UNIT 1.1_General Concepts and Historical Antecedents

• science - is body of knowledge, intellectual activity, personal and social activity.
• technology - as artifacts, technique, personal and

  social activity.
• Technology - the application of scientific knowledge to

  the practical aims of human life or, as it is sometimes

  phrased, to the change and manipulation of the human

  environment
• Science is a way of knowing. Technology is a way of doing
• History of Science and Technology

  Ancient World

  • Stone Age
  • Bronze Age
  • Iron Age

  Classical Antiquity

  • Socrates (470-339 BC)
  • Plato (427-37 BC)
  • Aristotle (384-322 BC)

  Middle Ages

  Modern Age
• The Three Age System is widely considered archaeology's first paradigm: a convention established in the early 19th century that said prehistory could be subdivided into three parts, based on technological advances in weaponry and tools.
• Stone age - It was a broad prehistoric period during which stone was widely used to make tools with an edge, a point or a percussion surface.

  • It is the longest period in the history of science and technology spanning over 3.4 million years, and ended between 8700 BCE and 2000 BCE.
  • The Three Age system was first fully introduced in 1837, by Christian Jürgensen Thomsen.
  • Early humans were known as hunter-gatherers, only consuming whatever edible plant or animal that they can find.
• bronze age - This is the period from 3000 BC – 1200 BC and is marked by the introduction of metals. When they discovered fire, people then were able to make weapons and tools made from metal.

  • These metals were produced through the process of smelting wherein metal is extracted from ores which are rocks that contain traces of different metals
• Iron age - The last period of the Ancient Age which occurred between 1500 BC – 450 AD. During this time,

  articles, equipment, weapons and tools were made of iron and steel.
• Agricultural revolution - As population increased, food and resources started to decrease and people switched from foraging to (). Instead of hunting and gathering food, they learned how to plant crops and raise animals, and which started primarily in the Middle East.
• Classical antiquity - rose with the establishment of the so-called Ionian School of Philosophy.

  • This is a Pre-Socratic group of Greek philosophers that flourished in 5th -6th century Greece.
  • The philosophers under this school mostly studied about the origins of the universe.
• Socrates (469–399 B.C.E.) - He taught that people should care less about their bodies and possessions and more about their souls, saying, “wealth does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth.”

  • As such he believed he was serving the city of Athens and its citizens by highlighting their incorrect thinking.
  • was a man of principle.
• Plato (c.428-347 B.C.) - highlighted the concept of having proof in research.

  • He emphasized a clear hypothesis of understanding nature and believed that all substances are made up of air, water, earth, and fire.
• Aristotle (c. 384 B.C. to 322 B.C.) - initiated the discipline of using the deductive method of scientific inquiry.

  • He established natural principles as achieved through careful observation, which is also an essential component of the scientific method.
• Middle ages - This period saw the decline of the advancement of science and technology especially in Europe.

  • This can be attributed to several factors such as diseases, poverty, wars between different territories and scarcity of resource especially food.
  • Another highly significant factor which affected scientific advancement during this time is the rise of Christianity in the European continent.
• Middle ages IN EUROPE

  • The Black Death was a devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck Europe and Asia in the mid-1300s.
  • The plague arrived in Europe in October 1347, when 12 ships from the Black Sea docked at the Sicilian port of Messina.
  • This period also saw the invention of the mechanical clock as well as the use of watermills and wind mills to generate electricity.
• Middle ages in asia

  • Medieval Asia had far surpassed the West in the development of warfare, communication and science.
  • Gunpowder was widely used as early as the 11th century and they were using moveable type printing five hundred years before Gutenberg created his press.
  • Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism were the dominant philosophies of the Far East during the Middle Ages.
• Indian astronomy - was mostly influenced by Greek astronomy. They were able to devise a calendar wherein they divided the year based on religious rites and seasons.

  • The Rigveda divided one year into 360 days with 12 months of 30 days.
  • They also studied about stars, planetary movements and lunar periods.
• Indian medicine - was documented in the Ayurveda (Indian people’s system of medicine).

  • Their medical practice is a combination of plant and animal medicine, and the use of magic and charms to expel diseases they believe were caused by demon.
• Indian mathematics - most notable for the invention of the zero. They are also known for the formulation of the numerals.
• Arab astronomy - contradicted Ptolemy’s assumption

  that Earth tilts 1 degree every 100 years and also conceptualized the foundation of the Heliocentric Model.

  • They also built observatories, the first one built in Baghdad in Iraq.
  • Ibn Al-Haytham (father of optics) found out the mechanism of light.
• Arab medicine - Arab doctors were famous in many parts of the world in terms of their expertise in medicine. One of them is Al-Zahrawi, who invented various tools used in surgery such as forceps, pincers, lancets and the use of catgut in stitching an operation.
• Age of exploration/discovery - The 15th to 17th century gave way to the so-called Age of Exploration or Age of Discovery. With the invention of ships that can withstand long voyage and the magnetic compass, European ships travelled new trading routes in search for goods such gold, silver and spices as well as colonial empires.
• The Age of Exploration brought about many effects including the slave trade from Africa to America. They were also able to debunk the previous notion that there were only three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia).
• Modern age - This period hastened technological advancement by focusing on trade, defense and establishment of universities. This period also witnessed the age of humanism (Renaissance). It also saw the Period of Enlightenment highlighted by the importance of logical reasoning.
• Scientific revolution - with the establishment of the England’s Royal Society for a more organized community of scientists. Some of the most prominent members being Benjamin Franklin and Sir Isaac Newton
• Industrial revolution - the transition to new manufacturing

  processes in Europe and the United States in the period from 1760-1800s. During this time, much of the labor done by humans and animals were replaced by machines.
• plastics - Another innovation around the 40s and 50s was the (). It used in the development of new appliances and products. It easily thrived since these materials are durable, waterproof and cheap to produce.
• Agricultural revolution - Other innovations that greatly helped during this period were hybrid seeds, fertilizers and farm equipment.
• Digital revolution - Around the 1970s and with the advent of technology, came the () or Information Age which is still going on until present-day. We now use innovations such as the internet, computer, various softwares for communication, learning and even business.