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Module 1:
Historical Antecedents
During Science and
Technology
Consolidated by:
Angelo M. Ordanel
Course Facilitator
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Education
Department of Biology

Objectives:

1. Rationalize STS as a course

2. Discuss the interactions

between science and technology
and society throughout history

Discuss how scientific and

technological developments affect
society and the environment;

Identify the paradigm shifts in

history;

Appreciate S&T values of critical

thinking, persistence, environment
awareness, and nationalism.

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What are the

roles of Science
and Technology?

1. Advancing
Knowledge and
Understanding
Scientific research and technological
innovations contribute to expanding
our knowledge and understanding of
the natural world.

National Research Council (US). (2012). A Framework

for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting
Concepts, and Core Ideas. National Academies Press.

2. Driving Economic
Development

Science and technology play a crucial

role in driving economic growth,
innovation, and competitiveness.

World Bank. (2019). World Development Report

2019: The Changing Nature of Work.

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3. Improving Health
and Medicine
Scientific discoveries and
technological advancements lead
to improved healthcare, disease
prevention, and medical
treatments.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and

Medicine. (2020). Crossing the Global Quality
Chasm: Improving Health Care Worldwide.

4. Enhancing
Communication and
Connectivity
Technology facilitates global
communication, information
sharing, and access to knowledge,
contributing to increased
connectivity.

Castells, M. (2010). The Rise of the Network

Society: The Information Age: Economy, Society,
and Culture.

5. Addressing
Environmental
Challenges
Science and technology provide
solutions to environmental
challenges, including renewable
energy, sustainable resource
management, and climate change
mitigation.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

(2014). Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of
Climate Change.

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6. Enabling Social and

Cultural Transformation

Technological advancements shape

social and cultural norms,
behaviors, and interactions, leading
to societal transformations.

Turkle, S. (2011). Alone Together: Why We Expect

More from Technology and Less from Each Other.

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Stone Age
Refers to a time when stone
tools were predominantly used
by ancient societies for various
purposes. It is a prehistoric era
characterized by the absence of
metal tools and the reliance on
stone implements for survival.

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Hand axe –
Used to butcher
animals; to dig for
tubers, animals and
water; to chop wood
and remove tree bark;
and/or process
vegetal materials.

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Chopper –
They used these
stone tools for a
variety of purposes,
including extracting
meat and bone
marrow from large
animals.

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Scrapers –
Used on animal hides,
wood, or bones.

Once the hide was

removed from an
animal, an end scraper
could take the hair off
the skin's outer layer
and remove the fatty
tissue from its
underside.

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Microliths –

These were developed in

the Mesolithic age
because of the changing
natural environment.

Normally a few
microliths were 'hafted'
(attached) to a bone and
wooden hafts to make
larger tools.

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Stone Age

Period Paleolithic Mesolithic Neolithic

Approx. 2.6 million years Approx. 10,000 BCE to
Time Range Approx. 8,000 BCE to 3,000 BCE
ago to 10,000 BCE 8,000 BCE

Source of Agriculture and animal

Hunting and gathering Hunting and gathering
Food domestication

Settlement Nomadic lifestyle, (caves) Semi-nomadic, (rivers) Permanent settlements, villages

Tools Simple stone tools Refined stone tools Polished stone tools

Control of fire, Fishing, early use of

Notable Agriculture and domestication of
development of language, pottery and increased
Discoveries plants and animals, pottery
cave paintings use of tools

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Bronze Age
Characterized by the widespread use
of bronze, an alloy made primarily of
copper and tin.

It represents a significant
advancement in metalworking
technology.

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Smelting –

Extraction of metal from

ores and combining
copper with tin to create
bronze. (Alloy)

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Sumerian Civilization

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1. Cuneiform
• First writing system

• Utilizes word pictures and

triangular symbols are carved on
clay using wedge instruments

• Keep records of things with

great historical value

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2. Uruk City
• Considered the first true city
in the world

• Build only using mud or clay

mixed with reeds, producing
sunbaked bricks - used to
make houses and walls

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3. The Great
Ziggurat of Ur
• Mountain of God

• Sacred place only

priest are allowed to
enter

• Showcase elaborate
and intricate
architecture

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4. Irrigation and
Dikes
• Was built to answer the
increase demand for food

• Used to bring water to

farmlands

• Control flooding of the

rivers

• Considered as one of
world’s most beneficial
engineering works

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5. Sailboats
• People wanted to
discover faraway lands to
settle

• Essential in
transportation and trading

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6. Wheel
• Wheels are not intended for
transportation but for farm work
and food processes

• Mill grains with less effort and

less time

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7. Plow
• Humans evolve from
food gatherers to farm
cultivators

• Invented to dig the earth

in a faster pace

• Result in mass produce

food in less effort and
time

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8. Road
• To facilitate faster and easier travel

• Same technology with sunbaked

bricks

• They also used black sticky

substance like asphalt called bitumen

• Very useful during rainy season

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Babylonian
Civilization

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Hanging Gardens
of Babylon
• One of the seven wonders of
ancient world

• Structure that contain several

layers upon layers of gardens
containing different species of
plants

• Built by king Nebuchadnezzar II

for his wife Queen Amytis

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Code of
Hammurabi
• This code established laws and
regulations for various aspects of
society, promoting justice,
fairness, and the rule of law.
• It served as a foundation for later
legal systems and influenced the
development of legal codes in
other civilizations.

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Epic of
Gilgamesh
• One of the oldest surviving works
of literature in the world.

• This epic poem explores themes

of heroism, friendship, and the
search for immortality, providing
insights into ancient Babylonian
culture, beliefs, and values.

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Bronze Age

Civilization Sumerian Babylonian Athenian

Middle to Late Bronze
Early Bronze Age (3rd Late Bronze Age (2nd
Bronze Age Phase Age (2nd millennium
millennium BCE) millennium BCE)
BCE)
Agriculture, trade,
Source of Food Agriculture, irrigation Agriculture, trade
fishing
Settlement City-states, ziggurats City-states, palaces City-state, Acropolis

Tools Bronze tools, plows Advanced metalworking Bronze tools, weaponry

Cuneiform writing
Code of Hammurabi, Democracy, philosophy,
Notable Discoveries system, wheel, early
advanced astronomy theater
mathematics

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Egyptian
Civilization

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1. Papyrus
• Before, clay tablets were used,
but clay tablets are fragile,
heavy and delicate to handle.

• Papyrus was a plant grew

along Nile river. Egyptian
process the plant to produce thin
sheets.

• Considered as the major

accomplishment in record
keeping and communication.

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2. Ink
• Made from combining soot with
different chemicals to produce ink
of different colors.

• Should withstand elements of

nature so that it can preserve the
record of history, culture and
codified laws.

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3. Hieroglyphics
• System of writing adapted
from Sumerian as a result of
trade.

• Written on walls of
pyramids and other
important structures.

• Well preserved, can still be

seen today.

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4. Cosmetics
• Invented for both health
and aesthetic reason.

• Egyptian wore kohl

(soot/malachite mixed with
mineral galena) around
their eyes to prevent and
even cure eye diseases.

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5. Wig
• Ancient Egyptian times, wigs were
worn for health and wellness rather
than aesthetic purposes.

• To protect the shaved heads of the

wealthy Egyptian from harmful rays
of the sun.

• Believed to be cleaner than natural

hair because it prevent accumulation
of head lice.

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6. Water
Clock/Clepsydra
• Utilizes gravity that affect flow
of water from one vessel to
another.

• Time keeping device.

• Served various purposes,

including regulating work shifts,
determining the length of religious
rituals, and indicating specific time
intervals during the day.

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Iron Age
Characterized by advancements
in metallurgy, increased
urbanization, and evolving
social and political structures.

It laid the foundation for the

subsequent development of
civilizations in the ancient
world.

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Steel
• A hard, strong, gray or
bluish-gray alloy of iron
with carbon and usually
other elements, used
extensively as a structural
and fabricating material.

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Hittite Empire
- Battle of Khadesh
• The Battle of Kadesh,
sometimes called the first
world war, featured one of the
largest-ever chariot battles.

• Competing Hittite and

Egyptian interests in the region
of Canaan. For the Egyptians,
Canaan was crucial to the
overall security and well-being
of ancient Egypt.

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Persian Empire –
Trade and Industry

• Development and use of coins. Under

the Achaemenid Empire, which was
the largest and most powerful Persian
dynasty, coins became more
widespread and standardized.

• The Persian Empire adopted the use of

coins from various conquered regions
and facilitated their circulation within
its vast territories.

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Antiquity Period
Rise of the Greek Civilization and the first
scientists and philosophers were known.

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Greek
Civilization
Greece is an archipelago in the
southeastern part of Europe. Known as the
birthplace of western philosophy, some of
the major achievements of the Greeks
include in-depth works on philosophy and
mathematics.

More than coliseums and the Olympics,

the Greek civilization has contributed
much to the world especially in the fields
of science and technology.

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1. Alarm Clock

The ancient Greek’s alarm clocks used large

complicated mechanisms to time the alarm.

They made use of water (or 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 for
water vessels lined up vertically.

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2. Water Mill
Watermills were also considered as one
of the most important contributions of
the Greek civilization to the world.
They were commonly used in
agricultural processes like milling of
grains which was a necessary form of
food processing during that time.
They only required access to rivers or
flowing water where a mechanism of a
large wheel with small “buckets” of
water attached to it could be installed.

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Roman Civilization
The Roman Empire was perceived to be the strongest
political and social entity in the west. It was considered to
be the cradle of politics and governance during that
period.

Because the Roman Empire was so large, other

civilizations looked up to it as their model in terms of
legislation and codified laws. Aside from their
contributions in politics, a lot of discoveries and
inventions still relevant today can be attributed to the
Roman Empire.

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1. Newspaper

The first newspapers, known as gazettes,

contained announcements of the Roman
Empire to the people. Made before the
invention of paper, these gazettes were
engraved in metal or some stone tablets and
then publicly displayed.

Acta Diurna
• Acta Diurna (Latin: Daily Acts,
sometimes translated as Daily Public
Records or poetically as Daily Gazette)

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2. Bound Books or Codex

Record-keeping was much easier since

paper did not easily break, was
lightweight, and did not occupy much
space.
As a result, civilizations became fond of
record keeping, especially documenting
historical events and newly legislated
laws.
Aside from Romans writing down
information about history and politics,
literature also changed form from clay
tablets to parchment of paper.

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According to sources, Julius Caesar started

the tradition of stacking up papyrus to
form pages of a book.

Later on, they were able to provide covers

to protect the papyrus. The earlier covers
were made of wax but were later on
replaced by animal skin which proved to
be stronger and longer-lasting.

With the papyrus pages bound together

and covered by animal skin, the ancient
Roman Empire was able to produce the
first books or codex.

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3. Roman Architecture

The development in the field of

engineering and architecture was
fully supported and funded by the
Roman government so they were
able to implement major projects
such as large churches (cathedrals
and basilica, aqueduct coliseums,
amphitheaters, and even
residential houses.

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4. Roman Numerals

Roman devised their own number

system specifically to address the
need for a standard counting method
that would meet their increasing
communication and trade concerns.
The Roman numeral is no longer
widely used today due to its inherent
limitations, quite a number of
enthusiasts would still used it over
other more popular number systems,
like the Hindu-Arabic system, due to
its aesthetic and historical value.

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They laid the foundation for Western

Pre-Socratic philosophy by exploring fundamental
questions about the nature of reality,
Philosophers the origin of the universe, and the
principles that govern the natural world.

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1. Thales
• Considered one of the
first philosophers and is
known for his focus on
the primary element of
water as the fundamental
substance from which
everything is derived.

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2. Anaximander

• Proposed that an
indefinite and
boundless substance
called "apeiron" was
the source of all things
and introduced the
idea of natural laws
governing the
universe.

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3. Pythagoras
• Renowned for his
mathematical and geometric
contributions, including the
Pythagorean theorem. He
also believed in the concept of
the harmony of the spheres
and the immortality of the
soul.

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• Emphasized the concept of eternal

4. Heraclitus change and believed that reality is in
a constant state of flux.

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5. Empedocles
• Proposed that all matter was
composed of four substances:
earth, air, fire, and water. He
also introduced the concept of
the four forces—love, strife,
attraction, and repulsion—that
govern the interactions between
these elements.

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6. Democritus
• Developed the
concept of atomism,
positing that all
matter consists of
indivisible and
indestructible
particles called
atoms.

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Socratic
Philosophers

Primarily concerned with

philosophical inquiry and
the exploration of ethical
and metaphysical
questions.

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1. Socrates
• He is best known for his
Socratic Method, a
method of questioning
that aimed to stimulate
critical thinking and self-
examination.

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2. Plato
• Was a student of Socrates.
• Adopted Empedocles' theory and
coined the term element to describe
these four substances.
• Platonic Academy

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3. Hippocrates
• Is not typically considered a Socratic
philosopher. Hippocrates was primarily known
as a physician and is often regarded as the
founder of medicine.

• He is associated with the Hippocratic Corpus,

a collection of medical writings attributed to
him and his followers, which focused on
principles of medical ethics and the
observation of symptoms and diseases.

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Chinese
Civilization
The Chinese civilization is considered
to be the oldest civilization in Asia.
Also known as the Middle Kingdom,
China is located on the far east of Asia .
It was famous among other ancient
civilizations because of its silk trade.
Not a great amount was written about
ancient China partly due to its distance
from the other civilizations. Despite its
less popular status among the early
civilizations, one cannot discredit the
significant contributions of Chinese
civilization to the world.

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1. Silk
Silk is naturally produced by silk worms,
the Chinese were the ones who developed
the technology to harvest the silk and
process it to produce paper and clothing.

The production of silk resulted in the

creation of a product for trade. The silk
trade opened China to the outside world,
making way for cultural, economic, and
scientific exchanges.

It bridged the gap between the western

world and the middle kingdom.

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2. Tea Production
Tea is a beverage produced by pouring hot or
boiling water over crushed or shredded dried
tea leaves. It was believed that the first tea was
drunk by Chinese emperor.

Tea production was developed when an

unknown Chinese inventor created a machine
that was able to shred tea leaves into strips.

Today, tea production developed by the ancient

Chinese may have resulted in making tea as one
of the most popular beverages in the world.

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3. Great Wall of China

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 boarders of China.

Made with stone, brick, wood, earth, and other

materials, it showcased the extent of Chinese
engineering technology at that time.

Today, with some sections already in ruins, the

Great Wall still continues to be a world attraction
due to its historical significance and architectural
grandeur.

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4. Gunpowder

It was developed by Chinese alchemist

who aimed to achieved 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.

Ironically, instead of prolong life,

gunpowder is widely used to propel
bullets from guns and cannons which
cause countless death.

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Middle Ages
(Medieval Period)

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The start of middle ages was marred by

massive invasions and migrations. Wars
were prevalent during this time. As such,
great technology was needed in the fields
of weaponry, navigation, mass food and
farm production, and health.

The wars have resulted in population

decline, but during the latter part of the
period, there was a significant rise in
population. Trade and commerce among
nations increased, which resulted in
greater demands for transportation
technology. Some of the most innovative
minds came from this period.

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1. Printing Press
Johannes 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.

The printing press was invented to address the

need for publishing books that would spread
information to many people at a faster rate. This
invention also made works accessible to
individuals who could not even write.

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2. Microscope

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.

The microscope was key in discovering

new means in preventing and curing various
illness.

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3. Telescope

The invention of the telescope, an optical

instrument that helps in the observation of remote
objects, was great help for navigators during the
Middle Ages was also known as the Age of
Exploration.

Together with the telescope, the invention of the

compass, oars, and rudders made sea travelling
easier and safer (Helen, 1989).

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4. War Weapons
People developed cross bows and low
bows so that they could attack the enemies
at long ranges, keeping themselves safe
with the protection of walls and fortresses.

Additionally, in close-range had-to-hand

combat, soldiers should wear something to
protect themselves, a need addressed by
the creation of iron body armors.

However, body armors were heavy and

limited their movements. The problem was
eventually solved by the invention of the
chainmail.

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Modern: Renaissance Period

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The booming world population during the 19th

century onwards demanded that more goods be
produced at faster rate. People needed efficient
means of transportation to trade more goods
and cover a larger distance.

Machines that required animals to operate must

thus be upgraded. Faster and easier means to
communicate and compute should be
developed to established connections between
and among nations.

All these needs resulted in the development of

industries. However, due to massive
industrialization, the modern times again faced
more complicated problems. Food processing
and medicines posed some of the bigger
challenges since health was of great concern.

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1. 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.
Through this process, milk could be stored
and consumed for a longer period.

It also prevented illness caused by harmful

bacteria. Other contributions of Pasteur to
science, technology, and medicine included
his works on molecular asymmetry,
fermentation, and vaccination.

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2. Petroleum Refinery
Samuel M. Kier was able to invent
kerosene by refining petroleum.
Kerosene was later on referred to as
the “illuminating oil” because it was
used at first to provide lightning to
homes.

After some time, it was applied for

heating purposes. The development of
kerosene established the petroleum
refinery industry. At present, petroleum
is widely used in powering
automobiles, factories, and power
plants, among others.

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3. Telephone

Governments needed some kind of

communication system which would allow
them to administer their states well.

Important day-to-day decisions must be

discussed and addressed at the faster time
possible.

Thus, the development of the telephone by

Alexander Graham Bell was one of the
most important inventions at that time.

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4. Calculator
Although an earlier version of the
calculator had already been developed,
circumstances in the modern times
required a faster way to compute more
complicated equations.

Computing devices must also be easy to

carry since they would be utilized on a
day-to-day basis. The creation of
modern calculators did not only pave
the way for easier arithmetic
calculations, but also resulted in the
development more complex processing
machines like the computer.

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Philippine
Inventions
• Ingenuity of the Filipinos
despite the lack in resources.

• Discoveries and inventions

were built from indigenous
materials or created to adapt
to the harsh environment.

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The Philippines is known to

be one of the most vulnerable
countries in terms of natural
disasters.

Many discoveries and

inventions made by the
Filipinos were therefore built
from indigenous materials or
created to adapt to the harsh
tropical environment.

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1. Salamander Amphibious Tricycle

H2O Technologies headed by Dominic N.

Chung and Lamberto Armada, together with
Chief Designer Victor “Atoy” Llave, was
able to invent the Salamander, an amphibious
tricycle that can cross not only flooded
streets but also rivers and lakes.

It may also be utilized to travel from island

to island. Since the Philippines is an
archipelago, the Salamander is a useful
invention that has a lot of potential.

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2. SALt Lamp
A young Filipina inventor Aisa Mijeno was
able to invent a lightning system that utilizes a
material abundant in the Philippines-saltwater.

She invented Sustainable Alternative

Lightning (SALt) lamp, an environmentally-
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 benefits those from far-flung barrios
because they can make their own saltwater by
mixing two tablespoon of salt and a glass of
tap water.

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3. Medical Incubator
Its main purpose was to
maintain conditions suitable
for a newborn, usually a pre-
term baby.

Other breakthroughs in
Philippine medicine attributed
to Dr. Fe del Mundo include
her works on the immunization
and treatment of jaundice and
the BRAT diet foe curing
diarrhea.

(Banana, Rice, Apple & Tea)

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4. Mosquito
Ovicidal/Larvicidal
Trap System

In 2010, the Department of Science

and Technology-Industrial
Technology Development Institute
(DOST-ITDI) was able to introduce
the mosquito Ovicidal /Larvicidal
Trap System, also known as OL
Trap. This trap system is made of
natural ingredients that are lethal
to mosquito but safe for humans
and the environment.

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5. Ejeepney
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
usually a major contributor of noise pollution
due to its primitive exhaust system.
To counter these disadvantages, the electric
jeepney (ejeepney) was developed. This
modern type of transportation utilizes
electricity instead of the more expensive
diesel. It is environmentally-friendly since it
does not emit any smoke and noise.

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Assignment: Imaginary Scientist

Objective: Reflect on your own aspirations and potential
contributions to the field of science and technology.

Instructions:
1. Create a poster depicting yourself as a scientist, envision
yourself as a prominent figure in the field of science and
technology.
2. Include the following elements on your poster:
a. Imaginary Discovery or Accomplishment: Describe a
notable discovery or accomplishment that you have
achieved in the field of science and technology. Be creative
and think about the future possibilities and impact.
b. Brief Description: Provide a concise explanation of your
discovery or accomplishment. Highlight its significance and
potential benefits for society.
c. Design and layout: Arrange in an appealing and coherent
manner on the poster. Use colors, fonts, and graphics to
enhance the visual impact.

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Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History" by Sarah B. Pomeroy, Stanley
M. Burstein, Walter Donlan, and Jennifer Tolbert Roberts.
A World Made by Hand: A Guide to Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts" by
Christopher de Hamel.

References: Beleno, R. I., McNamara, D. J., & Valverde, V. M. (2018). Science, Technology, and
Society. Quezon City: C and E Publishing, Inc.
Castells, M. (2010). The Rise of the Network Society: The Information Age: Economy,
Society, and Culture.
Filipino Scientists by Alma M. Dayrit and Magdalena A. Cantoria.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2014). Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of
Climate Change.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2020). Crossing the Global
Quality Chasm: Improving Health Care Worldwide.
National Research Council (US). (2012). A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. National Academies Press.

The Ancient Mediterranean World: From the Stone Age to A.D. 600 by Robin W. Winks
and Susan P. Mattern-Parkes.

The Bronze Age: Europe, Western Asia, and the Indus Valley edited by A. F. Harding.
The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital
Revolution by Walter Isaacson

The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology and Anthropology of Hunter-Gatherers edited

by Vicki Cummings, Peter Jordan, and Marek Zvelebil.

The Philosophy of Socrates by Thomas C. Brickhouse and Nicholas D. Smith.

Turkle, S. (2011). Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from
Each Other.

World Bank. (2019). World Development Report 2019: The Changing Nature of Work.

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