Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM

(Science Technology,
and Society)
Lesson 1: Historical Antecedents in the Course 4. Irrigation and Dikes – brings water to
of Science and Technology (Ancient farmlands and at the same time control the
Civilizations) flooding of the rivers.
Six (6) Major Themes of Innovation: 5. Sailboats
6. Wheel – made not for transportation but for
Transportation – allowed people to go places and farm work and food processing (i.e. milling
discover new horizons. People travelled in search of grains).
for food and better locations for settlement. 7. Plow – to dig the ground where seeds would
Communication – people needed a way to be planted.
communicate with the natives of the areas they 8. Roads – facilitates faster and easier travel.
visited to facilitate trade and prevent possible Made of sunbaked bricks laid on the ground,
conflicts. Record-keeping is also an important then poured over with bitumen – a black
aspect to document trades made, and to keep sticky substance similar to asphalt.
records of their history and culture. Babylonian Civilization – emerged near the Tigris
Weapons and Armors – for the establishment of and Euphrates Rivers. Known as great builders and
alliances with other tribes. Developed for security architects.
and protection. 1. Hanging Gardens of Babylon – structure
Conservation of life – for the prevention and cure made up of layers of gardens that contained
of illnesses. several species of plants, trees, and vines.
Built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his
Engineering – allowed men to build structures to wife, Queen Amytis.
address their specific needs and wants.
Egyptian Civilization – emerged on North Africa,
Architecture – considered as the status symbol along the Nile River Delta. Known for engineering,
among nations on how they advanced their architecture, and practical things that are still in use
technologies. today.
Ancient Times: 1. Paper/ Papyrus – addressed the issues on
Sumerian Civilization – located in the the use of clay tablets. This is a more
southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia. Known portable and stronger material for record-
for high degree of cooperation and desire for great keeping. Made from papyrus – a plant (reed)
things. that grew abundantly along the Nile River.
2. Ink – created by combining soot with
1. Cuneiform –first writing system that different chemicals to produce different
utilized word pictures and triangular colors. Also used for record-keeping.
symbols carved on clay using wedge 3. Hieroglyphics – system of writing using
instruments. symbols.
2. Uruk City – considered to be the first true 4. Cosmetics – to improve and highlight the
city. Used mud or clay that is mixed with facial features of a person, functioned as
reeds to produce sunbaked bricks. both for health and aesthetic reasons. Kohl –
3. The Great Ziggurat of Ur – also called the created by mixing soot or malachite with
mountain of god, built like the Uruk City. mineral galena.
Served as a sacred place for their chief god.

The Contemporary World

Prepared by: Lord Ivan A. Pancho, Part Time Instructor
Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM
(Science Technology, and Society)

5. Wig – worn for health and wellness rather Mayan Civilization

than aesthetic reasons. Protected the bald
heads from sun’s rays. 1. Looms – a device used to create fabrics
6. Water Clock/Clepsydra – utilizes gravity from fibers.
to use for time-keeping. 2. Rubber Products – utilized the sap of
rubber trees (latex).
Greek Civilization – emerged in an archipelago in
the southeastern part of Europe. Birthplace of Incan Civilization
Philosophy, Democracy and Mathematics. 1. Quipu – a system of knotted ropes to keep
1. Alarm Clock – designed by Plato to signal records that only experts can interpret.
the start of his lectures. Aztec Civilization
2. Water Mill – used the flow of water to
propel mills used in milling grains for food. 1. Chinampa – agricultural technology in
Minimized the need for raising of livestock which the land is divided into rectangular
used for milling. areas surrounded by canals.
2. Chocolates
Roman Civilization – perceived to be the strongest 3. Canoe
political and social entity in the West.
Indian Civilization
1. Newspaper – known as gazettes. This
contained announcements of the Roman 1. Ayurveda – a system of traditional medicine.
Empire to the people. 2. Hindu-Arabic Numerals
2. Bound Books/ Codex – stacked papers
Middle East
bound by wax, at first, then animal skin.
3. Architecture – considered to be a 1. Al-jabr – Arabic term that is considered to
continuation of the Greek Architecture. be the origin of the word Algebra.
4. Roman Numerals - standardized the
Africa
counting method to meet the increasing need
for communication and trade concerns. 1. Lebombo Bone – a mathematical tool found
between the mountains of Swaziland and
Chinese Civilization – considered to be the oldest
South Africa.
civilization in Asia, if not the world. Also known as
the Middle Kingdom. Other Antiquity Inventions:
1. Silk – developed the technology to harvest 1. Shadoof/ Shaduf – a tool used by
silk. ancient Egyptians to irrigate the land. Used
2. Tea – beverage produced by pouring hot or the concept of counterweights.
boiling water over crushed or shredded dried
2. Antikythera Mechanism – ancient
tea leaves.
3. Great Wall of China world’s first analog orrery/device. Used by
4. Gunpowder – a mix of charcoal, sulfur, and the Greeks to display celestial time, predict
potassium nitrate. Initially thought by the astronomical positions and eclipses for
Chinese to be an elixir (a potion for eternal calendar and astrological purposes. The
life). earliest known antecedent to modern
clockwork.
3. Aeolipile/ Hero’s Engine – a steam-
Prepared by: Lord Ivan A. Pancho, Part Time Instructor powered turbine which spun when the
water container at its
2
The Contemporary World
Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM
(Science Technology, and Society)

center was heated. The earliest antecedent to Modern Times

modern steam engines. During its time, it served no
practical purpose. 1. Pasteurization – invented by Louis Pasteur.
The process of heating dairy products to kill
the harmful bacteria that allow them to spoil
Lesson 2: Historical Antecedents in the Course faster.
of Science and Technology (Medieval, Modern 2. Petroleum Refinery – Samuel M. Kier
and Philippine Inventions) invented kerosene by refining petroleum.
Producing different products from crude oil
Medieval/ Middle Ages through refining/ distilling.
1. Printing Press – invented by Johann 3. Telephone – allowed for real-time
Gutenberg. Used fruit juices as ink, and communication using telephone wires via a
metal impression of letters (negative) to switchboard. Invented by Alexander
produce an impression on paper (positive). Graham Bell.
2. Microscope – a device that could magnify 4. Calculator – allowed for the faster
things invisible to the naked eye. Zacharias computation of complex equations.
Janssen invented the first compound 5. Jacquard Loom – lessened the demand for
microscope. labor while it also increased the complexity
3. Telescope – an optical instrument that helps of designs of fabrics. Used punch cards to
in the observation of remote objects. mass produce fabrics with complex designs.
4. War Weapons – long range weapons like 6. Engine-Powered Plane – by American
cannons, arrows, trebuchets and catapults. brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. The
Defensive tools/infrastructure like armors, first engine-powered aircraft was launched
chainmail, walls, fortresses and citadels. in 1903, and it spurred the age of powered
5. Heavy Plough – gave the Europeans the flights.
ability to turn clay soils to arable land, 7. Television – by John Logie Baird. A device
increasing their food production. Led to an capable of projecting images to a screen.
agricultural revolution. Philippine Inventions
6. Paper Money – developed first by the
Chinese. Used the concept of assigning 1. Salamander Amphibious Tricycle
value to a marked piece of paper in place of 2. SALt Lamp – invented by Aisa Mijeno.
using precious metals as currency. Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt)
7. Mechanical Clock – paved the way for a Lamp.
more accurate time-keeping. Changed the 3. Medical Incubator – invented by Dr. Fe
way people spent their days and work Del Mundo. Used two native laundry
patterns. baskets heated by hot water bottles to allow
8. Spinning Wheel – a machine used for premature babies to further develop.
transforming fiber into thread or yarn, and 4. Mosquito Ovicidal/ Larvicidal Trap
eventually is woven into a cloth using a System
loom. Increased the production of thread by 5. E-Jeepney – an innovation to the existing
a factor of 10 to 100 times. Filipino invention jeepneys. It uses electric
motors instead of internal-combustion
engines to lessen pollution.

3
Prepared by: Lord Ivan A. Pancho, Part-Time Instructor
The Contemporary World
Handout for GEC 007 PRELIM
(Science Technology, and Society)
 6. Erythromycin – an antibiotic out of a strain of Streptomyces erytheus developed by
Abelardo Aguilar.
7. Mole Remover – developed by Rolando Dela Cruz. Used cashew extract to remove
moles and warts from the skin without an operation.
8. Banana Ketchup – by Maria Orosa. Due to a shortage in tomato supply due to the World
War II, Orosa used mashed bananas, vinegar, sugar, and spices to develop the banana
ketchup. Red colorants were used to resemble the tomato ketchup color.

Lesson 3: Intellectual Revolutions

Copernican Revolution – Nicolaus Copernicus introduced the concept of Heliocentrism (the
Sun is the center of the Solar System, and not the Earth). This challenged Claudius Ptolemy’s
Geocentrism (the Earth is the center).
Darwinian Revolution – Charles Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species, he introduced the
Theory of Evolution (populations pass through a process of natural selection where only the
fittest would survive).
Freudian Revolution – by Sigmund Freud’s Theory of Psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is the
study that explains human behavior.
Freud’s Three Parts of Personality (with Simple Examples)
1. Id – Basic Instincts- “I want it now.”
Example: You see a chocolate on the table and immediately want to eat it, even if it’s not yours.
Feeling very hungry and wanting to grab food right away.
The id seeks instant pleasure without thinking of rules or consequences.

2. Ego – Rational Decision-Making- “Let’s think about this.”

Example:
You want the chocolate, but you decide to ask permission or wait until after dinner.
You are angry, but you choose to stay calm because you’re in class.

The ego balances what the id wants and what is realistic and acceptable.

3. Superego – Moral Conscience- “This is right or wrong.”

Example:
You don’t take the chocolate because you know it’s stealing.
You feel guilty for lying and decide to tell the truth.

The superego guides behavior based on values, morals, and conscience.

Easy to Remember:

1. Id = desire
2. Ego = decision
3. Superego = conscience