RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig

MODULE 1:
Ancient, Middle and
Modern Technologies in
the World and the
Philippines

Student Name
Section
Schedule
Program
College
Professor
Module Duration

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 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig

Ancient, Middle and Modern Technologies in the World

and in the Philippines

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the interactions between science, technology, and society throughout

history.
2. Discuss how scientific and technological developments affect society and the
environment.

Topic Presentation

INTRODUCTION

“If we lived on a planet where nothing ever changed, there would be little to
do. There would be nothing to figure out. There would be no impetus for science.
And if we lived in an unpredictable world, where things change in random or very
complex ways, we would not be able to figure things out. But we live in an in
between universe where things change but according to patterns, rules, or as we
call them, laws of nature. If I throw a stick up into the air, it always falls down. If the
sun sets in the west, it always rises again the next morning in the east. And so, it
becomes possible to figure things out. We can do science, and with it we can
improve our lives.” (Carl Edward Sagan).

From the beginning of time, man has tried to improve his way and quality of
life. The caveman discovered how to make and used tools, developed a logical
sequence of activities, and evolved processes that added value to his life. The
totality of the use and the application of his knowledge, skills, tools, and materials,
constitute what we today describe as “technology”. The development of Science
and Technology does not only leave indelible impact in the history, but its trail can
be traced by its influence in our society and country as a whole.

The history of the development of science and technology is one of the

important concerns in studying the subject Science, Technology, and Society. It
reveals how the scientific and technological innovations have changed across time
and explores its impacts on the prevailing social, cultural, political, and economic
contexts. Moreover, it also shows the conditions that shaped it that pertains to the
historical antecedents of science and technology development.

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Antecedents pertains to the precursor to the unfolding or existence of

something. Meaning, historical antecedents in science and technology are the
factors that paved the way for the presence of advanced and sophisticated
innovations. Background insights in the history of science and technology allow us
to assess these innovations. Understanding the causes (how previous generations
influenced the innovations) and effects (how innovations influenced the previous
generations), we can have proper decision and determine its appropriate
application in our daily life. Necessity is the mother of inventions and innovations.
Although science and technology affect the society through addition of existing
knowledge and changing the view of how natural world works, society also
influences the product of science and technology.

I. Science and Technology in Ancient Times

Ancient period (estimated 3000 BC to 500 AD) is the start of early civilization
that also gave rise to the major advancement of science and technology. These
advances also allowed the civilization to flourish through establishing better ways
of transportation and navigation, communication and record keeping, mass
production, security and protection, as well as health, aesthetics and architecture,
and of living in general. Science and Technology keeps on advancing in order to
meet the growing needs of people along these areas. Due to the constant
innovation introduced by Science and Technology, which has the end goal of
improving lives and making the work easier, faster and efficient, our society
respond by changing as well. These changes are evident as each ancient
civilization keep on creating technology that has been modified and that is being
used today.

Examples:

a. Ancient Wheel
- People from ancient civilization used animals as means
of transportation.
- The invention of ancient wheel is credited to the
Sumerians.

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b. Paper
- Around 3000 B.C., the ancient Egyptians began
writing on a papyrus.
- It is made up from a pith of plant called Cyperus
papyrus.
- Before the invention of papyrus, writing and
record-keeping is done on stones and tablets.

c. Shadoof
- A tool used and invented by ancient Egyptians
to irrigate land.
- It is a hand-operated device used for lifting
water
- Its invention introduced the idea of lifting
things using counterweights.

d. Antikythera Mechanism
- Discovered in 1902 and retrieved from the
waters of Antikythera, Greece.
- It is a mechanism similar to a clock for it has a
circular face and rotating hands.
- It is believed that this mechanism is used to
predict astronomical positions and eclipses.

e. Aeolipile
- It is also known as the Hero’s engine.
- It is a steam-powered turbine which spins as the
water container at its center is heated.
- At first, it doesn’t serve any practical purpose. It is
believed to be one of the “temple wonders” at that
time.

II. Science and Technology in Middle Ages

The start of the Middle Ages was marred by massive invasions and
migrations. Wars are prevalent during this time. As such, great technology was
needed in the fields of weaponry, navigation, food and farm production, and
health. The wars have resulted to population decline. However, in the later part
of this period, there was significant increase in population. Trade and commerce
among nations increased, which resulted in greater demands for transportation
technology. The major advances in scientific and technological development
took place in this period.

Examples:

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a. Printing Press
- Johann Gutenberg managed to invent the
printing press after the Chinese invented
woodblock printing, a more efficient method of
printing using a cast type.

a. Telescope
- Invented by Galileo Galilei that can magnify 20
times larger than a regular glass.
- This is used to discover important astronomical
discoveries such as craters and mountains in
moon.

b. Compound Microscope
- Invented by a Dutch Zacharias Janssen in 1590’s
- Nowadays, microscope is used in many scientific
studies in the area of medicine, forensics and
genetics.

c. Heavy plough
- “The heavy plough turned European agriculture
and economy on its head. The fields with heavy,
fatty soil became those that gave the greatest
yields.” - Prof. Thomas Andersen
- Because of the invention of heavy plough,
northern Europe saw rapid economic prosperity.

d. Gun powder
- Around 850 A.D., Chinese alchemists
accidentally invented the gunpowder.
- Prior to the invention of gunpowder, swords and
spears were used in battles and wars.
- The invention of gunpowder has allowed
advanced warfare such as fiery arrows, cannons,
and grenades.

e. Paper Money
- Paper money was first used by Chinese in 17th
century.
- Before the introduction of paper money,
merchants and traders used precious metals such
as gold and silver.
- They realized that using paper money brought
advantages because it is easier to keep and
transport.

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f. Mechanical clock
- The development of mechanical clock helped
the people in accurately keeping the track of
time.
- The sophistication of clockwork technology
drastically changed the way of spending the day
and work patterns were established.

III. Science and Technology in Modern Ages

The booming world population during the nineteenth century onwards

demanded that more goods be produced at faster rate. People needed efficient
means of transportation to trade more goods and cover a larger distance.
Machines that required animals to operate must thus be upgraded. Faster and
easier means to communicate and compute should be developed to establish
connections between and among nations. All these needs resulted in the
development of industries. However, due to massive industrialization, the
modern times again faced more complicated problems. Food processing and
medicine posed some of the bigger challenges since health was of great
concern.

Examples:

a. Pasteurization
- Louis Pasteur, a French biologist,
microbiologist and chemist invented
pasteurization, the process of heating
dairy products to kill the harmful
bacteria that allow them to spoil faster.
- Through this process, milk could be
stored and consumed for a longer period.
- Other contributions of Pasteur to Science and Technology and Medicine
included his works on molecular asymmetry, fermentation, and
vaccination.

b. Telephone
- The more people got acquainted through
trade and discovery, the more they wanted
a way to keep these links securely and
communicate with each other in real time.
- Thus, Alexander Graham Bell 's telephone
development was one of the most significant developments at the time.

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Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig

c. Engine powdered airplane

- Invented by Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright.
- They demonstrated that slightly tilted wings
are the key features of a flying aircraft.

d. Television
- Invented by Scottish engineer John Logie
Baird in 1920s.
- British Broadcasting Corporation used this
for its earliest television programming in
1929.
- This first television is mechanical and not
the same as the television we have
nowadays.

Discussion / Forum

Black Death Plague is one of the deadliest diseases in history. This disease
killed over thousands of people during the middle age. One of the best and effective
techniques that the people did during those time to prevent and lessen the spreading
of disease is the quarantine technique.
Today, as we face the covid-19 pandemic, we still use the quarantine
technique because of its effective and efficient result in preventing the transmission
of virus. Aside from this technique, the government also mandated to wear protective
gears such as facemask, face shield and PPE to prevent the contamination and the
spread of virus.
What are the differences between how modern people combat covid-19
pandemic and how people during middle age faced the Black death plague? Also,
share your opinions on what we could have been doing wrong to stop the spread of
the virus.

Assignment

1. Form a small group (maximum of 3 members per group).

2. Make review/research about the history of science in the Philippines and
make a timeline (horizontal or vertical) highlighting the major discoveries and
developments in science.
3. Identify 10 scientific discoveries and developments from 1500 (16th century)
up to present.
4. For each event in your timeline, write the following about each discovery or
the development:
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a. Date
b. name and description
c. proponent/advocate or inventor
d. way(s) on how it transformed the society
5. You may do it using pen and paper or any digital application, but the final
output should be in word file or PDF.

Rubrics for Grading:

Category 4 3 2 1
Included events are Most of the Some events Many major
important and included events included are events are
Quality of interesting. No are important or trivial, and major excluded, and too
Content major details are interesting. One or events are many trivial
excluded. two major events missing. events are
may be missing. included.
The timeline The timeline The timeline The timeline
contains 10 events contains at least 5 contains at least 4 contains fewer
Quantity of
related to the topic events related to events related to than 3 events.
facts being studied. the topic being the topic being
studied. studied.
Facts are accurate Facts are accurate Facts are accurate Facts are often
for all events for almost all for most (~75%) of inaccurate for
Accuracy reported on the events reported on the events events reported
timeline. the timeline. reported on the on the timeline.
timeline.
Events are placed Almost all events Most (~75%) of Most events are
Sequence of in proper order. are placed in the events are incorrectly placed
content proper order. placed in proper on the timeline.
order.
An accurate, An accurate, An accurate date Dates are
complete date has complete date has has been included inaccurate or
Dates been included for been included for for almost every missing for
each event almost every event. several events.
event.
Events are clearly Events are Events are not Events are
described using described well, but described well, described using
Sentence
accurate and vivid language is and language is vague language or
fluency language. sometimes vague often vague or inaccurate
or inaccurate. inaccurate. information.
Punctuation, Punctuation, Punctuation, There are too
Mechanics spelling, and spelling, and spelling, and many
punctuations,

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capitalization are capitalization are capitalization are spelling, and

correct throughout. mostly correct. mostly incorrect capitalization
errors.

References

● Aldea K., Caronan H., Candido M. (2018) Science, Technology, and

Society (OBE Ready). Mnadaluyong City: Books Atbp, Publishing Corp.

● McNamara, D., Valverde, V., & Beleno, R. (2018). Science, Technology, and
Society (1st ed., pp. 1-128). Quezon City: C&E Publishing Inc.

● Ratnasiri, N., 2006. The role of Science and Technology in nation

building. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 34(3),
p.113. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v34i3.3640

Sample output submissions from previous semester

● Note that the timeline is for the scientific discoveries and developments in the world
and not in the Philippines only.

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Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig

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RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig

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