ANTECENDENTS OF

SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY IN
HISTORICAL
Presenter: Boloso, Jaymier A.

PERSPEC
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
• Trace the historical growth of science and technology
in the world;
• Explore the way people solved their respective
problems according to different historical periods;
• and Identify the contributions of the Philippines to the
growth and development of science and technology in
the worldwide perspective.
Ancient Period
In the ancient period, the
Sumerians were among the first
civilizations to manage floodwaters
through canals for farming. This
required cooperation, which led to
organized governance. To support
this system and record business
transactions, they developed
cuneiform writing on clay tablets
using a reed.
Before their decline, the Sumerians
made important contributions in
agriculture and engineering. Faced
with challenges in transporting goods
and exploring new areas, they
invented the sailboat. To address the
growing need for food, they focused
on increasing production rather than
limiting population, which led to the
invention of the wheel. Originally used
for milling grains, the wheel later
became vital for farming and travel.
The Sumerians expanded
farming by inventing the
plow, which allowed them to
cultivate large areas of land
more efficiently. Unlike
manual planting, the plow
broke the soil quickly,
making it easier to drop
seeds and increase food
production.
The Babylonians, who lived between
the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, rose to
power under rulers like King
Hammurabi, who expanded their
government system, improved
irrigation, and promoted ideals of
justice and order. Later, King
Nebuchadnezzar II built the famous
Hanging Gardens of Babylon as a gift
for his wife, showcasing the kingdom’s
advanced architecture and engineering.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were described
as a massive, breathtaking structure filled with
flowers from different places, considered both a
marvel of engineering and a symbol of
Babylonian greatness—though some debate
whether it truly existed. History shows that the
strength of a kingdom often depended on its
king, and with a king’s death, decline could
follow. In Mesopotamia, the Assyrians later rose
to power. Known more as warriors than farmers,
they became a dominant force due to their use
of iron weapons, making them the superpower of
their time.
King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria made
soldiering a full-time profession, creating a
systematic and powerful army divided into
infantry, phalanxes, cavalry, and special
forces of archers and slingers. Armed with
spears, swords, bows, slings, daggers,
javelins, and shields, the Assyrians were
feared for their cruelty, causing many
kingdoms to surrender without resistance.
Beyond warfare, they also contributed to
civilian life—most notably, King
Ashurbanipal built the world’s first library,
housing about 25,000 clay tablets.
The Assyrians preserved their songs and
stories on tablets, and as their empire grew
too large for one ruler to manage, King
Ashurbanipal showed his skill in governance
by dividing it into provinces connected by
roads. While these events took place in
Western Asia or the Middle East, other
civilizations also thrived, such as the
Phoenicians, Hebrews, Persians, Lydians, and
Egyptians. The Phoenicians, known as traders,
advanced boat building, seafaring, and
navigation. They also developed dyes,
especially the royal purple, but their most
lasting contribution was the alphabet, which
became the basis of modern writing systems.
The Hebrews trace their origins to Abraham and Joseph,
and their traditions, preserved for over 3,000 years, are
still practiced by the Jews today. Their greatest
contribution is the Bible, while Jewish thinkers and
inventors have also provided countless modern
innovations. In Persia, the Shahnameh epic tells the
story of Sohrab and Rustom, even referencing an early
form of caesarian operation—showing how fiction can
inspire real inventions. Darius the Great also advanced
agriculture through the Qanat, an underground
irrigation system, and built canals that inspired later
works like the Suez Canal. Meanwhile, the Lydians
simplified trade by inventing coins, replacing the
cumbersome weighing of gold and silver with
standardized money.
The Lydians developed a system of twelve
low-denomination bimetallic coins made of
silver or gold. To prevent counterfeiting,
they discovered that rubbing a coin on a
special black stone produced a colored
mark that revealed the metal’s purity. This
stone, later called the Lydian stone, gave
rise to the word touchstone, meaning a
test of authenticity.
Another great contributor to science and technology was Egypt. While the
pyramids remain their most famous legacy, the Egyptians also invented many
practical tools and methods that are still in use today.

The Egyptians improved on earlier writing systems by replacing the heavy,

fragile clay tablets of the Sumerians with papyrus, made from reeds found
along the Nile. This became the first form of paper, paired with ink made from
soot and other chemicals. They also developed hieroglyphics, a symbolic
writing system carved into monuments and pyramids, later deciphered through
the Rosetta Stone. Beyond writing, Egyptians influenced culture with practices
like makeup, used not only for beauty but also for protection, and wigs, which
shielded them from sunlight, lice, and and insects—showing both practical and
aesthetic purposes.
 China and India also made lasting contributions to
science and technology. China is best known for the
Great Wall, but its greater legacy lies in the Four Great
Inventions: the compass, gunpowder, papermaking,
and printing—all of which shaped civilizations
worldwide and are still in use today.

India, whose name comes from the Indus Valley

civilization, is one of the world’s oldest cultures with
advancements in many fields.
Indian scholars contributed greatly to mathematics,
astronomy, medicine, physics, chemistry, and
engineering. The concept of zero, developed by
Aryabhata, revolutionized mathematics. Archaeological
finds at Harappa, such as ivory rulers, show that early
Indians also pioneered precise tools for measurement—
evidence of their deep influence on human knowledge.
and insects—showing both practical and aesthetic
purposes.
China’s contributions transformed world civilizations
through the compass, gunpowder, papermaking,
and printing. These inventions impacted navigation,
warfare, education, and communication across the
globe. Beyond these, China is also famed for the
Great Wall, a monumental feat of engineering and
defense. These achievements established China as a
cornerstone of technological advancement in the
ancient world.
The Middle
Ages
The middle age’ also called the Medieval Period (476–
1492 A.D.), is often described in two contrasting ways:
some label it the "Dark Ages" due to ignorance,
superstition, and decline after the fall of Rome, while
others see it as a time of important growth in science and
technology that paved the way for modernity. Spanning
the 5th to 15th centuries in Europe, this era began with
the collapse of the Roman Empire and ended with the
Renaissance, when interest in the classical arts and
sciences of ancient Greece was revived.
During the Middle Ages, many significant events shaped
history. The Crusades were launched by Christians to
reclaim the Holy Lands from Muslim control, marked by
soldiers bearing crosses on their shields and clothing.
Though aimed at religious purposes, the Crusades also
influenced the survival of Christian Europe. Another
defining event was the Black Death, or bubonic plague,
which killed about 20 million people—nearly 30% of
Europe’s population. At the time, it was seen as divine
punishment, but today it is known to have been caused by
the bacterium Yersinia pestis spread by rats and fleas..
While the period was often called the "Dark Ages" due
to limited scientific explanations and technological
progress, this label is misleading. Science and
technology did exist but were still developing. In fact,
the Middle Ages saw the rise of great European
universities, laying the foundation for future
intellectual and scientific growth.

The Middle Ages is divided into two parts: the Early

and the Late Middle Ages.
The Early Middle Ages, often linked with the
term “Dark Ages,” followed the fall of the
Roman Empire. During this time, Europe was
marked by wars, poverty, declining urban
infrastructure, and widespread ignorance.
Yet, even in this difficult period, sparks of
learning and discovery emerged. Thinkers
like Roger Bacon emphasized that true
knowledge comes from evidence, while
Leonardo da Vinci, also rooted in this era,
contributed ideas that blended science, art,
and innovation—signs of light breaking
through the darkness.
Roger Bacon (1214–1294), an English
monk and friend of Pope Clement IV,
emphasized that true knowledge must
be based on evidence and
experimentation rather than authority or
speculation. In his work Opus Maius, he
outlined a method involving hypothesis,
observation, and conclusion, and
regarded mathematics as the
foundation of philosophy.
About 250 years later, Leonardo da Vinci
emerged in the latter Middle Ages. Though
primarily an artist, he applied systematic
observation and recording to many fields,
including anatomy, hydrodynamics, geology,
aerodynamics, mechanics, and biology. His
sketches and notes reveal inventions far ahead
of his time—such as a flying machine,
parachute, diving suit, crank machine, hydraulic
pumps, and more. If his works had been
published earlier, the progress of science and
technology could have advanced much sooner.
In the Middle Ages, scientific and technological
innovations spanned agriculture, timekeeping,
textiles, construction, medicine, media, and
more. Many were not entirely new but rather
improvements of earlier technologies adapted
to new challenges.

In agriculture, the plow—first invented in

ancient times—was greatly improved to suit
Europe’s heavier, wetter soils. The old plows
were light and fragile, easily breaking under
tough conditions. Medieval farmers redesigned
it with a wheel to add weight and strength,
allowing it to cut deeper and more effectively.
 Since the new plow was much
heavier, a single animal could no
longer pull it. Instead, teams of
oxen were used, unified by the
horse collar, which had evolved
over time to distribute weight
evenly. This combination
revolutionized farming, boosting
food production and supporting
population growth in medieval
Europe.
•Agriculture improved with the heavy plow, horse
collar, horseshoes, and wheelbarrows. Windmills and
watermills supported food production. Timekeeping
advanced with calendars and mechanical clocks. The
textile industry flourished with spinning wheels and
guild systems. Gunpowder was adapted into
cannons, and Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press
revolutionized communication. Quarantine was
introduced to combat the Black Death.
 The Modern Period and
the Industrial Revolution
•The Modern Period saw the Enlightenment and
Industrial Revolution. James Watt’s steam engine
revolutionized industry and transportation. The
Wright brothers achieved human flight in 1903.
Advances included automobiles, trains, steamboats,
and highways, transforming mobility and economies.
The Modern Period began at the end of the 15th
century, following the Middle Ages, and is divided
into two parts: the early modern period (15th–17th
centuries) and the late modern period, which extends
to contemporary times. This era marked a major shift
in thought, moving away from abstract ideas toward
the empirical and tangible where only things that
could be weighed, touched, or measured were
considered real.
Known as the Age of Enlightenment, it was a time
when science triumphed and technology spread
globally. One of the defining events was the
Industrial Revolution, powered by the invention of
the steam engine. While James Watt is credited with
creating the modern version that fueled industrial
growth, earlier inventors paved the way. Thomas
Savery designed a steam pump to remove water
from mines, and Thomas Newcomen built an engine
whose design became the foundation for Watt’s
improvements. Together, their innovations made the
Industrial Revolution and the modern technological
age possible.
Modern Medicine and
Communication
•Medicine progressed with X-rays, anesthesia, and
penicillin by Alexander Fleming. Florence Nightingale
improved sanitation and nursing. Louis Pasteur
introduced pasteurization, and Karl Landsteiner
developed blood typing. Communication expanded
with the telephone (Bell), telegraph (Morse), and
wireless transmission (Marconi).
In the Modern Period, communication advanced from
primitive methods, such as hidden scalp messages,
to revolutionary inventions like the telephone by
Alexander Graham Bell and wireless telegraphy by
Guglielmo Marconi, building on Samuel Morse’s code.
Many technologies also came from military needs,
such as drones, rockets, submarines like Bushnell’s
Turtle, and shrapnel shells named after Henry
Shrapnel. These innovations show how both
communication and warfare drove major scientific
and technological progress.
 Modern Military
Innovations
•Military technology advanced from rockets, shrapnel
shells, Colt’s revolver, and machine guns to
submarines like the Turtle. The Manhattan Project,
led by J. Robert Oppenheimer, produced the atomic
bomb, tested in 1945 and used in Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, ending WWII but creating nuclear fears.
In the Modern Period, communication advanced from
primitive methods, such as hidden scalp messages,
to revolutionary inventions like the telephone by
Alexander Graham Bell and wireless telegraphy by
Guglielmo Marconi, building on Samuel Morse’s code.
Many technologies also came from military needs,
such as drones, rockets, submarines like Bushnell’s
Turtle, and shrapnel shells named after Henry
Shrapnel. These innovations show how both
communication and warfare drove major scientific
and technological progress.
 Inventions in
Philippines
•Filipinos adapted creatively to challenges. Jeepneys
were made from U.S. jeeps, later evolving into eco-
friendly E-jeepneys. Victor Llave invented the
amphibious salamander for land and water transport.
Aisa Mijeno created the SALT lamp using saltwater.
Dr. Fe del Mundo designed a bamboo incubator for
rural babies. The DOST-ITDI developed an eco-
friendly mosquito trap in 2010.
Philippine Inventions

The Filipinos also share the

challenges faced in the world,
and the Filipinos also have their
own means to meet the
challenges Filipinos tend to
improvise things or innovate
something to answer some
needs rather than completely
replace some items.
In the area of transportation
instead of completely abandoning
the car the American G.L. had left
in the country after the war, the
Filipinos converted it into public
transport. From Jeep, it is now a
Jeepney. And to adapt to the trend
of the time, the jeepney was
lambasted as a pollutant and
worn-out, Filipinos have it as E-
jeepney. It is electronically
accelerated and its basic features
are also improved to align it with
the taste of the "ma-arty"
generation.
Challenged by the easily flooded
roads of Manila and other cities of the
country, the Filipinos invented a thing
to meet the demand and to solve the
problem of transportation during
flood months. A Filipino named Victor
Llave moved by the plight of his
compatriots thought of a thing that
would allow mobility of people even
during a flood. He came up with the
amphibious salamander.
It is basically a trike, a three wheeled
motorized vehicle designed to travel both in
land and in water. During hot months it
works simply as a tricycle, and like any
other tricycle, it carries passengers from
one section of the city to another. But what
makes it different from all the other
tricycles is that during flood months it can
still carry passenger from one section of the
city to another. It can even be used in
island hopping; it is a very conducive
transport system for the country as the
Philippines is made up of different islands.
Another challenge and another Filipino had solved it. Lighting
is a problem of many Filipinos in the rural mountains of the
country unreachable by electricity. At first Filipinos in those
places relied on kerosene which is expensive and hazardous.

Things changed when Filipina inventor Aisa Mijeno produced a

lamp that produces light out of table salt. A minute amount of
salt (two teaspoons) and a glass of water and a lamp that
gives light to the house eight hours a night in six months
before replacement of its basic elements was invented. The
lamp is called Salt - Sustainable Alternative Lighting.
In the field of medicine, two items from the
Philippines were invented and are currently in full
utilization to answer some needs. There is a problem
with the mortality rate of newborn babies in the rural
areas of the Philippines where people still have to see
twenty-first-century medical facilities on giving birth.
There are no incubators as far-flung places are not
reached by electricity. Dr. Fe Del Mundo, a Filipina
pediatrician, solved the problem. Using indigenous
materials like baskets and bottles for hot water
incubators made and meets the need of pre-termed
babies to survive.
There are many ways to kill
mosquitoes carrying dengue and
other viral illnesses. But what is
important is not simply the killing
but stopping their spread with
means that are not hazardous to
humans. In 2010 this need was
provided by the Department of
Science and Technology-Industrial
Technology Development Institute
(DOST-ITDI). The system is made up
of ingredients not harmful to
humans and to the environment but
perilous to mosquitoes and their
spread.
THANK
YOU