Mater Dei College Week 2 Learning

Module
College of Education Science, Technology, and Society
General Education Mrs. Edna D. Coscos
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 The learners demonstrate an understanding of the development of Science and Technology

during Ancient period, Middle Ages, Modern period and Philippine innovations.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME

 Explain how science and technology affected the society and environment and vice versa;
 Identify inventions and discoveries that changed the world over the course of history; and
 Discuss the scientific and technological developments in the Philippines.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME

LEARNING CONTENT: HISTORICAL ANTECENDENTS IN THE COURTSE OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY

I. INTRODUCTION
This lesson 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
lesson explores the dynamic interactions between different societal factors and science and
technology. Along with the discussion of these antecedents during ancient period, middle ages, and
modern ages, this lesson also includes a discussion on important Philippine inventions and
innovations. It emphasizes the various social, cultural, economic, and political impacts of science and
technological innovation throughout history.

II. LESSON CONTENT

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. 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 for 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 of living in general.

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Mater Dei College Week 2 Learning
Module
College of Education Science, Technology, and Society
General Education Mrs. Edna D. Coscos
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_

 SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION

Cuneiform - One of the major contributions of the Sumerians is

the development of the first writing system known as
cuneiform. It is a system that utilizes word pictures and
triangular symbols which are carved on clay using wedge
instruments and then left to dry.

The Great Ziggurat of Ur - Another engineering and architectural feat

of the Sumerians is the Great Ziggurat of Ur. The Ziggurat, also called
the mountain of god, was built in the same manner that they
constructed the City of Uruk. Without much building materials, the
structure was constructed using sun-baked bricks. As such, even until
today, people still enjoy the marvel at the preserved Great Ziggurat of Ur.

The Wheel - In the later part of their history, the Sumerians were
able to invent the wheel since the specialized tools needed to create
it were already available. The first wheels were not made for
transportation but for farm work and food processes. With the use of
the wheel and axle, mass production was made easier. Farmers were
able to mill grains with less effort in less time.

 BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION
Hanging Gardens of Babylon - Today, people can only marvel at the
beauty of the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon from stories of
historians and paintings that portray the place. It was said to be a
structure made up of layers upon layers of plants, trees, and vines.
According to legends, the great Babylonian King Nibuchadnezzar II
built the gardens for his wife, Queen Amytis. If the stories were true, the
Hanging Gardens of Babylon may be considered as one of the greatest
engineering and architectural achievements of the world that is almost
impossible to replicate.

 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
Paper or Papyrus - One of the earlier contribution of Egyptian
civilization was the paper or papyrus. Before the Egyptian
innovation, clay tablets were used. However, safe-keeping and
transporting them were a major problem. Papyrus was a plant
that grew abundantly along the Nile River in Egypt. They were
able to process the plant in order to produce thin sheets on
which one could write down things. Since papyrus was lighter
and thinner than clay tablets, it was easy to carry and store. The sheets were also less breakable as
compared to clay tablets.

STS 100
Mater Dei College Week 2 Learning
Module
College of Education Science, Technology, and Society
General Education Mrs. Edna D. Coscos
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
Ink - When the Egyptians invented the papyrus, engraving ceased to be
used in writing. As a result, the Egyptians invented ink by combining
soot with different chemicals to produce inks of different colors.

Hieroglyphics - Like the Sumerians, the Egyptians also developed a

system of writing using symbols, known as hieroglyphics.
Although some say that hieroglyphics was adapted from the early
writing system established in Mesopotamia as a result of trade
between civilizations, the Egyptians believed that this writing
system was provided to them by their gods. Hieroglyphics was
the language that tells the modern world of the history and
culture of the ancient Egyptians. Their records were well-preserved since they were carved at the
walls of pyramids and other important Egyptian structures.

 GREEK CIVILIZATION
Alarm Clock - One of the most utilized gadgets today that was by the ancient Greeks is
the alarm clock. Although the alarm clock during that time did not resemble the
present-day alarm clock, the purpose was just the same-to tell an individual when to
stop or when to start. The ancient Greek’s alarm clock used large complicated
mechanisms to time the alarm. They made use of water (sometimes small stones or
sand) that dropped into drums which sounded the alarm.
Plato was believed to have utilized an alarm clock to
signal the start of his lecture. His version used four water
vessels lined up vertically. The upper vessel supplied the water which
dropped to the vessel below it, which was set to be filled in a given
time. After it was full, water was siphoned off at a faster rate into the
third vessel which would cause the expulsion of contained air, creating
a whistling noise. Afterwards, this vessel would empty towards the
bottom vessel for storage and reuse.

 ROMAN CIVILIZATION

Newspaper - One of the major contributions of the

Romans is the newspaper. Made before the invention of paper, these gazettes
were engraved in metal or stone tablets and then publicly displayed. The
Roman enjoyed easy access to government information the same way we
benefit from present-day newspaper.

Roman Architecture - Roman architecture

us one of the visual contributions of the ancient Roman Empire
to the world. Roman architecture was considered a continuation
of Greek architecture, hence, the resemblance. However, Roman
architecture was still regarded as pioneering since the Romans
were able to adapt new building and engineering technology on
architectural designs established in the past.

Roman Numerals - Although other number systems had already been

established before the Roman numeral, these old systems could not keep

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Mater Dei College Week 2 Learning
Module
College of Education Science, Technology, and Society
General Education Mrs. Edna D. Coscos
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
up with high calculation requirements due to the increasing rate of communication and trade
among nations. Although the Roman numeral is no longer widely used today due to its inherent
limitations, quite a number of enthusiasts would still use it over other more
popular number systems, like the Hindu-Arabic system, due to its aesthetic
and historical value.

 CHINESE CIVILIZATION

Silk - One of the things that connected Far East China to the world is silk.
The silk trade opened China to the outside world, making way for cultural,
economic, and scientific exchanges.

Great Wall of China - Once considered the only man-made

structure that could be seen from outer space, the Great Wall of
China is said to be the largest and most extensive infrastructure
that the nation built. It was constructed to keep out foreign
invaders and control the borders of China. Made with stone,
brick, wood, earth, and other materials, it showcased the extent
of Chinese engineering technology at that time.

Gunpowder - The gunpowder is one of the most

interesting inventions in China. Originally, it was
developed by Chinese alchemists who aimed to achieve immortality. They mixed
charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate, but instead of creating an elixir of life, they
accidentally invented a black powder that could actually generate large amounts of heat
and gas in an instant.

 MEDIEVAL/MIDDLE AGES

Printing Press - After the Chinese developed

woodblock printing, Johann Gutenberg was able to
invent the printing press, a more reliable way of
printing using a cast type. He utilized wooden
machines that extracted juices from fruits,
attached to them a metal impression of the letters,
and pressed firmly the
cast metal into a piece of
paper, which then made an exact impression on paper.

Microscope - Another invention in the Middle Ages is the microscope.

Guided by the principles used for the invention of eyeglasses in earlier
years, Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the first compound
microscope. With this device, people were able to observe organisms
that were normally unseen by the naked eye.

War Weapons - Since wars were widespread during the

Middle Ages, great development in the weaponry
technology also occurred. All sides must develop
weaponries not only as offensive tools but also as defensive

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Mater Dei College Week 2 Learning
Module
College of Education Science, Technology, and Society
General Education Mrs. Edna D. Coscos
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
instruments. For open-area battles, people developed cross bows and long bows so that they
could attack the enemies at long ranges, keeping themselves safe with the protection of walls and
fortresses.

 MODERN TIMES

Pasteurization - Louis Pasteur, a French biologist, microbiologist,

and chemist, found a way to solve the problem. He invented
pasteurization, the process of heating dairy products to kill the
harmful bacteria that allow them to spoil faster. Through this process, milk could be stored and
consumed for a longer period.

Petroleum Refinery - The modern times demanded better means of powering homes
and transportation. Samuel M. Kier invented kerosene by refining petroleum.
Kerosene was later on referred to as “illuminating oil” because it was used at first to
provide lighting to homes. After some time, it was applied for heating purposes.

Telephone - The more people got connected by trade and

exploration, the more they needed a way to easily maintain
these connections and com municate with each other in real time. The
development of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell was one of the
most important inventions at that time.

 PHILIPPINE INVENTIONS

Salamander Amphibious
Tricycle - Another Filipino innovation is the addition of a
sidecar to a motorcycle, transforming it into a tricycle to
accommodate more passengers. During the rainy season,
flooding is a common occurrence in many areas in the
country. Tricycles find it very difficult to traverse the
streets. To remedy the issue Victor Llave and his team at
H2O Technologies were able to invent the
Salamander, an amphibious tricycle that can cross not
only flooded streets but also rivers and lakes.
SALt Lamp - One of the major needs in the
Philippines, as a developing nation, is electrification.
Electricity powers various types of machines,
including light sources. A young Filipina inventor
named Aisa Mijeno was able to invent a lighting system that utilizes a material abundant in the
Philippines- saltwater. She invented the Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt) lamp, an
environment-friendly light source that runs on saltwater. The
SALt lamp is safer as it poses no risk of fire and emits no toxic
gases. Aside from people who live in coastal areas, it may also

STS 100
 Mater Dei College Week 2 Learning
Module
College of Education Science, Technology, and Society
General Education Mrs. Edna D. Coscos
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
benefit those from far-flung barrios because they can make their own saltwater by mixing two
tablespoons of salt and a glass of tap water.
Medical Incubator - A common problem in the Philippines is the high mortality rate of newborn
babies. One reason for this problem in the 20th century was the lack of available incubators
especially in far-flung rural areas due to lack of resources and electricity. Dr. del Mundo’s
incubator was made by placing a native laundry basket inside a bigger one. Hot water bottles were
inserted between the baskets to provide warmth and a makeshift hood to allow oxygen
circulation. Its main purpose was to maintain conditions
suitable for a newborn, usually a pre-term baby.

EJeepney - A major innovation that changed the transportation

industry in the Philippines was the development of the jeepney.
The iconic public utility vehicle was built using the military
jeeps left by the Americans after World War II. The chassis and
the body of the military jeeps were extended to accommodate more load and passengers. Because
of its usefulness, the jeepney dominated Philippine streets and is considered as the primary mode
of transportation of most Filipinos. However, the diesel-powered jeepney produces large
quantities of black smoke, and is usually a major contributor of noise pollution due to its primitive
exhaust system. To encounter these disadvantages, the electric jeepney (e-Jeepney) was
developed. This modern type of transportation utilizes electricity instead of the more expensive
diesel. It is environment-friendly since it does not emit any smoke and noise.

These inventions are being recognized and being used all over the world. According to the Filipino
Inventors Society Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, “we may lack of resources, but our minds are filled with
knowledge” which is true. As a Filipino, we know to be patient and how to curl when the blanket is short
meaning, we find ways in every problem that we face.
The items in this chapter are only some of the great inventions and developments during the
different time periods. There are still more innovations and discoveries that were made in the course of
history that changed the world.
III. PERFORMANCE TASK/ASSESSMENT
Direction: Answer the following questions and write your answer on the space provided.
1. Give three (3) other major scientific and technological developments in the world (or in the
Philippines) that created a large impact on your daily life.
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2. What historical antecedents gave rise to the inventions you mentioned in the first question?
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STS 100
Mater Dei College Week 2 Learning
Module
College of Education Science, Technology, and Society
General Education Mrs. Edna D. Coscos
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_

3. How did the development in science and technology shape human history? ( use at least 5
sentences to explain your answer)
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4. What do you think is the importance of progressive invention? (use at least 5 sentences to explain
your answer)
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5. Give 5 inventions from the past civilizations that are still used these days.
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Activity 1: In this section, you learned that necessity id the mother of inventions and innovations. In
this task, you will address this question: “if you were a n 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 questions that follow. Make sure to put
some color and life in it.

1. If you are to invent, what would be your invention? Why?

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2. How is your invention similar to or different from existing tools or technologies in terms of
function?

STS 100
Mater Dei College Week 2 Learning
Module
College of Education Science, Technology, and Society
General Education Mrs. Edna D. Coscos
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
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3. Why is there a need for this invention? How will this invention make the world a better place to
live in?
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