SAINT JOSEPH COLLEGE OF SINDANGAN INCORPORATED

Poblacion, Sindangan
Region IX, Philippines

LEARNING MODULE IN GST 11

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

MODULE 2

BS CRIMINOLOGY 1 IINSRUCTOR: Ms. Fretzell A. Actub

 MODULE 2

Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology

This section tackles how social contexts shaped and were shaped by science and technology
across three historical periods. By introducing the historical antecedents of science and technology,
the section explores the dynamic interactions between different societal factors and science and
technology. Along with the discussion of these antecedents during the ancient period, middle ages,
and modern ages, this section also includes a discussion on important Philippine inventions and
innovations. It emphasizes the various social, cultural, economic, and political impacts of scientific
and technological innovation throughout history.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Discuss the historical antecedents of science and technology; and

2. explain how Philippine scientific and technological inventions shaped and were
shaped by various social contexts

One of the key interests of STS as an academic field is the history of science and technology.
As a strand of STS, the history of science and technology focuses on how science and technology
have changed across time. Also, it explores the impacts of scientific and technological innovations on
the prevailing social, cultural, political, and economic contexts throughout history. Conversely, it also
pays attention to the conditions that shaped science and technology. Quite often, interests lie in
historical antecedents of scientific and technological innovations.

An antecedent is defined as a precursor to the unfolding or existence of something. Thus,

historical antecedents in science and technology are factors that paved the way for the presence of
advanced and sophisticated scientific and technological innovations today. Knowledge of the history
of science and technology is useful in appraising these innovations today. By understanding how
previous generations influenced and were influenced by developments in science and technology,
today‟s generation can come up with informed decisions on the proper application of science and
technology to daily life.

Ancient Period

The rise of ancient civilizations paved the way fro advances in science and technology. These
advances during the Ancient period allowed civilizations to flourish by finding better ways of
communication, transportation, self-organization, and living in general.

Figure 1. Sumerian Wheel Figure 2. Potter‟s Wheel

 Ancient Wheel. People from ancient civilizations used animals for transportation long before
the invention of the wheel. No one knows exactly who invented the wheel and when. There is,
however, a general agreement that the ancient wheel grew out of a mechanical device called the
potter‟s wheel – a heavy flat disk made of hardened clay which was spun horizontally on an axis. It is
believed that the Sumerians invented the potter‟s wheel shortly after 3500 BC. The invention of the
ancient wheel is often credited to the Sumerians since no other ancient civilization used a similar
device a time. It could be that potter thought of shifting the potter‟s wheel to a 90-degree angle for the
purpose of transportation or the wheel was reinvented for this purpose. Nonetheless, it would none be
until 1000 to 1500 years later that the wheel was first used on carts.

Paper. Roughly around 3000 BC, the

ancient Egyptians began writing on papyrus, a
material similar to thick paper. Papyrus us made
from pith of the papyrus plant cyperus papyrus. It
is lightweight, strong, durable, and most
importantly, portable. Before the Egyptians
invented the papyrus, writing was done on stone.
Because of the difficulty of writing on stone,
writing was reserved only for very important
occasions. With the advent of the papyrus,
documentation and record-keeping became
efficient, widespread, and vast. Through its use,
information dissemination became exponentially
faster. Records were kept and stood the test of
time.
Figure 3. The Edwin Smith Papyrus

.
Shadoof. The shadoof was an early tool
invented and used by ancient Egyptians to irrigate land.
Among Egyptians who lived near the Nile river,
irrigation was necessary to water their crops. The
shadoof, also spelled as shaduf, is a hand-operated
device used for lifting water. Its invention introduced the
idea of lifting things using counterweights. Because of
this invention, irrigation and farming became much
more efficient. The shadoof is also believed to be an
ancient precursor of more sophisticated irrigation tools.
Figure 4. Shadoof

Antikythera mechanism. Even before the invention of the antecedents of the modern
computer, the Greeks had already invented the ancient world‟s analog computer orrery. Discovered in
1902 and retrieved from the waters of Antikythera, Greece, the Antikythera mechanism is similar to a
mantel clock. Upon its discovery, the bits of wood seen on its fragments suggest that it must have
been housed in a wooden case.
It is akin to a clock in the way that the case has a circular
face and rotating hands. A knob on the sie makes it possible for it
to be wound forward or backward. As this knob moves forward or
backward, its mechanism allows it to display celestial time. Thus,
it is widely believed that the Antikythera mechanism was used to
predict astrological positions and eclipses for calendar and
astrological purposes. It is also believed that the Antikythera
mechanism, which is one of the oldest known antecedents of
modern clockwork, was invented by Greek scientists between
150-100 BC.

Figure 5. Antikythera mechanism

 Aeolipile. Also known as the Hero’s engine, the
aeolipile is widely believed to be the ancient precursor
of the steam engine. Hero of Alexandria is credited for
the demonstration of the use of the aeolipile during the
1st century AD. The aeolipile is a steam-powered
turbine which spun when the water container as its
center was heated, thus making it practically the first
rudimentary steam engine. It is not clear whether the
aeolipile served any practical purpose, but it is
believed to be one of many “temple wonders” at the
time. Nonetheless, Vitrivius, a Roman author,
architect, and civil engineer, described aeolipile as a
scientific invention through which “the mighty and
wonderful laws of the heavens and the nature of
Figure 6 Aeoliple or Hero’s engine winds” may be understood and judged.

MIDDLE AGES

Between the collapse of the roman Empire in the 5 th century AD and the colonial expansion of
Western Europe in late 15th century AD, major advances in scientific and technological development
took place. These include steady increase of new inventions, introduction of innovations in traditional
production, and emergence of scientific thinking and method. The Middle Ages was not as stagnant
as alternate terms such as the „Medieval Period‟ or „Dark Ages‟ suggest. In fact, many medieval
universities at the time stirred scientific thinking and built infrastructures for scientific communities to
flourish. As such, some humanity‟s most important present-day technologies could be traced back to
their historical antecedents in the Middle Ages.

Heavy Plough. Perhaps one of the most important technological innovations during the
middle ages is the invention of the heavy plough. Clay soil, despite being more fertile than lighter
types of soil, was not cultivated because of tis heavy weight. However, through the invention of
the heavy plough, it became possible to harness clay soil. Professor Thomas Bernebeck
Andersen of the University of Southern Denmark succinctly describes the impact of the invention
of the heavy plough: “The heavy plough turned European agriculture and economy on its head.
Suddenly, the fields with the heavy, fatty, and moist clay soils became those that gave the
greatest yields.” Because of this, Europe, particularly its northern territories, saw rapid economic
prosperity. The heavy plough stirred an agricultural revolution in Northern Europe marked by
higher and healthier agricultural yields and more efficient agricultural practices.

Figure 7-8 Heavy Plough

 Gunpowder. Around 850 AD, Chinese
alchemists accidentally invented black powder
or gun powder. Multiple accounts suggest that
the gunpowder might have been an unintended
byproduct of attempts made by the Chinese to
invent the elixir of life, which is why the Chinese
called it huoyao, roughly translated as “fire
potion”. Prior to the invention of the gunpowder,
swords and spears were used in the battles
and wars. Towards the end of the 13th century,
the explosive invention crept into most parts of
Europe and Asia. Since its invention, the
gunpowder has allowed for more advanced
Figure 9 Illustration of a Chinese warrior using
Gunpowder in weapons warfare.

From fiery arrows to cannons and grenades, the gunpowder has prompted foundation for the
functionality of almost every new weapon use in war since its invention. It ushered in an
unprecedented advancement in warfare and combat throughout the Middle Ages.

Paper Money. Although it was not until the 17th century that bank notes began to be used in
Europe, the first known versions of paper money could be traced back to the Chinese in the 17th
century AD as an offshoot of the invention of block printing, which is similar to stamping. Before the
introduction of paper money, precious metals such as gold and silver were used as currency.
However, the idea of assigning value to a
marked piece of paper did not immediately
become popular. In fact, when the Mongols
attempted to introduce paper money into the
Middle east market in the 13th century, it did not
gain immediate success. Nonetheless, traders and
merchants eventually realized the huge advantage
of using paper money because it was easier to
transport around compared to the previous form of Figure 10 The Chinese are credited for the
currencies. invention of paper money

Mechanical Clock. Although devices for

timekeeping and recording sprung from the ancient
times, such as the Antikythera mechanism, it was not
until the Middle Ages that clockwork technology was
developed. The development of mechanical clocks
paved the way for accurately keeping track of time. The
sophistication of clockwork technology of the
mechanical clock drastically changed the way days
were spent and work patterns were established,
particularly in the more advanced Middle Ages cities.

Figure 11 A medieval mechanical clock found

In Prague, Czech Republic
 Spinning Wheel. Another important invention of the
Middle Ages is the spinning wheel, a machine used for
transforming fiber into thread or yarn and eventually woven
into cloth on a loom. Although no consensus could be made
regarding the origin of the spinning wheel, it is theorized that
the Indians invented the spinning wheel between 6 th and 11th
century AD. Prior to the invention of the spinning wheel,
weaving was done predominantly through the more time-
consuming and tedious process of hand spinning. According
to White (1974), the invention if the spinning wheel sped up
the rate at which fiber could be spun by a factor of 10 to 100
times. Thus, White argued that this invention ushered in a
breakthrough in linen production when it was introduced in Figure 12 Spinning Wheel
Europe in 13th century AD.

MODERN AGES

As the world population steadily increased, people of the Modern Ages realized the utmost
importance of increasing the efficiency if transportation, communication, and production.
Industrialization took place with greater risks in human health, food safety and environment which had
to be addressed as scientific and technological progress unfolded at an unimaginable speed.

Compound Microscope. A Dutch spectacle maker named Zacharias Janssen is credited for
the invention of the first compound microscope in 1590. Together with his father Hans, Zacharias
began experimenting with lenses by putting together several lenses on a tube. This led to an amazing
discovery that an object, when placed near the end of the tube, can be magnified far larger that what
a simple magnifying lens can do. Janssen‟s compound microscope was an important progression
from the single lens microscope.

It was capable of magnifying objects three

times their size when fully closed and up to ten times
when extended to the maximum. Today, compound
microscope is an important instrument in many
scientific studies such as in the areas of medicine,
forensic studies, tissue analysis, atomic studies and
Figure 13 Janssen’s compound microscope
genetics.

Telescope. Perhaps the single, most important technological invention in the study of
astronomy during the Modern Ages was the practical telescope invented by Galileo Galilei. This
invention could magnify objects 20 times larger than the Dutch perspective glasses. It was Galileo
who first used the telescope skyward and made important astronomical discoveries and identified
presence of craters and mountains on the moon.
Galileo‟s remarkable technological
contribution drastically changed the study of
astronomy. For the first time, it became
clear that the universe is far larger than
previously imagined and the Earth far
smaller compared to the entire universe.
Figure 14 One of Galileo’s first telescope
 Jacquard Loom. As the Industrial Revolution reached full speed, the Jacquard Loom was
considred as one of the most critical drivers of the revolution, Built by French weaver Joseph Marie
Jacquard, the Jacquard loom simplifies textile manufacturing.
Prior to the invention of the Jacquard loom, a drawloom was
used which required two individuals to operate – the weaver and a
“drawboy” – if figured designs on textiles were needed. As such
intensified manual labor and greater effort had to be exerted to
produce complex designs. In 1801, Jacquard demonstrated the
ingenuity of his version of a loom in which a series of cards with
punched holes automatically created complex textile designs and
made mass production easier. The jacquard loom is also an
important antecedent of modern computer technology as it
demonstrated the use if punched cards to instruct a machine to
carry out complex tasks, i.e. making different textile patterns.
Figure 15 Jacquard loom

Engine-Powered Airplane. Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright are credited for designing and
successfully operating the first engine-powered aircraft. The wright brothers approached the design of
powered aircraft and flight scientifically. Orville and Wilbur proved that aircrafts could fly without
airfoil-shaped wings. They demonstrated this in their original Flying Machine patent (US patent
#821393), showing that slightly-tilted wings, which they referred to as aeroplanes were the key
features of a powered aircraft..

Their pioneering success marked an age of

powered flights. Sans modern knowledge on
aerodynamics and a comprehensive understanding
of the working of aircraft wings, the Wright brothers
were brilliant scientists who paved the way for
modern aircraft technology

Figure 16 The flight of the Flying Machine of

Orville and Wilbur Wright

Television. The Scottish engineer John Logie Baird is largely credited for the invention of the
modern television. Baird successfully televised objects in outline in 1924, recognizable human faces
in 1925, and moving objects in 1926, and projected colored images in 1928.

Baird‟s television technology caught on really

swift. In fact, the British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) used this for its television programming in
1929. Despite being the first television invented,
Baird‟s television was later on criticized for its fuzzy
and flickering images, primarily because it was
mechanical compared to electronic versions that
were developed much later.

Figure 17 Baird’s television

INVENTIONS BY FILIPINO SCIENTISTS

The Philippines boasts of its own history and tradition of scientific and technological
innovations. Filipinos have long been known for their ingenuity. As with all other inventions, necessity
has always been the mother of Philippine inventions. Most of these inventions appealed to the unique
social and cultural context of the archipelagic nation. Throughout Philippine history, Filipinos are
responsible for developing many scientific and technological innovations focused on navigation,
traditional shipbuilding, textiles, food processing, indigenous arts and techniques and even cultural
inventions. The following are some of the most important inventions by Filipino scientists.

Electronic Jeepney (e-jeepney). The jeepney is perhaps one of the most recognizable
national symbols of the Philippines and the most popular mode of public transportation in the country.
It is also perhaps one of the most enduring symbol of Filipino ingenuity. Jeepneys were designed and
improvised from scratch out of military jeeps that the Americans left in the country after World War II.
As demand for more responsive transportation technology arose, the e-jeepney was introduced in
Metro Manila and Bacolod city.
The e-jeepney is the inventive response to
criticisms to the traditional jeepney that belched smoke
directly causing air pollution which made it
unsustainable and uneconomical. E-jeepneys are
designed to be environment-friendly, eliminating noise
and iar pollution as they run on electricity. The are also
more economical for electricity is far cheaper than
ordinary diesel, allowing jeepney drivers to earn more
profit.
E-jeepney

Erythromycin. Perhaps one of the

most important medical inventions is the
Erythromycin. The Ilonggo scientist Abelardo
Aguilar invented this antibiotic out of a strain of
bacterium called Streptomyces erythreus from
which this drug derived its named. As with the
case of several other local scientists, however,
Aguilar was not credited for this discovery by
Eli Lilli Co., Aguilar‟s US employer, to whom he
sent the strain for separation. The US
Abelardo Aguilar and his Erythromycin
company owned the merits for this discovery.

Medical Incubator. World-renowned Filipino paediatrician

and national scientist, Fe del Mundo, is credited for the invention of
the incubator and jaundice relieving device. Del Mundo was the
first woman pediatrician to be admitted to the prestigious Harvard
University‟s School of Medicine. She is also the founder of the first
pediatric hospital in the country. Her pioneering work in paediatrics
that spanned a total of 8 decades in her the 1977 Ramon
Magsaysay Award, Asia‟s premier prize granted to outstanding
individuals whose selfless service remarkably contributed to the
betterment of society. Her original improvised incubator consisted
two native laundry baskets if different sizes that are placed one
inside the other. Warmth is generated by bottles with hot water
places around the baskets. A makeshift hood over the baskets
allows oxygen to circulate inside the incubator.
 Del Mundo‟s incubator was particularly outstanding as it addresses the state of Philippine rural
communities that had no electricity to aid the regulation of body temperatures of newborn babies, For
this purpose, del Mundo‟s invention was truly ingenious.

Mole Remover. In 2000, a local invention that had the ability to easily remove moles and warts
on the skin without the need for any surgical procedure shot to fame. Rolando dela Cruz is credited
for the invention of a local mole remover that made use of extracts of cashew nuts (Annacardium
occidentale), which are very common in the Philippines. The indigenous formula easily caught on for
its accessibility, affordability and painless and scarless procedure. Dela Cruz won a gold medal for
this invention in the International Invention, Innovation, Industrial design and Technology Exhibition in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2000.

Banana Ketchup. Filipino technologist, Maria Orosa, is credited for the invention of banana
ketchup, a variety of ketchup different from the commonly known tomato ketchup. Her invention
appeals particularly to Filipinos who love using condiments to go along with their food. Historical
accounts posit that Orosa invented the banana ketchup at the bacjdrop of world War II when there
was a huge shortage of tomatoes. As a result, Orosa developed a variety of ketchup that made use of
mashed banana, sugar, vinegar and spices which were all readily available. Orosa‟s banana ketchup
is brownish-yellow in natural color but is dyed red to resemble the color of the most loved tomato
ketchup.
SAINT JOSEPH COLLEGE OF SINDANGAN INCORPORATED
Poblacion, Sindangan
Region IX, Philippines

GST 11 – Module 2
 ANSWER SHEET NO. 2
GST 11

NAME:_________________________________ SCORE:______________
DATE SUBMITTED:____________________ Deadline: October 29, 2021

Activity 1: Poster Making

Instructions: Choose 1 among the period/topics (1) Ancient Period (2) Middle Ages (3) Modern
Ages (4) Philippine inventions. On long size bondpaper, draw, paint or stick a photograph of an
invention beside from those discussed in the topics. At the back of the poster, put a 50 to 100 write-
up about the invention that specifically addresses the following questions:

a. What is the invention?

b. What are the precursors of your chosen invention? What tools existed prior to it or how did
people carry out activities before its invention?
c. What were the social, political, cultural or economic context in which the invention was
made?
d. What were the social, political, cultural or economic impacts of your chosen invention?

Activity 2: If I were an inventor…

Instructions: In this section, you learned that necessity is the mother of inventions and innovations.
Inventions are not simply made but are motivated by various social, political, cultural and economic
context. In this task, you will address this question:

“If you were an inventor, what would you invent?”

In thinking about an invention, make sure that you come up with one that has not been invented yet
but is possible to be invented in the near future. On the space below, sketch a draft of your invention
then answer the question that follow. Write your answers below or at the back of the given sheet on
the next page.

1. What is your invention? What does it do?

2. How is your invention similar or different from existing tools or technologies in terms of
function?
3. Why is there a need for this invention? How will this invention make the world a better place to
live in?
 MY INVENTION

(Write the name of your invention)