LADROMA, CIARA C.

BSM-IV

STS 10 – Science, Technology and Society

MODULE I
Lesson 1: Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology

Act 1.1

1. Using the table below, list down ten products of technology you see in your homes and identify its uses.
Technologies Uses

1. Rice cooker cooks rice in a convenient manner

for entertainment and watching of daily
2. Television
news
3. Light bulbs lights up the room/house

4. Ceiling fan for cooling and even air circulation

cooks microwavable food and heats up
5. Microwave oven
leftovers with convenience
paired with another device e.g. mobile
phone, through Bluetooth instead of
6. Bluetooth speaker traditional wired methods to boost the
volume of your audio media than what
your main device can emit
7. Refrigerator keeps food cold and stay fresh longer
generates hard copy and prints any
8. Printer
document, picture or any visual media
9. CD player plays audio compact disc (CD)
10. Turntable plays vinyl/phonograph record

Act 1.2

1. Read and study the PowerPoint Presentation on the History of Science and Technology in the World:
Ancient, Middle and Modern Ages (See attachment 1).
2. Using the space provided, describe briefly how science and technology evolved during each period in
history.

During the Ancient Period, man’s knowledge of Science is inferential i.e. one makes
conclusions or deductions based in his own experience and understanding. This is why ancient men
believed that the Earth is flat and has no end or is limitless—a conclusion reached from his countless
experience of traveling. Included in this period is the Stone Age where men started using stone as
primitive tools e.g. sharpened stones as spears and knives, and used them for hunting and gathering of
food. Later, then, in the Neolithic Revolution, men stopped migrating from one place to another just
to hunt and gather, and started forming agrarian communities and practiced cultivating crops instead.
During the rise of Sumerian Civilization, the most notable achievement of the people of Sumer are the
creation of the earliest written language called Cuneiform, the invention of wheels and sails, and
introduction of the concept of time. They also utilized the surrounding Euphrates and Tigris rivers to
water their crops by building irrigations and dikes. The Babylonians, during the rise of the Babylonia n
Civilization, was the first to use fractions in Mathematics, started jewelry-making, developed a
Calendar system and took great importance in the study of Astrology and Astronomy. The Ancient
Egyptians during the Ancient Egyptian Civilians, made advances in several spheres of knowledge such
as Engineering, Architecture, Medicine, etc. They also made paper using a stiff plant called Papyrus
and introduced the embalming of the dead using the process known as the mummification. The
Ancient
 Ancient Greeks believed that the only way to achieve the highest knowledge is through deductive
reasoning and undermines observations. And finally, the Ancient Romans focuses more on
refinements rather than new ideas. They often get ideas from the Greeks and tweak them a little bit.
During the Middle Ages, Arab Science is largely influence by the Greeks. Many Arab scholars
prepared Arabic-translated texts out of Aristotle’s and Ptolemy’s writings. Arabs’ main contributio n
in the history of medicine was the establishment of hospitals. They also helped in the improvement of
earlier distillation apparatuses and laid the basis for modern chemistry in the investigation of chemica l
transformation. In Indian Science, they have tried to calculate latitude and longitude and fashioned the
decimal system that is still present up to this day. Hindus also prepared an encyclopedia work that
contained the first version of a World Atlas. Since their religion prohibits them from cutting up dead
bodies, there knowledge of anatomy is limited which lead them to use the five senses to make
diagnoses. Chinese’ contribution to science, however, is viewed by Western scientists as technology-
based rather than science-based. Acupuncture and the use of Herbal medicines are the most notable
contribution of Chinese in the field of medicine. They also introduced the use of paper to make paper
currency that we are now familiar today. They also made gunpowder out of serendipity in high hopes
of Chinese alchemists in creating an elixir of immortality.
Finally, during the Modern Era, men valued the acquirement of new knowledge through
scientific methods that emphasizes the importance of observation rather than purely deductive
reasoning. Industrialization which started from the Middle Ages kick started the technological era in
the modern day science.
To sum it all up, in the Ancient period, men laid out the fundamental ideas of Science which
based only on gut feeling and firsthand experiences. In the Middle Ages, men highly respect the ideas
of men from Ancient period and only seek to practice, correct and derived new ideas out of them.
Whilst, in the Modern Era, men are very driven to discover new knowledge that improves the quality
of life of the whole human race.

Act 1.3

1. Read and review “A History of Science and Technology in the Philippines” by Olivia C. Caoili (see
attachment 2).
2. Using the space below, create a timeline highlighting the major discoveries and development in science
and technology during each period.

Precolonial Science and Technology

 The first modern men (homo sapiens) from the Asian mainland lived in Palawan and Batangas
around 50,000 years ago.
 For about 40,000 years, they made simple tools or weapons using stones but eventua lly
developed techniques for sawing, drilling and polishing hard stones.
 Men formed settlements in the major Philippine islands.
 By 3,000 B.C., they made adzes ornaments of seashells and pottery of various designs.
 For over 2,000 years., the manufacturing of pottery became well developed and flourished until
it is rivaled by imported Chinese porcelain which causes the decline of pottery making in the
country.
 Iron Age came in which early Filipinos learned to make metal tools.
 Filipinos at this age extracted iron from ore, smelting and refining but then again, is rivaled by
the imported cast iron from China.
 Filipinos were also engaged in agriculture. They created dike fields and terraced fields to utilize
spring waters from the mountains of Cordillera.
 They learnt to build boats for coastal trade.
 It is observed that Filipinos at this time do not understand any kind of work, unless it be to do
something actually necessary.
 Developments in Science and Technology

 During the Spanish Regime

 Spaniards kick started the use of scientific research which in consequence caused the
rise of the country’s professions.
 The first century of Spanish rule brought about decline in agricultural production and
traditional crafts.
 The religious order influenced the development of technology and promotion of
scientific research.
 Leon Ma. Guerrero referred to as the “Father of Philippine Pharmacy”, made an
extensive work on medicinal plants of the Philippines and their uses.
 In 1789, Manila was opened to Asian shipping which inaugurated an era of increasing
Philippine exports of rice, hemp, sugar, tobacco, indigo, and others and rising imports
of manufacture goods.
 In 1814, Manila was officially opened to world trade and commerce.
 Philippine ports were opened.
 In 1865, the Jesuits founded Manila Observatory.
 In 1869, Suez Canal opened making it easier to travel, communicate and be connected
to the liberal ideas and scientific knowledge of the West.
 The Spaniards introduced the technology of town planning and building with stones,
brick, and tiles.
 In the second half of the nineteenth century, studies of infectious diseases were
intensified.
 Native Filipinos began to participate in scientific research.
 Research in agriculture and industry was encouraged by the founding of the Real
Sociedad Economica de los Amigos del Pais de Filipinas (Royal Economic Society of
Friends of the Philippines) by Governador Jose Basco y Vargas under the authority of
a royal decree of 1780.
 Modern amenities were introduced into the city by the latter half of the ninetee nth
century.
 During the First Republic
 The government took steps to establish a secular educational system by a decree of 19
October 1898.
 During the American Regime
 Rapid advancement of Science and Technology because of simultaneous governme nt
encouragement and support for an extensive public education system.
 Manila Trade School was opened in 1901.
 Basic and applied research in medical, agricultural and related sciences received much
greater government support.
 During the Commonwealth Period
 National Economic Council is created.
 Commonwealth adopted measures to encourage and provide assistance to private
Filipino business in the establishment of industries and manufacturing enterprises.
 Bureau of Mines is created to provide assistance to businessmen undertaking mining
exploration and development.
 Increased appropriations for Bureaus of Science, Plant and Animal Industry to
encourage more scientific research for industrial purposes.
 Since Independence
 The number of state universities and colleges has been increasing since 1946.
 The number of private universities and colleges has also been increased.

Analysis:
 On your own words, what makes technology good or bad for us? Write your answer on the space provided
below.
Technology improves our quality of life and aids us in completing our tasks conveniently and efficie ntly
which is why is it good for us. It helps us save time thus giving us more time for other things. It is more
accurate, too. Plus, it concurs less cost in the long run. However, technology might become a bad thing if
 we rely too much on its convenience and efficiency. We might start slacking off and might lessen our
drive in acquiring new knowledge since we’re already swimming in an ocean of knowledge. Machines
might also cause the loss of jobs of people since not only are machines accurate, it is also cheaper than
human labor in the long run.
Application:

 To check your understanding, write your own reaction or impression of our life today with the
advancement in science and technology. Use the space given below.
It is actually good to be born in the era of technology and in the age of knowledge, since communica tio n
is made more accessible and cheap. Almost everything is discovered and all you have to do to if you’re
curious about a certain topic is to thoroughly search the internet. However, this abundance of knowledge
actually intimidates most people and makes them less driven in acquiring knowledge for the advancement
since everything is already handed to them in a plate.