No. 1 - Evidences of Science and Technology during Ancient Times.pdf, Lecture notes of Life Sciences

Download No. 1 - Evidences of Science and Technology during Ancient Times.pdf and more Lecture notes Life Sciences in PDF only on Docsity!

A Learning Course Material in

Science, Technology, and Society 01

Julius C. Pumaras

Assistant Professor III

Learning Outcomes : At the end of the lesson, the pre-service teachers (PST)

must have:

1. described the development of science and technology during the ancient times;
2. determined and recognized the significance of the development of science and technology during the ancient times and its impact to the society. irst civilizations emerged independent of one another along fertile river valleys in Mesopotamia (Tigris-Euphrates) Egypt (Nile), China (Huang Ho valley), and India. People of each civilization developed a unique way of life, religion, form of government, language and system of writing, arts and crafts, advances of science and technology: astronomy, agriculture, medicine, mathematics, engineering, and architecture. They grew plants and domesticated animals and settled down in places. Sumer was the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and Kuwait). It is cradle of the world’s earliest known civilization and Was first established in the region in about 3600 BC. It is also known as the ‘the first cities’ in the world. It transformed families into tribes that occupied territories which soon became cities and later were called the states. Introduction Learning Course Material No. 1 F I. Sumerian civilization (Sumer, Mesopotamia (now Iraq) ) Location:

Babylonia was the ancient region bordering the Tigris and Euphrates River (Iraq). Babylon is the capital and served as commercial and religious center in the Tigris- Euphrates valley. a. Hammurabi (1792-1750 B.C.), the first leader of the old Babylonian Empire, promulgated the famous law code that served as rule and standards which helped maintain a period of stability in this region, as well as the establishment of science and technology. b. Nebuchadnezzar II was the Neo Babylonian Emperor who ordered the construction of the famous “hanging Gardens of Babylons” (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) and the Isthar Gate. c. Contributed to the development of science and technology such as: irrigation system of canals flanked by earthen dikes ; system of book keeping, double entry accounting, multiplication and division tables and calculations using geometry. d. Adopted the Sumerian sexagesimal system of counting in units of 60; made accurate predictions of solar and lunar eclipses and other astronomical phenomena. Situated in the northeastern part of the African continent, Egypt is located along the Nile River which provided a fertile delta. II. Babylonian Civilization Location: III. Egyptian Civilization Location:

1. Ancient Egypt depended on the waters of the River Nile, which flows through harsh and arid desert. The Nile River gave life to the civilization of Egypt. The early settlers were animal hunters, they were nomadic which later changed their lifestyle to be farmland settlers. Agriculture was supported mainly by extensive irrigation system.
2. Ancient Egyptians learned to heat metal ore (copper, gold and bronze) and made weapons and utensils. They may have been the first people to learn how to make glass (glass-blowing). They learned how to heat sand in very hot furnace and then blow the molten sand into glass. They made glass jars and glass beads.
3. Egyptian writing wrote with ink and brushes on paper made of papyrus reeds; their writing was in the form of pictorial symbols known as hieroglyphics. Their knowledge of human anatomy, physiology surgery and medical plants enabled them to master the art and science of embalming their dead. Created the calendar based on the phases of the moon, consisting of 29 and 1/2 days. The first 365-day calendar was devised by IMHOTEP, early in the old Kingdom. They were the first to divide the day into 24 hours, calculated the time by means of water clock. Their interest in Astronomy was focused on the stars and early calendar was based on the appearance and disappearance of stars Sirius, the brightest in their horizon which coincide with the annual rise and fall of the Nile river, help them forecast the seasons and predict the annual flooding on the Nile river.
4. They were engaged in Pottery of various shapes and sizes artistically done such as pots, jars, cups and bowls, they built houses made of sun dried mud bricks. Pyramids still stand today as the monumental evidence of the scientific expertise and technical skills of the ancient Egyptians in geometry, engineering, architecture and labor management. Iconic monuments such as the Giza Necropolis and its Great Sphinx, as well as the Ruins of Memphis, and the Valley of the Kings, reflect this legacy and remain a significant focus of archaeological study. The Giza Necropolis is the oldest of the ancient wonders and the only one still in existence.
5. The Egyptians also engaged in ship building; Construction of canals, dikes and ditches with outlet system; Planted wheat, barley. Food was broiled, baked, stewed, fried, grilled or roasted. They bred ducks, geese, pigs, goats, cattle and sheep; Manufactured soaps, creams, oils, perfumes and eye make-up.

population. Theoretically this method of farming would maintain the fertility of the soil, as well as offer protection against low yields in any single crop.

6. Around 1 600, B.C., Akrotiri was shaken by a violent earthquake. Sometime later, an eruption occurred. The Theran eruption was one of largest in human history blasting more than 10 million tons of ash, gas, and rock 25 miles into the atmosphere. Incredibly, despite Crete’s proximity to the volcano, the debris from Thera largely missed the major Minoan towns. 50 years later the civilization was wiped out. Earthquakes and fires destroyed Knossos and the other palaces, and the towns were deserted.