CRADLES OF EARLY

SCIENCE
 Development of Science in
Mesoamerica
• Mesoamerica includes the entire area
of Central America from Southern
Mexico up to the border of South
America.

• This region is rich in culture and

knowledge prior to the arrival of its
European colonizers.
• The Maya civilization is one of the
famous civilizations that lasted for
2,000 years. These people were
known for their works in
astronomy.

• For example, the pyramid at

Chichen Itza in Mexico is situated
at the location of the Sun during
the spring and fall equinoxes.
 CONTRIBUTIONS OF
MALAYAN CIVILIZATION
• Mayans have the knowledge of
predicting eclipse and using astrological
cycles in planting and harvesting.
• They developed technology for crops
and elaborate cities using ordinary
machineries and tools. They have built
hydraulics system.

• They used various tools and adapt

themselves to innovations especially in
the field of arts.
• They used the writing system
known as Mayan hieroglyphics.

• They created a number system

based on the numeral 20 where
they independently developed the
concept of zero and positional
value, even before the Romans did.
THE INCA CIVILIZATION
• The Inca Civilization is also famous in
Mesoamerica. The following were scientific
ideas and tools that they developed to help
them in everyday life:

1. roads paved with stones;

2. stone buildings that surmounted

earthquakes and other disasters;

3. Irrigation system and technique for

storing water for their crops to grow in all
types of land;
4. Calendar with 12 months to mark their
religious festivals and prepare them for
planting season;

5. The first suspension bridge;

6. quipu, a system of knotted ropes to

keep records that only experts can
interpret; and

7. Inca textiles since cloth was one of the

specially prized artistic achievements.
AZTEC CIVILIZATION
 Contributions of Aztec
Civilization
1. Mandatory Education
The Aztec puts value on education;
that is why their children are
mandated to get education
regardless of their social class,
gender, or age. It is an early form of
universal or inclusive education.
 Contributions of Aztec
Civilization
2. Chocolates

The Aztec in Mexico

developed chocolates during their
time. They value cacao beans
and made it as part of their
tribute to their gods.
 Contributions of Aztec
Civilization
3. Antispasmodic medication.

They used antispasmodic

medication that could prevent
muscle spasms and relax
muscles, which could help
during surgery.
 Contributions of Aztec
Civilization
4. Chinampa

A form of Aztec technology for

agricultural farming in which the
land was divided into rectangular
areas and surrounded by canals.
 Contributions of Aztec
Civilization
5. Aztec Calendar

This enabled them to plan their

activities, rituals, and planting
season.
 Contributions of Aztec
Civilization

6. Invention of the canoe.

A light narrow boat used for

travelling in water systems.
DEVELOPMENT OF
SCIENCE IN ASIA
 INDIA

India is a huge peninsula surrounded by vast

bodies of water and fortified by huge mountains in
its northern boarders.

The Indians creatively developed various ideas

and technologies useful in their everyday lives. They
are known for manufacturing iron and in metallurgical
works. Their iron steel is considered to be the best and
held with high regard in the whole of Roman Empire.
India is famous in medicine, for
example, Ayurveda, a system of
traditional medicine that originated
in ancient India before 2500 BC, is
still practiced as a form alternative
medicine.
Clifford (2008) and Bose (1998) pointed
out that Indian astronomer and
mathematician Aryabatha (476-550),
in his Aryabhatiya, introduced a
number of trigonometric functions,
tables, and techniques, as well as
algorithms of algebra.
• In 628 AD, another Indian,
Brahmagupta, also suggested that
gravity was a force of attraction,
and lucidly explained the use of
zero, as both a placeholder and a
decimal digit, along the Hindu-
Arabic numeral system now used
universally throughout the world.
 CHINA
• It is one of the ancient
civilizations with substantial
contributions in may areas of life
like medicine, astronomy, science,
mathematics, arts, philosophy,
and music among others.
• Chinese are known for traditional medicines,
a product of centuries of experiences and
discovery of the Chinese people.

• They discovered various medical properties

and uses of different plants and uses of
different plants and animals to cure illness,
an example of which is acupuncture.
In terms of technology, Chinese have
discovered and invented the following:
1. Compass
2. Papermaking
3. Gunpowder
4. Printing tools that became known in
the West only by the end of the
Middle Ages
5. Iron plough
6. Wheelbarrow
7. Propeller
In terms of astronomy, the
Chinese made significant records
on supernovas, lunar and solar
eclipses, and comets which were
carefully recorded to understand
the heavenly bodies and their
effects to the world (Mayall, 1939).
Middle East Countries
• With the spread of Islam in the 7th
and 8th centuries, a period of
Muslim scholarship, or the
Golden Age of Islam lasted until
the 13th century.
Muslim Intellectuals
1. Ibn al-Haytham is regarded as the
Father of Optics, for his empirical proof
of the intromission theory of light.

2. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi

gave his name to the concept of
algorithm while the term algebra is
derived from al-jabr, the beginning of
the title of one of his publications
3. Jabir ibn Hayyan –played a great
role in the foundation of Modern
Chemistry, some scholars called
him to be the “Father of
Chemistry”.

4. Ibn Sina-pioneered the science of

experimental medicine and was the
first physician to conduct clinical
trials (Jacquart, 2008).
Sina’s most notable works
are:

1. The Book of Healing

2. The Canon of Medicine
DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE
IN AFRICA
 Africa is blessed with natural and
mineral resources.

 Egypt was known to be a center of

alchemy, which is known as the
medieval forerunner of chemistry. They
tried to study human anatomy and
pharmacology, and applied important
components such as examination,
diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for
the treatment of diseases.
• Astronomy is also famous in the
African region. For example,
documents show that Africans
used three types of calendars:
lunar, solar and stellar, or a
combination of the three.
• Metallurgy was also known
in the African regions during
the ancient times. They
invented metal tools used in
their homes, in agriculture,
and in building their
magnificent architectures.
Activity:
1. How did society shape science and how
did science shape society?
2. How do social and human issues
influence science?
3. Considering the current state of our
society, do you think science literacy
among people has contributed to the
growth of our economy?
4. How can science influence government
policies?