module 1

• Science


  A systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge about how the universe behaves through observation, experimentation or both
• Technology


  The application of scientific knowledge, laws, and principles to produce services, materials, tools, and machines aimed at solving real-world problems
• Advancements in science and technology that have benefited civilization

  • Transportation and navigation
  • Communication and record-keeping
  • Mass production
  • Weapons and armors / security and protection
  • Conservation of life / health
  • Engineering
  • Architecture
• Sumerian civilization is located on the southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
• Sumerians


  • High degree of cooperation with one another
  • Desire for great things
• Cuneiform


  The first writing system, a system that utilizes word pictures and triangular symbols which are carved on clay using wedge instruments and then left to dry

  
• Uruk City

  • The first true city in the world
  • Built using only mud or clay from the river, mixed with reeds, producing sun-baked bricks
• Great Ziggurat of Ur


  • Also called the mountain of God
  • Built using sun-baked bricks
  • Served as the sacred place of their chief god, where only priest was allowed to enter
• Irrigation and dikes


  • Created to bring water to farmlands and control flooding of rivers
  • Considered one of the world's most beneficial engineering works
• Sailboats


  • Essential in transportation, trading, and fostering culture, information, and technology
• Wheel

  • First used for farm work and food processing, not for transportation
  • Enabled mass production and easier farming
• Plow


  • Enabled faster and easier cultivation of larger parcels of land for mass food production
• Roads


  • Developed to facilitate faster and easier travel, made with sun-baked bricks and bitumen
• The Sumerians did not have any degree in engineering or architecture, but were able to build buildings, roads, infrastructure and more that are still solid and stable until now
• Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates river

  
• Hanging Garden of Babylon


  • One of the seven wonders of the ancient world
  • A structure made up of layers upon layers of gardens that contained several species of plants, trees, and vines
• The exact location of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon is unknown, and no physical evidence has been found to prove its existence
• Egyptian civilization is located in North Africa
• Papyrus


  • The Egyptian invention of paper, which was easier to carry, store, and less breakable compared to clay tablets
• Ink


  • Invented by Egyptians by combining soot with different substances, to be used with papyrus
• Egyptian civilization

  Early civilization located in North Africa
• Engineering feats of the Egyptians

  • Established by the Pharaohs
• Egyptians contributed practical things the world considers essential
• Papyrus


  Writing material invented by Egyptians, made from plant material

  
• Papyrus


  • Easier to carry and store than clay tablets
  • Less breakable than clay
• Ink


  Invented by Egyptians by combining soot with chemicals to produce different colours
• Egyptian ink


  • Withstood elements of nature
  • Tamper-proof so authorities' records could not be altered
• Hieroglyphics


  Writing system using symbols, developed by Egyptians

  
• Hieroglyphics was adapted from the early writing system established in Mesopotamia

  
• Egyptian records were well-preserved as they were carved on walls of pyramids and other structures

  
• Cosmetics


  Invented by Egyptians for health and aesthetic purposes
• Kohl


  • Mixture of soot or malachite and mineral galena, used around eyes to prevent and cure eye diseases
• Egyptians believed wearing make-up protected from evil and that beauty was a sign of holiness
• Wigs


  Invented by Egyptians to cover head from sun's harmful rays, not just for aesthetic purposes
• Water clock/Clepsydra

  Timekeeping device invented by Egyptians that used gravity and water flow
• The water clock led to the development of modern clocks through improvements by later civilizations
• Greek civilization


  Birthplace of western philosophy
• Greeks made major achievements in philosophy and mathematics
• Alarm clock


  Invented by ancient Greeks, used water or small stones/sand to sound an alarm
• Water mill


  Important Greek invention, used for agricultural processes like milling grains