern Age in the
Philippines.
Intended learning outcome

• 2.1 Explain the interactions between S&T and Society

throughout history.
• 2.2 Relate scientific and technological developments to
society and environment,
• 2.3 Identify the paradigm shifts in history.
• 2.4 Identify ways by which society is transformed by
science and technology
Reflection….

2
 A brief history of discoveries
A brief history of discoveries
 What's in a historical Antecedent?
• Antecedents – is defined as a precursor to the unfolding
or existence of something.

• In Science and Technology, it can be defined as the

previous state of science and technology before
something more advanced was holds.
3 Historical stages of S&T

• Ancient Age
• Middle Ages
• Modern Ages
 Ancient Age
• Ancient Age characterized by reliance on
protoscience.
• Proper science and the scientific method
developed during the Middle Ages
• Knowledge passed down through
generations via oral and cultural tradition
• Focus on survival hindered the
development of science during this period
• Ancient civilizations emerged, including
Mesopotamia, Indus, Ancient Egypt,
Ancient Greece, Ancient China, and
Ancient Rome
Outstanding Ancient Age Inventions
 Ancient Wheel
• The ancient wheel evolved from the potter's
wheel, a horizontal disk of hardened clay
spun on an axis.
• Sumerians are credited with inventing the
potter's wheel around 3500 B.C.
• The wheel was likely shifted to a 90-degree
angle for transportation purposes.
• It took 1000 to 1500 years for the wheel to be
used on carts.
Paper
• Around 3000 B.C., ancient Egyptians started using
papyrus, a material similar to thick paper, for writing.
• Before papyrus, writing was primarily done on stone
and reserved for significant occasions due to the
difficulty.
• The advent of papyrus revolutionized documentation
and record-keeping, making it more efficient and
widespread.
• Papyrus facilitated faster information dissemination,
making records more durable and efficient.
 Shadoof
• Shadoof, an early tool invented
by ancient Egyptians, was used
to irrigate land, which was
particularly vital for those living
near the Nile River.
• It was a hand-operated device
designed for lifting water,
playing a crucial role in
agricultural irrigation.
• The shadoof introduced the
concept of lifting objects using
counterweights, showcasing
early engineering ingenuity.
 • The Antikythera mechanism, discovered in
1902 in Greece, is considered the ancient
world’s analogue computer.
Antikythera • Resembling a mantel clock, wooden
mechanism fragments suggest it was housed in a
wooden case with a circular face and
rotating hands.
• It featured a knob allowing it to be wound
forward or backward, similar to winding a
clock.
• The mechanism was designed to display
celestial time, and it is believed to have
been used for predicting astronomical
positions and eclipses.
• Originating between 250-87 B.C., the
Antikythera mechanism is among the oldest
known precursors to modern clockwork.
• It represents an impressive technological
achievement in ancient Greek science and
served calendrical and astrological
purposes.
Aeolipile
▪ The aeolipile, or Hero's engine, is
an ancient steam-powered turbine
considered a precursor to the steam
engine.
▪ Invented by Hero of Alexandria in
the first century A.D., it rotated when
its central water container was
heated.
▪ The device, with tangentially pointed
nozzles, showcased early steam
power but its practical applications
remain unclear.
▪ Hero's aeolipile is a significant
milestone in the historical evolution
of steam-based technology.
 The Middle
Ages
• The Middle Ages, spanning from the collapse
of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th
century A.D. to the late 15th century A.D.,
witnessed significant scientific and
technological progress.
• Contrary to the terms "Medieval Period" and
"Dark Ages," this era was marked by
advancements, new inventions, innovations in
traditional production, and the emergence of
scientific thinking and method.
• To understand the development of science in
the Middle Ages, it can be divided into three
subperiods: Early Middle Ages (476-1000
A.D.), High Middle Ages (1000-1250 A.D.), and
Late Middle Ages (1250-1500 A.D.).
The Early Middle Ages (476-1000 A.D.)
 The Early Middle Ages
(476-1000 A.D.)
• The Early Middle Ages (476-1000 A.D.)
followed the collapse of the Roman
Empire, marked by societal focus on
peacekeeping and empire building rather
than centers of learning.
• Often labeled as the "true Dark Ages," it
saw conflicts, population shifts, and a
decline in urban life.
• Despite challenges, evidence suggests
medieval thinkers sought answers about
the universe; illuminated manuscripts in
Ireland reflected progress in the scientific
method.
• Examples include Saint Bede's records,
craftmanship by Vikings and Saxons,
and Norse sailors using stars for
navigation.
The Early Middle Ages (476-1000 A.D.)
• In China, Bi Sheng invented movable type printing
towards the end of this period, replacing woodblock
printing.
• The Early Middle Ages, with a rural and dispossessed
population, had limited scientific and technological
advancements.
• Monastic study, particularly in the West, preserved
some scientific processes; monks in Western Europe
studied medicine and astronomy for practical purposes.
• In 725 A.D., Buddhist monk Yi Xing in Asia invented the
world's first mechanical clock using water to measure
time.
• Small contributions to astronomy sustained the
relevance of mathematics and geometry, echoing the
Roman and Greek influences.
The High Middle Ages (1000-1250 A.D.)
• Marked a period of European recovery from constant warfare and
population growth, triggering settlement and unity.
• Prolonged conflicts between Christians and Muslims and territorial
disputes in Spain and the East characterized the era.
• Trade flourished, with merchants and mercenaries sharing practices
and experiences across regions like Spain, the Holy Land, and
Byzantium.
• Translation efforts, initiated by Muslims translating Greek to Arabic,
thrived in Spain, facilitating the transfer of knowledge into European
consciousness.
• Medieval universities, such as the University of Bologna, Oxford,
Cambridge, and Paris, played a vital role in hosting scholars and
fostering knowledge exchange.
The High Middle Ages (1000-1250 A.D.)
• Scholars like Gerard of Cremona from the
Italian School of Translators contributed to
blending ancient Greek knowledge with
Muslim discoveries.
• Christian scholasticism, focused on theology,
initiated the connection between scientific
empiricism and religion.
• Thinkers like Thomas Aquinas, Robert
Grosseteste, and Roger Bacon worked on
establishing the scientific method during the
12th century.
• Technological advancements were present,
such as Su Song's "cosmic empire" clock in
China (1092) and navigational compasses
used in Chinese ships by 1000 A.D.
• The efficient compass technology spread to
Europe through Arab traders who learned
about it in China, contributing to replication
and improvement.
Late Middle Ages (1250-1500)
• The Late Middle Ages (1250-1500) marked the transition from
medieval to modern society, but it was marred by crises, including
the Great Famine, the Black Death, the Hundred Years War, the
Peasants' Revolt, burning of Joan of Arc, and the fall of
Constantinople.
• Despite social upheavals, this period witnessed significant scientific
progress. William of Ockham proposed Ockham's Razor, influencing
modern science with the principle of preferring simpler theories.
• Jean Buridan challenged Aristotelian physics, developing the theory
of impetus, a precursor to Newtonian physics.
• Thomas Bradwardine and colleagues differentiated kinematics from
dynamics and proposed the mean speed theorem, precursor to
Galileo's work on falling objects.
Outstanding Middle Age
Inventions
 Heavy plough
▪ The invention of the heavy plough during the Middle Ages was a significant
technological innovation.
▪ Clay soil, though fertile, was difficult to cultivate due to its heaviness until the heavy
plough was introduced.
▪ The heavy plough made it possible to harness clay soil, leading to increased
agricultural productivity. • According to University of Southern Denmark
professor Thomas Bernebeck Andersen, the impact
of the heavy plough was transformative, turning
European agriculture and economy on its head.
• The heavy plough revolutionized agriculture in
Northern Europe, particularly in territories with
heavy, fatty, and moist clay soils.
• This innovation resulted in rapid economic
prosperity in the northern territories, marked by
higher and healthier agricultural yields and more
efficient farming practices.
 Gunpowder
• Gunpowder, invented around 850 A.D. by Chinese
alchemists, was likely an accidental by-product of attempts
to create the elixir of life.
• Known as huoyao or "fire potion" in Chinese, gunpowder
revolutionized warfare.
• Prior to its invention, battles and wars mainly involved the
use of swords and spears.
• By the end of the 13th century, gunpowder had spread to
Europe and Asia, transforming warfare.
• Gunpowder enabled the development of various weapons,
from fiery arrows to cannons and grenades.
• Its invention marked an unprecedented advancement in
warfare and combat throughout the Middle Ages.
• Gunpowder became the foundation for nearly every new
weapon used in war since its discovery, shaping the course
of military technology and strategy.
 • Paper money, the precursor to modern
banknotes, originated in China in the 7th century
A.D. as an outgrowth of block printing.
Paper money • The concept of assigning value to marked paper
took time to gain popularity; initially, Mongols in
the 13th century attempted to introduce paper
money in the Middle East, but it failed.
• Eventually, traders and merchants recognized
the significant advantage of using paper money
due to its ease of transport compared to
traditional forms of currency.
• Although banknotes in Europe began in the 17th
century, the Chinese were pioneers in
developing and implementing the early versions
of paper money.
 Mechanical clocks
• Mechanical clocks, able to accurately keep
track of time down to the minute and second,
emerged during the Middle Ages.
• While ancient timekeeping devices like the
Antikythera mechanism existed, it was in the
Middle Ages that clockwork technology
advanced to enable precise timekeeping.
• The sophistication of clockwork technology
during this period marked a significant
development, transforming how people
structured their days and established work
patterns, especially in more advanced Middle
Age cities.
 The spinning wheel
• The spinning wheel, a crucial invention of the Middle
Ages, revolutionized the process of transforming fiber into
thread or yarn for weaving cloth.
• While the exact origins are debated, it is theorized that
the Indians invented the spinning wheel between the 6th
and 11th centuries A.D.
• The invention of the spinning wheel, according to White
(1974), significantly increased the speed of fiber spinning,
overcoming a bottleneck in cloth production.
• This breakthrough in linen production occurred when the
spinning wheel was introduced to Europe in the 13th
century A.D., transforming the textile industry by
increasing efficiency and productivity.
Modern Age
• The Modern Age spans from the 1500s to the present,
representing the postmedieval era.
• It is characterized by global population growth, technological
advancements, urbanization, scientific discoveries, and
increased globalization.
• Periodization in other parts of the world may differ, with
modernity emerging earlier or later, but there is consensus that
the defining characteristics primarily unfolded in Europe.
• The Modern Age has witnessed profound changes in various
aspects of society, shaping the course of human history in
terms of politics, economics, culture, and technology.
The Early Modern Period
• The Early Modern Period laid the foundations for the Great
Divergence, during which the West surpassed pre-modern
growth and achieved unprecedented wealth and power in the
19th century.
• It commenced with Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the
movable type printing press, enhancing knowledge production
efficiency and leading to increased literacy rates and
educational reforms.
• The period saw the 14th-16th century Renaissance and the
16th-century Protestant Reformation, driven by improved
access to knowledge.
The Early Modern Period
• The Early Modern Period witnessed a shift from older scientific
methods to empiricism and modern science during the 16th and
17th-century scientific revolutions.
• Middle Age thinkers like Roger Bacon, who laid the foundation
for the scientific method, influenced experimentation and
hypothesis testing in this period.
• The accessibility of knowledge led to improvements in
transportation, the secularization of politics, and the growth of
capitalism, contributing to the rise of powerful nations.
The Late Modern Period
• The Late Modern Period, spanning from around 1750 to 1815,
witnessed significant political, social, and economic changes
influenced by the First Industrial Revolution, the American
Revolution (1776), and the French Revolution (1789).
• The First Industrial Revolution, starting in 1750, transformed the
production of goods, altering the economic, societal, and cultural
frameworks. The inventions of the internal combustion engine,
steam-powered ships, and railways dramatically increased
production capacity and shifted economic focus from agriculture to
manufacturing.
• Mass production in factories became a model for various fields,
including education, where schools were designed like factories,
treating students as raw materials to be transformed into competent
products for modern life.
The Late Modern Period
• Increased production and economic growth led to a shift in consumer
behavior, with people relying on mass-produced goods rather than
producing their own food, clothing, and supplies.
• The French and American Revolutions in the late 18th century replaced
monarchy with national sovereignty and representative democracy,
fostering greater secularism and the emergence of democracy based on
individual rights and progress.
• The Late Modern Period laid the groundwork for the Contemporary
Period, marked by urbanization, education, increased political
participation, consumption of mass media, and the embrace of citizenship
in industrialized nations.
• Urbanization and mass media contributed to a shared mass culture,
connecting people across regional, social, and cultural boundaries and
fostering a sense of shared identity as citizens in an industrialized society.
Outstanding Modern
Age Inventions
 Compound microscope
• The compound microscope was invented in 1590 by
Zacharias Janssen, a Dutch spectacle maker, in
collaboration with his father.
• Through experiments with lenses, they discovered that
placing multiple lenses on a tube could magnify objects
much more than a simple magnifying lens.
• The Janssen compound microscope represented a
significant advancement from the single lens
microscope, offering magnification up to three times
when fully closed and up to 10 times when extended to
the maximum.
• Today, the compound microscope plays a crucial role
in various scientific studies, including medicine,
forensic studies, tissue analysis, atomic studies, and
genetics.
Telescope
• Galileo Galilei built the practical telescope, a pivotal
technological invention in the study of astronomy.
• This telescope could magnify objects 20 times larger
than the Dutch perspective glasses, marking a
significant improvement.
• Galileo was the first to use the telescope for
astronomical observations, leading to groundbreaking
discoveries such as craters and mountains on the
moon.
• Galileo's use of the telescope revolutionized
astronomical science, revealing that the universe was
much larger than previously imagined and
emphasizing the relatively small size of Earth within
the vast cosmos.
Jacquard Loom
• The Jacquard loom, invented by French weaver Joseph
Marie Jacquard, was crucial in driving the Industrial
Revolution.
• Before its invention, textile manufacturing relied on draw
looms, requiring both a weaver and a "drawboy" for figured
designs on textiles.
• Introduced in 1801, the Jacquard loom simplified the
process using a series of cards with punched holes to
automatically create complex textile designs.
• The Jacquard loom also served as an early precursor to
modern computer technology by using punched cards to
instruct machines for complex tasks, such as creating
different textile patterns.
Engine-Powered Airplane
• Orville and Wilbur Wright are credited with designing
and successfully operating the first engine-powered
aircraft on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North
Carolina.
• Their original "Flying Machine" patent (US patent
#821393) emphasised slightly-tilted wings, referred
to as aeroplanes, as the key features of a powered
aircraft.
• The success of their pioneering flight marked the
beginning of the age of powered flights,
demonstrating that aircraft could fly without
traditional airfoil-shaped wings.
• Despite lacking modern knowledge of
aerodynamics, the Wright brothers' scientific
approach paved the way for modern aircraft science
and technology development.
Television
• John Logie Baird, a Scottish engineer, is largely
credited with the invention of the modern television.
• Baird successfully televised objects in outline in
1924, recognizable human faces in 1925, and
moving objects in 1926 at the Royal Institution in
London.
• He demonstrated colored images in 1928, and the
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used
Baird's television technology for its earliest
programming in 1929.
• While Baird's television technology was the first, it
later faced criticism for its fuzzy and flickering
images, primarily because it was mechanical
compared to the emerging electronic versions at
the time.
Historical Antecedents of Science and
Technology
• Studying the historical antecedents of science and technology is
crucial for understanding their evolution, origins, and contexts. It
facilitates replicating and improving existing technologies,
demystifying science by showcasing the human aspect of
scientific endeavours, and encourages broader participation.
• Recognising the relevance of science and technology to
everyday life fosters a greater interest in these fields, making
them more accessible to a wider audience.