Science 100

Science, Technology, and Society (STS)

MODULE 2. Intellectual Revolutions that Defined Society

02 LESSON

Cradles of Early Science

OBJECTIVE

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

 analyse how scientific revolution is done in various parts of the world like in Latin America, East Asia,
Middle East, and Africa

LESSON PROPER

m
er as
DEVELOPMENT of SCIENCE in MESOAMERICA

co
Mesoamerica

eH w
 Central America from Southern Mexico up to the border of South America

o.
1.
rs e
Maya civilization – lasted for approximately 2,000 years
ou urc
a. works in astronomy incorporated into their temples and other religious structures – knowledge
of predicting eclipse, using astrological cycles in planting and harvesting, and measuring time
using complicated calendar systems (useful esp. in planning their activities and in observing
their religious rituals and cultural celebrations)
o

b. developed technology for growing different crops and building elaborate cities using ordinary
aC s

machineries and tools

vi y re

c. built hydraulics system with sophisticated waterways to supply water to different communities
d. built looms for weaving and devised a rainbow of glittery paints made from a mineral (mica)
e. believed to first produce rubber products
f. Mayan hieroglyphics
g. mathematics – created a number system based on the numeral 20; independently developed the
ed d

concept of zero and positional value

ar stu

2. Inca civilization
a. roads paved with stones
b. stone buildings that surmounted earthquakes and other disasters
is

c. irrigation system and technique for storing water for their crops to grow in all types of lands
d. calendar with 12 months to mark their religious festivals and prepare them for planting season
Th

e. first suspension bridge

f. quipu, a system of knotted ropes to keep records that only experts can interpret
g. Inca textiles since cloth was one of the specially prized artistic achievements

3. Aztec civilization
sh

a. mandatory education – early form of universal or inclusive education

b. chocolates – used as currency; cacao beans – tribute to their gods
c. antispasmodic medication – prevent muscle spasms and relax muscles
d. chinampa – for agricultural farming in which the land was divided into rectangular areas and
surrounded by canals
e. Aztec calendar – enabled them to plan their activities, rituals, ad planting season
f. canoe – light arrow boat used for traveling in water systems

Intellectual
This study source was downloaded by 100000834647429 Revolutions
from CourseHero.com that Defined
on 11-01-2021 Society
05:00:47 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/72505759/Cradles-of-Early-Sciencedocx/
 Science 100
Science, Technology, and Society (STS)

DEVELOPMENT of SCIENCE in ASIA

Asia
 biggest continent in the world and home of many civilizations
 host to many cultural, economic, scientific, and political activities of all ages; incomparable
contributions

1. India
a. known for manufacturing iron (iron steel) and in metallurgical works
b. medicine
 Ayurveda – system of traditional medicine originated in ancient India before 2500 B.C.
 discovered medicinal plants that led them to develop medicines to cure various
illnesses
 Sustra Samhita – ancient text that describes different surgical and other medical
procedures
c. astronomy
 developed theories on the configuration of the universe, the spherical self-supporting

m
Earth, and the year of 360 days with 12 equal parts of 30 days each

er as
 Siddhanta Shiromani (written 12th century) – the first 12 chapters covered topics such

co
as mean longitudes of the planets, true longitudes of the planets, the three problems of

eH w
diurnal rotation, syzygies, lunar and solar eclipses, latitudes of the planets, risings and
settings, the moon’s crescent, conjunctions of the planets with each other conjunctions

o.
of the planets with the fixed stars; and the paths of the Sun and Moon
d. mathematics
rs e
ou urc
 appeared in the Indus Valley of Civilization – tried to standardize measurement of
length to a high degree of accuracy and designed a ruler (Mohenjodaro ruler)

Aryabhata (476-550)
o

- Indian astronomer and mathematician

- Aryabhatiya – introduced a number of trigonometric functions, tables, and
aC s

techniques, as well as algorithms of algebra

vi y re

Brahmagupta
- 628 A.D. – gravity was a force of attraction; use of zero as both a
placeholder and a decimal digit, along with the Hindu-Arabic numeral
ed d

system
ar stu

Madhava of Sangamagrama
- considered founder of mathematical analysis

2. China
is

- made substantial contributions in various fields; overwhelming list of their discoveries and
inventions
Th

a. traditional medicines
sh

 various medical properties and uses of different plants and animals to cure human
illnesses; acupuncture
b. technology
 compass, papermaking, gunpowder, and printing tools (woodblock printing) became
known to West only by the end of the Middle Ages
 iron plough, wheelbarrow, and propeller
 designs of different models of bridges

Intellectual
This study source was downloaded by 100000834647429 Revolutions
from CourseHero.com that Defined
on 11-01-2021 Society
05:00:47 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/72505759/Cradles-of-Early-Sciencedocx/
 Science 100
Science, Technology, and Society (STS)

 first seismological detector and developed a dry dock facility

c. astronomy
 records of supernovas, lunar and solar eclipses, and comets
 observed heavenly bodies to understand weather changes and seasons
 used lunar calendars
d. seismology

3. Middle East countries

- predominantly occupied by Muslims
- Golden Age of Islam (13th century) – a period of Muslim scholarship; common language of
Arabic, access to Greek texts from the Byzantine empire, and proximity to India were
contributory to the intellectualization of the Muslims
- placed greater value on science experiments rather than plain thought experiments – e.g.: Ibn
al-Haytham – father of optics, empirical proof of the intromission theory of light
a. mathematics
 Arabic Numeral System (originally from India) – Muslim mathematicians did make
several refinements to the number system (such as the intro. of decimal point notation)
Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi – gave his name to the concept of algorithm while

m
the term algebra is derived from al-jabr, the beginning of the title of one of his publication

er as
b. foundation of modern chemistry

co
eH w
Jābir ibn Hayyān – considered by some scholars to be the father of chemistry

o.
c. medicine

rs e
Ibn Sina
ou urc
- pioneer of experimental medicine and first physician to conduct clinical trials
- Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine – used as standard medicinal texts in
both the Muslim world and in Europe during the 17th century
- discovery of contagious diseases and introduction of clinical pharmacology
o
aC s
vi y re

DEVELOPMENT of SCIENCE in AFRICA

Africa (Egyptian word Afru-ika or motherland)

ed d

a. astronomy
ar stu

 use three types of calendars: lunar, solar, and stellar, or a combination of the three
b. metallurgy
 metal tools used in their homes, in agriculture, and in building their magnificent architectures
c. mathematics
is

Lebombo bones
- oldest known mathematical artefact dated from 35, 000 BCE
Th

- from the mountains between Swaziland and South Africa, which may have been a tool for
multiplication, division, and simple mathematical calculation or a six-month lunar calendar

Egyptian civilization
sh

 development of geometry – necessity to preserve the layout and ownership of farmlands living along the
Nile River; used to build rectilinear structures (such as the post of lintel architecture of Egypt) esp. in
building their early homes and cities
 knowledge of basic concepts of algebra and geometry
 centre of alchemy – pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times
 studied anatomy and pharmacology
 applied important components such as examination, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for the
treatment of diseases

Intellectual
This study source was downloaded by 100000834647429 Revolutions
from CourseHero.com that Defined
on 11-01-2021 Society
05:00:47 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/72505759/Cradles-of-Early-Sciencedocx/
 Science 100
Science, Technology, and Society (STS)

REFERENCES

Beleno, R. B. III., McNamara, D. J., Valverde, V. S. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society. Quezon City: C &
E Publishing, Inc.

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
is
Th
sh

Intellectual
This study source was downloaded by 100000834647429 Revolutions
from CourseHero.com that Defined
on 11-01-2021 Society
05:00:47 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/72505759/Cradles-of-Early-Sciencedocx/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)