MODULE 2 HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

This section tackles how social contexts shaped and were shaped by science and technology
across three historical periods. By introducing the historical antecedents of science and
technology, the section explores the dynamic interactions between different societal factors and
science and technology. Along with the discussion of these antecedents during the ancient period,
middle ages, and modern ages, this section also includes a discussion on important Philippine
inventions and innovations. It emphasizes the various social, cultural, economic, and political
impacts of scientific and technological innovation throughout history.
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of this section, the students should be able to:
1. discuss the historical antecedents of science and technology across time; and
2. explain how Philippine scientific and technological inventions shaped and were shaped
by various social contexts.

One of the key interests of STS as an academic field is the history of science and technology. As
a strand of STS, the history of science and technology focuses on how science and technology
have changed across time. Also, it explores the impacts of scientific and technological
innovations on the prevailing social, cultural, political, and economic contexts throughout
history. Conversely, it also pays attention to the conditions that shaped science and technology.
Quite often, interests lie in historical antecedents of scientific and technological innovations.
An antecedent is defined as a precursor to the unfolding or existence of something. Thus,
historical antecedents in science and technology are factors that paved the way for the presence
of advanced and sophisticated scientific and technological innovations today. Knowledge of the
history of science and technology is useful in appraising these innovations today. By
understanding how previous generations influenced and were influenced by developments in
science and technology, today's generation can come up with informed decisions on the proper
application of science and technology to daily life.

ANCIENT PERIOD

The rise of ancient civilizations paved the way for advances in science and technology. These
advances during the Ancient period allowed civilizations to flourish by finding better ways of
communication, transportation, self-organization, and of living in general.
Ancient Wheel.
People from ancient civilizations used animals for transportation long before the invention of the
wheel. No one knows exactly who invented the wheel and when. There is, however. a general
agreement that the ancient wheel grew out of a mechanical device called the potter's wheel-a
heavy flat disk made of hardened clay which was spun horizontally on an axis. It is believed that
the Sumerians invented the potter's wheel shortly after 3500 BC. The invention of the ancient
wheel is often credited to the Sumerians since no other ancient civilization used a similar device
at the time. It could be that a potter thought of shifting the potter's wheel to a 90-degree angle for
the purpose of transportation or the wheel was reinvented for this purpose. Nonetheless, it would
not be until 1000 to 1500 years later that the wheel was first used on carts.

Paper.
Roughly around 3000 BC, the ancient Egyptians began writing on papyrus, a material similar to
thick paper. Papyrus is made from the pith of the papyrus plant cyperus papyrus. It is lightweight
strong, durable, and most importantly, portable. Before the Egyptians invented the papyrus,
writing was done on stone. Because of the difficulty of writing on stone, writing was reserved
only for very important occasions. With the advent of the papyrus, documentation and record-
keeping became efficient, widespread, and vast. Through its use, information dissemination
became exponentially faster. Records were kept and stood the test of time.

MIDDLE AGES

Between the collapse of the Roman Empire in 5th century AD the colonial expansion of Western
Europe in late 15th century, major advances in scientific and technological development took
place. These include steady increase of new inventions, introduction of innovations in traditional
production, and emergence of scientific thinking and method. The Middle Ages was not as
stagnant as alternate terms such as the Medieval Period' or Dark Ages suggest. In fact, many
medieval universities at the time stirred scientific thinking and built infrastructures for scientific
communities to flourish. As such, some of humanity's most important present-day technologies
could be traced back to their historical antecedents in the Middle Ages.

Heavy Plough
Perhaps one of the most important technological innovations during the middle ages is the
invention of the heavy plough. Clay soil, despite being more fertile than lighter types of soil, was
not cultivated because of its heavy weight. However, through the invention of the heavy plough,
it became possible to harness clay soil. Professor Thomas Bernebeck Andersen ol the University
of Southern Denmark succinctly describes the impact of the invention of the
The heavy plough turned European agriculture and economy on its head. Suddenly, the fields
with the heavy, fatty, and moist clay soils became those that gave the greatest yields." Because of
this, Europe, particularly its northern territories, saw rapid economic prosperity. The heavy
plough stirred an agricultural revolution in Northern Europe marked by higher and healthier
agricultural yields and more efficient agricultural practices.
Gunpowder
Around 850 AD, Chinese alchemists accidentally invented black powder or gunpowder. Multiple
accounts suggest that the gunpowder might have been an unintended byproduct of attempts made
by the Chinese to invent the elixir of life, which is why the Chinese called it huoyao, roughly
translated as "fire potion. Prior to the invention of the gunpowder, swords and spears were used
in battles and wars. Towards the end of the 13th century, the explosive invention crept into most
parts of Europe and Asia. Since its invention, the gunpowder has allowed for more advanced
warfare. From fiery arrows to cannons and grenades, the gunpowder has prompted foundation
for the functionality of almost every new weapon used in war since its invention. It ushered in an
unprecedented advancement in warfare and combat throughout the Middle Ages.

Paper Money
Although it was not until the 17th century that bank notes began to be used in Europe, the first
known versions of paper money could be traced back to the Chinese in 17th century AD as an
offshoot of the invention of block printing, which is similar to stamping. Before the introduction
of paper money, precious metals, Such as gold and silver were used as currency. However, the
idea of assigning value to a marked piece of paper did not immediately become popular. In fact,
when the Mongols attempted to introduce paper money into the Middle East market in the 13th
century, it did not gain immediate success. Nonetheless, traders and merchants eventually
realized the huge advantage of using paper money because it was easier to transport around
compared to the previous forms of currencies.
Mechanical Clock.
Although devices for timekeeping and recording sprung from the ancient times, such as the
Antikythera mechanism, it was not until the Middle Ages that clockwork technology Was
developed. The development of mechanical clocks paved the way for accurately keeping track of
time. The sophistication of clockwork technology of the mechanical clock drastically changed
the way days were spent and work patterns were established, particularly in the more advanced
Middle Age cities.

Modern Ages

As the world population steadily increased, people of the Modern Ages realized the utmost
Importance of increasing the efficiency of transportation, communication, and production.
Industrialization took place with greater risks in human health, food safety, and environment
which had to be addressed as scientific and technological progress unfolded at an unimaginable
speed. Compound Microscope. A Dutch spectacle maker named Zacharias Janssen is credited for
the invention of the first compound microscope in 1590. Together with his father Hans,
Zacharias began experimenting with lenses by putting together several lenses on a tube. This led
to an amazing discovery that an object, when placed near the end of the tube, can be magnified
far larger than what a simple magnifying lens can do. Janssen's compound microscope was an
important progression from the single lens microscope. It was capable of magnifying objects
three times their size when fully closed and up to ten times when extended to the maximum.
Today, the compound microscope is an important instrument in many scientific studies, such as
in the areas of medicine, forensic studies, tissue analysis, atomic studies, and genetic.

Telescope

Perhaps the single, most important technological invention in the study of astronomy during the
Modern Ages was the practical telescope invented by Galileo Galilei. This invention could
magnify objects 20 times larger than the Dutch perspective glasses. It was Galileo who first used
the telescope skyward and made important astronomical discoveries, and identified the presence
of craters and mountains on the moon. Galileo's remarkable technological contribution
drastically changed the study of astronomy. For the first time, it became clear that the universe is
far larger than previously imagined and the Earth far smaller compared to the entire universe.

Jacquard Loom.

As the Industrial Revolution reached full speed, the Jacquard loom was considered as one of the
most critical drivers of the revolution. Built by French weaver Joseph Marie Jacquard, the
Jacquard loom simplifies textile manufacturing. Prior to the invention of the Jacquard loom, a
drawloom was used which required two individuals to operate -the weaver and a "drawboy"-if
figured designs on textiles were needed. As such, intensified manual labor and greater effort had
to be exerted to produce complex designs. In 1801,Jacquard demonstrated the ingenuity of his
version of a loom in which a series of cards with punched holes automatically created complex
textile designs and made mass production easier. The Jacquard loom is also an important
antecedent of modern computer technology as it demonstrated the use of punched cards to
instruct a machine to carry out complex tasks,i.e., making different textile patterns.

Engine Powered Airplane

Ornille Wright and Wilhur Wright are credited for designing and successfully operating the first
engine powered aircraft. The Wright brothers approached the design of powered aircraft and
flight scientifically. Orville and Wilbur proved that aircrafts could fly without airfoil shaped
wing. They demonstrated this in their original Fying Machine patent (US patent #821393)
showing that slightly-tilted wings, which they referred to as aeroplanes, were the key features of
a powered aircraft Their pioneering success marked an age ol powered flights, Sans modern
knowledge on aerodynamics and a comprehensive understanding of the working of aircraft
wings, the Wright brothers were brilliant scientists who paved the way for modern aircraft
technology.

INVENTIONS BY FILIPINO SCIENTISTS

The Philippines boasts of, its own history and tradition of scientific and technological
innovations. Filipinos have long been known for their ingenuity. As with all other inventions,
necessity has always been the mother of Philippine inventions. Most of these inventions appealed
to the unique social and cultural context of the archipelagic nation. Throughout Philippine
history, Filipinos are responsible for developing many scientific and technological innovations
focused on navigation, traditional shipbuilding, textiles, food processing, indigenous arts and
techniques, and even cultural inventions. The following are some of the most important
inventions by Filipino scientists.
Electronic Jeepney (e-jeepney)

The jeepney is perhaps one of the most recognizable national symbols of the Philippines and the
most popular mode of public transportation in the country. It is also perhaps one of the most
enduring symbols of Filipino ingenuity. Jeepneys were designed and improvised from scratch out
of military jeeps that the Americans left in the country after World War II. As demand for more
responsive transportation technology arose, the e-jeepney was introduced in Metro Manila and
Bacolod City. The ejeepney is the inventive response to criticisms to the traditional jeepney that
belched smoke, directly causing air pollution which made it unsustainable and uneconomical. E-
jeepneys are designed to be environment- friendly, eliminating noise and air pollution as they run
on electricity. They are also more economical for electricity is far cheaper than ordinary diesel,
allowing jeepney drivers to earn more profit.

Mole Remover

In 2000, World Class a local invention that had the ability to easily remove moles and warts on
the skin without the need for any surgical procedure shot to fame. Rolando dela Cruz is credited
for the invention of a local mole remover that made use of extracts of cashew nuts (Annacardium
occidentale), which are very common in the Philippines. The indigenous formula easily caught
on for its accessibility, affordability, and paínless and warless procedure Dela Cruz won a gold
medal for this inventíon in the International Invention, Innovation, Industrial Design, and
Technology Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2000.

Banana Ketchup

Filipino food technologist, Maria Orosa, is credited for the invention of banana ketchup, a
varíety of ketchup different from the commonly known tomato ketchup. Her invention appeals
particularly to Filipinos who love using condiments to go along with their food. Historical
accounts posit that Orosa invented the banana ketchup at the backdrop of World War II when
there was a huge shortage of tomatoes. As a result, Orosa developed a variety of ketchup that
made use of mashed banana, sugar, vinegar, and spices, which were all readily available. Orosa's
banana ketchup is brownish-yellow in natural color, but is dyed red to resemble the color of the
most loved tomato ketchup.

Erythromycin.

Perhaps one of the most important medical inventions is the Erythromycin. The llonggo scientist
Abelardo Aguilay invented this antibiotic out of aythromycin. Perhaps one of the most important
medical strain of bacterium called Sreptomyes rythreus, from which this dmg derived its name.
As with the case of several other local scientists, however, Aguilar was not credited for this
discovery by Eli Lilli Co., Aguilar's US employer, to whom he sent the strain for separation. The
US company eventually owned the merits for this discovery. Medical Incubator. World-renowned
Filipino pediatrician and national scientist, Fe del Mundo, is credited for the invention of the
incubator and jaundice relieving device. Del Mundo was the first woman pediatrician to be
admitted to the prestigious Harvard University's School of Medicine. She is also the founder of
the first pediatric hospital in the country. Her pioneering work in pediatries that spanned a total
of eight decades won her the 1977 Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia's premier prize granted to
outstanding individuals whose selfless service remarkably contributed to the betterment of
society. Her original improvised incubator consisted of two native laundry baskets of different
sizes that are placed one inside the other. Warmth is generated by bottles with hot water placed
around the baskets. A makeshift hood over the baskets allows oxygen to circulate inside the
incubator. Del Mundo's incubator was particularly outstanding as it addressed the state of
Philippine rural communities that had no electricity to aid the regulation of temperatures of
newborn babies. For this purpose, del Mundo's invention was truly ingenious.
 EXERCISE 1

Instructions: In this section, you learned that necessity is the mother of inventions and
innovations. Inventions are not simply made, but are motivated by various social, political,
cultural, and economic contexts. In this task, you will address this question: "If you were an
inventor, what would you invent?” In thinking about an invention, make sure that you come up
with one that has not been invented yet but is possible to be invented in the near future. On the
space below, sketch a draft of your invention then answer the questions that follow.

1. What is your invention? What does it do?

2. How is your invention similar to or different from existing tools or technologies in terms of
function?
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3. Why is there a need for this invention? How will this invention make the world a better place
to live in?
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