SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

BSPH 1201 | Introduction | Historical Development of Science and Technology in the Philippine | Intellectual Revolutions that Defined
Society

INTRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

SCIENCE

Science is the human attempt to understand the natural

world, with or without concern for practical uses of that
knowledge.

Science tries to discover fact and relationships and then tries

to create theories that make sense of these facts and
relationships.

Any system of knowledge that is concerned with the physical

world and its phenomena and that entails unbiased
observations and systematic experimentation.

Involves a pursuit of knowledge covering general truths or

the operations of fundamental laws.
o Technology is the human attempt to change the
SCIENTIFIC METHOD world by creating products that can help people.
o It involves tools, techniques, and procedures for
Science may be defined as the system of knowledge of the putting the findings of science to use.
natural world gained through the scientific method. o Technology is the human attempt to change the
world by creating products that can help people.
The scientific method has five basic steps, plus one feedback o It involves tools, techniques, and procedures for
step: Make an observation. putting the findings of science to use.
o Ask a question.
o Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation. INTERACTION BET S & T
o Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
o Test the prediction. Science explores for the purpose of knowing, while technology
o Iterate: use the results to make new hypotheses or explores for the purpose of making something useful from that
predictions. knowledge.

DIVISION OF SCIENCE Science drives technology by making new technology possible

The natural taxonomy of the empirical sciences would break through scientific breakthroughs.
the sciences down into three basic groups:
o The physical sciences (physics, astronomy, chemistry,
ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
geology, metallurgy).
o The biological sciences (zoology, botany, genetics,
paleontology, molecular biology, physiology). 1. Alter the way people live, connect, communicate, and
o The psychological sciences (psychology, sociology, transact, with profound effects on economic
anthropology, maybe economics) development.
2. Key drivers of development include technological and
HIERARCHY OF SCIENCE scientific revolutions, which underpin economic
advances, improvements in health systems,
The scale of the Universe mapped to branches of science and education, and infrastructures.
showing how one system is built atop the next through the 3. The technological revolutions of the 21st century are
hierarchy of the Sciences emerging from new sectors, driven by advancements

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BSPH 1201 | Introduction | Historical Development of Science and Technology in the Philippine | Intellectual Revolutions that Defined
Society

in microprocessors, telecommunications, INTERCONNECTION OF STS

biotechnology,
4. and nanotechnology. The interplay between these components is dynamic. Scientific
5. Technological products are reshaping business discoveries can lead to new technologies that change societal
practices and everyday life. The most significant expectations, while societal needs can drive scientific inquiry
breakthroughs will emerge from the convergence of
and
insights and applications across different fields.
6. Technology and scientific advancements have the technological innovation. Understanding this interconnection
potential to improve the lives of people in developing is crucial for addressing contemporary challenges, such as
countries. They serve as key differentiators between climate change, public health crises, and ethical dilemmas in
nations that successfully tackle poverty through technology use. Through STS studies, we can better navigate
economic growth and those that struggle to do so.
7. Engine growth.
8. Interventions for cognitive enhancement, proton
cancer therapy, and genetic engineering among
others.

SOCIETY

o The sum total of our interactions as humans,

including the interactions that we engage in to
figure things out and to make things.
o A group of individuals involved in persistent social
interaction or a large social group sharing the same
geographical or social territory, typically subject to
the same political authority and dominant cultural
expectations.

MEANING OF STS

Science and technology studies or science, technology, and

society studies (STS) is the study of how society, politics, and
culture affect scientific research and technological
innovation and how these, in turn, affect society, politics, and
culture.

EFFECT OF S & T TO THE SOCIETY

Science influences society through its knowledge and

worldview. Scientific knowledge and the procedures used by
scientists influence the way many individuals in society think
about themselves, others, and the environment. The effect of
science on society is neither entirely beneficial nor entirely
detrimental.

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BSPH 1201 | Introduction | Historical Development of Science and Technology in the Philippine | Intellectual Revolutions that Defined
Society

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE o The very strict hold of the church among citizens and
PHILIPPINES its intervention and meddling to the government
propelled by fear of intellectual awakening among
PRE-SPANISH ERA
Filipinos have a greatly hindered the progress of this
professionals to further enhance their knowledge,
o The first inhabitants in the archipelago who settled
conduct scientific investigations and contribute to
in Palawan and Batangas around 40000 years ago
advancement of society.
have made simple tools or weapons of stone which
o Dr. Jose Rizal is the epitome of the Renaissance man
eventually developed techniques for sawing, drilling
in the Philippine context. He is a scientist, a doctor,
and polishing hard stones
an engineer (he designed and built a water system in
o This very primitive technology was brought by primal
Dapitan), a journalist, a novelist, an urban planner
needs of survival by hunting wild animals and
and a hero.
gathering fruits and vegetables in the forest.
o Charity hospitals became the breeding ground for
o They have come to understand that when clay is
scientific researches on pharmacy and medicine,
mixed with 2 water and then shaped into something
with great focus on problems of infectious diseases,
before sun drying, it hardens to an object that can
their causes and possible remedies.
also be useful to them.
o In 1887, the Laboratorio Municipal de Ciudad de
o As the early Filipinos flourished, they have learned
Manila was created and whose functions were to
how to extract, smelt and refined metals like copper
conduct biochemical analyses for public health and
gold, bronze, and iron from nature and consequently
to undertake specimen examinations for clinical and
fashion them into tools and implements.
medico—legal cases.
o At this point, the inhabitants of the country are
o Its publication, probably the first scientific journal in
showing a deeper understanding of their nature
the country was titled Cronica de Ciencias Medicas
because they were able to obtain valuable resources
de Filipinas showed the studies undertaken during
from nature
that time.
o As the inhabitants shifted from wandering from one
o The exploitation of natural resources of the country
place to another and learned to settle in areas near
through agriculture, mining of metals and minerals
the water source, they also learned how to weave
and establishing various kinds of industries were
cotton, engaged themselves in agriculture and are
started during the this time to further promote
knowledgeable on building boats for coastal trade.
economic growth.
o It can be conclude that primitive Filipinos are
o in 19th century, Manila become a cosmopolitan
practicing science and technology in their everyday
center and modern amenities were introduced to the
lives. They were living in perfect harmony with
city.
nature and they obtained from it what is just needed
o The Philippines had evolved into primary agricultural
in there everyday life through a very simple science
exporting economy, and this is not because of the
of understanding how mother nature operates.
researches undertaken on this field, but was larger
SPANISH COLONIAL ERA
because of the influx of foreign capital and
technology which brought modernization of some
o Established schools run by Spanish friars (highest sectors, notably sugar and hemp production.
AMERICAN PERIOD
institution of learning –Pontifical and Royal
University of Santo Tomas), hospitals and started
o There was a rapid growth in science and technology
scientific research
during the American occupation and was made

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BSPH 1201 | Introduction | Historical Development of Science and Technology in the Philippine | Intellectual Revolutions that Defined
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possible by the government’s extensive public o This is also true when World War II ended and left
education system from elementary tertiary schools. Manila, the country’s capital, in ruins. The
o College of Agriculture (UPLB in 1909) government had to rebuild again and normalize the
o College of Arts, engineering and Veterinary medicine operations in the whole country.
(UPD in 1910) and college of medicine (UPD in 1914)
o The enrollment in veterinary medicine, engineering, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SINCE INDEPENDENCE
agriculture, applied sciences and industrial-
vocational courses were dismal that the government o Institute of Science – replaced the Bureau of Science
had to offer scholarships to attract students. The and was placed under the Office of the President of
Filipinos prefer prestigious professions at that time the Philippines
like priesthood, law and medicine. ⨳ Faced lack of financial support from the
o The Bureau of Science (formerly Bureau of government and experienced planning and
Government Laboratories) was composed of a coordination problems
biological, chemical, and serum laboratory for the o In 1958, during the regime of President Carlos P.
production of virus vaccine, serums and Garcia, the Philippine Congress passed the Science
prophylactics, and a library. Act of 1958 which established the National Science
o It served as the primary training ground for Filipino Development Board (NSDB).
scientists and paved the way for pioneering "There has been little innovation in the education and
scientific research, most especially on the study of training of scientists and engineers since independence in
1946. This is in part due to the conservative nature of self-
various tropical diseases that were prevalent during
regulation by the professional associations. Because of
those times like leprosy, tuberculosis, cholera, dengue specialized training, vertical organizations by disciplines
fever, malaria and beri-beri. and lack of liaison between professions, professional
o Another great contribution of the Bureau of science associations have been unable to perceive the dynamic
to the development of science and technology in the relationship between science, technology and society and
country was publication of the Philippine journal of the relevance of their training to Philippine conditions." ~
science. This scientific journal published researches in Caoilli
local laboratories and reported global scientific
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN 1960s TO 1990s
developments that had relevance to the Philippines
society.
o The government declared in Section 9(1) of the 1973
o December 8, 1933 the nationality search council of
Philippine Constitution that the “advancement of
the Philippines was established.
science and technology shall have priority in the
national development.”
COMMONWEALTH PERIOD

April 6, 1968 – Pres. Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed the 35--

o The Filipinos were busy in working towards economic
hectare land in Bicutan, Taguig as the site of the Philippine
reliance but acknowledge the importance and vital
Science Community
role of science and technology for the economic
development of the country by declaring that “The
1969 - the government provided funds to private universities
State shall promote scientific research and invention
to encourage them to conduct research and create courses in
…”
science and technology
o The prevailing situations during the time of
Commonwealth period to the Japanese regime had
1970s - Philippine Coconut Research Institute,
made developments in science and technology
practically impossible.

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BSPH 1201 | Introduction | Historical Development of Science and Technology in the Philippine | Intellectual Revolutions that Defined
Society

Philippine Textile Research Institute, Philippine Atomic Energy March 1983 - Executive Order No. 889 was issued by the
Commission were established under the National Science President which provided for the establishment of a national
Development Board (NSDB) network of centers of excellence in basic sciences

1972 - by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 4, the National Scientific Career System in the Civil Service
Grains Authority was created and it was tasked to improve
the rice and corn industry and thereby help in the economic designed to attract more qualified scientists to work in
development of the country government and encourage young people to pursue science
degrees and careers
Philippine Council for Agricultural Research - establish on July 19, 1983 by Presidential Decree No. 901

support the progressive development of agriculture, forestry, Department of Science and Technology
and fisheries in the country
the premiere science and technology body in the country
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service charged with the twin mandate of providing central
Administration (PAGASA) direction, leadership and coordination of all scientific and
technological activities, and of formulating policies, programs
provide environmental protection and to utilize scientific and projects to support national development.
knowledge to ensure the safety of the people through - replaced the National Science and Technology Authority in
Presidential Decree No. 78, s. 1972 under the Department on 1986, under the Aquino administration, with the ff. functions
National Defense (January 30, 1987)
• Pursue the declared state policy of supporting local
1973 - Philippine National Oil Company was created by virtue scientific and technological effort;;
of Presidential Decree No. 334, to promote industrial • Develop local capability to achieve technological self--
and economic development through effective and efficient reliance;;
use of energy sources • Encourage greater private sector participation in research
and development. moreover, funding for the science and
National Academy of Science and Technology technology sector was tripled from 464 million in 1986 to 1.7
billion in 1992.
composed of scientists with “innovative achievement in the
basic and applied sciences” who will serve as the reservoir of 1998 (Fidel Ramos) - two newly built Philippine
scientific and technological expertise for the country (1976) Science High Schools in Visayas and Mindanao were built
which promotes further development of young kids through
1982 - NSDB was further reorganized into a advance S&T curriculum
National Science and Technology Authority ➢ Magna Carta for Science and Technology Personnel
(NSTA) composed of four research and development Councils: (Republic Act No. 8439) - published in order to give
❖ Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources incentives and rewards for people who have been
Research and Development (PCARRD) influential in the field of S&T
❖ Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research ➢ Science and Technology Agenda for National
Development (PCIERD) Development (STAND)
❖ Philippine Council for Health Research and 7 export products - computer software; fashion accessories;
Development (PCHRD) gifts, toys, and houseware; marine products; metal
fabrications; furniture; and dried fruits
11 domestic needs - food, housing, health,

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BSPH 1201 | Introduction | Historical Development of Science and Technology in the Philippine | Intellectual Revolutions that Defined
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clothing, transportation, communication, disaster mitigation, Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH)
defense, environment, manpower development, and energy
3 additional support industries - packaging, chemicals, and - initiated in June 2012 to help manage risks associated with
metals because of their linkages with the above sectors natural hazards and disasters
- uses the Lidar (light detection and ranging) technology
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Administration - developed hydromet sensors and high-
-resolution geo-hazard maps, which were generated by light
o Filipinnovation - coined term used in helping the detection and ranging technology for flood
Philippines to be an innovation hub in Asia Modeling
o Philippine Science High School (PSHS) – focuses in
science, technology and mathematics in their Intelligent Operation Center Platform
curriculum
o Philippine Institute for Development Studies (2018) Established through a collaboration between the local
- conducted a study which highlighted the weak ties between government of Davao City and IBM Philippines Inc., the center
innovation--driven firms and the government, and it also resulted in the creation of a dashboard that allows
identified the country’s low expenditure in research and authorized government agencies, such as police, fire and anti-
development (R&D) -terrorism task force, to use analytics software for monitoring
- This is the reason the government is now extending all its events and operations in real time.
efforts to reach out with the private sector, explaining
CURRENT INITIATIVES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE COUNTRY
that STI plays an important role in economic and social
progress and is a key driver for a long--term growth of an
ADVANCED DEVICE AND MATERIALS
economy.
houses advanced equipment for failure analysis and materials
HOPES IN PHILIPPINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
characterization to address advanced analytical needs for
Diwata-1 – first micro-satellite launched in space by the quality control, materials identification and R&D
Philippines
Electronics Products Development Center
- designed, developed and assembled by Filipino researchers
and engineers under the guidance of Japanese experts
used to design, develop and test hardware and software for
- provides real-time, high—resolution and multi--color
electronic products
infrared images for various applications, including
meteorological imaging, crop and ocean productivity PHILIPPINE GENOME CENTER
measurement and high—resolution imaging of natural and
man-made features a core facility that combines basic and applied research for
- enables a more precise estimate of the country’s the development of health diagnostics, therapeutics, DNA
agricultural production, provides images of watersheds and forensics and preventive products, and improved crop
floodplains for a better understanding of water available for varieties
irrigation, power and domestic consumption
- provides accurate information on any disturbance and DIE AND MOLD SOLUTIONS CENTER
degradation of forest and upland areas.
enhances the competitiveness of the local tool and die sector
through the localization of currently imported dies and mold

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BSPH 1201 | Introduction | Historical Development of Science and Technology in the Philippine | Intellectual Revolutions that Defined
Society

INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED SOCIETY PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT

WHAT IS AN INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTION? The combination of these factors generated a cycle that
undermined Aristotle, but also slowed down the creation of a
o It is a period where paradigm shifts occurred and new set of theories. New observations would be made that
where scientific beliefs that have been widely seemed to contradict Aristotle’s theories. This would lead to
embraced and accepted by the people were new explanations, but always framed in the context of the old
challenged and opposed. beliefs, thus patching up the Aristotelian system.
o “replacement of Aristotelian ethics and Christian
morality by a new type of decision making which A. Copernican Revolution
may be termed instrumental reasoning or cos-benefit
analysis” (Woolton as cited by McCarthy, 2019) o Nicolas Copernicus was a Polish scholar working at
the University of Padua in Northern Italy.
THE BIRTH OF MODERN SCIENCE o The problem he wrestled with was the paths of
planetary orbits.
o Western Science was born with the ancient Greeks. o Observations had shown that the heavens do not
They were the first to explain the world in terms if always appear to move in perfect, uninterrupted
natural laws rather than myths about gods and circles.
heroes.
o Passed on the idea of the value of math and Nicolas Copernicus
experiment in science.
o 1600- was the most influential figure in Western o They sometimes seem to move backwards in what are
science. known as retrogradations.
o Aristotle- the philosopher who created a body of o Epicycles- smaller circular orbits that spun off the
scientific theory that towered like colossus over main orbits.
Western Civilization for some 2000 years. o By the 1500’s, the model of the universe had some 80
epicycles attached to ten crystalline spheres (one for
SEVERAL FACTORS THAT WORKED BOTH TO OVERTHROW ARISTOTLE’S THEORIES moon, sun, each of the five known planets, the
AND TO PRESERVE IT totality of the stars, a sphere to move the other
spheres, and heaven)
o First of all. Aristotle’s theories relied very little on o Copernicus’ solution was basically geometric. By
experiment, which left them vulnerable to anyone placing the sun at the center of the universe and
who chose to perform such experiments. having the earth orbit it, he reduced the unwieldy
o Secondly, The Church had grafted Aristotle’s theories number of epicycles from 80 to 34.
onto its theology, thus making any attack on
Aristotle an attack on the tradition and the Church Ptolemy
itself.
o Finally, there were the Renaissance scholars who o The second century Greek Astronomer.
were uncovering other Greek authors who o The main authority who put order to and passed this
contradicted Aristotle. cumbersome system of epicycles to posterity.

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Johannes Kepler o His three laws of motion were simple, could be

applied everywhere, and could be used with calculus
o The successor of Tycho Brahe. to solve any problems of motion that came up.
o He was a brilliant mathematician who had a mystical o The invention of calculus made math much more
vision of the mathematical perfection of the universe dynamic tool in predicting and manipulating the
that owed a great deal to the ancient Greek laws of nature.
mathematician Pythagoras. o The printing of Newton’s book, Principia
o He was open-minded enough to realize that Brahe’s Mathematica, in 1687 is often seen as the start of
data showed the planetary orbits were not circular. the Enlightenment (1687-1789).
o His Calculations showed that those orbits were o It was a significant turning point in history, for
elliptical. armed with the tools of Newton’s laws and calculus,
scientists had an unprecedented faith in their ability
Galileo Galilei to understand, predict and manipulate the laws of
nature for their own purposes.
o He was the first to successfully use math to define
the workings of the cosmos. B. The Darwinian Revolution
o The work of an Italian astronomer, Galileo Galilei
(1564-1642), armed with a new invention, the The publication in 1859 of The Origin of Species by Charles
telescope, which would further shatter the old Darwin ushered in a new era in the intellectual history of
theory and lead the way to a new one. humanity.
o He saw the sun’s perfection marred by sunspots and
the moon’s perfection marred by craters. He also saw Charles Darwin
four moons orbiting Jupiter.
o In his book, The Starry Messenger (1611), he o Darwin is deservedly given credit for the theory of
reported these disturbing findings and spread the biological evolution
news across Europe. o He accumulated evidence demonstrating that
o In 1632, Galileo published his next book, Dialogue on organisms evolve and discovered the process, natural
the Great World Systems, which technically did not selection, by which they evolve.
preach the Copernican Theory (which Galileo o The discoveries of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo and
believed in), but was only a dialogue presenting both Newton in the 16th and 17th centuries, had gradually
views “equally”. ushered in the notion that the workings of the
o Galileo’s work was the first comprehensive attack on universe could be explained by human reason.
the Aristotelian/Ptolemaic cosmic model. o It was shown that the earth is not the center of the
o He treated celestial objects as being subject to the universe, but a small planet rotating around an
same laws as terrestrial objects. average star; that the universe is immense in space
and in time; and that the motions of the planets
Isaac Newton around the sun can be explained by the same simple
laws that account for the motion of physical objects
o Newton realized that the same force pulling the on our planet.
apples to earth was keeping the moon in its orbit. o Philosophers and theologians argued that the
o Newton invented a whole new branch of functional design of organisms manifests the
mathematics, calculus, for figuring out rates of existence of an all-wise Creator.
motion and change.
o Invented the 3 laws of motion

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o Whenever there is design. There is a designer; the o He claimed that hysteria had primarily organic
existence of a watch evinces the existence of a causes, and that it had regular, comprehensible
watchmaker. pattern of symptoms
o The advances of physical science had thus driven
humanity’s conception of the universe to a split- The Strange (But True) History of Hysteria
personality state of affairs, which persisted well into
the mid-19th century. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JefYnYIXY_8&t=21s
o Scientific explanations, derived from natural laws,
D. Scientific Revolution in Mesoamerica
dominated the world of nonliving matter, on the
earth as well as in the heavens.
o Supernatural explanations, depending on the o Meso-America is the region from Mexico to
Guatemala, Belize and parts of Honduras and El
unfathomable deeds of the Creator, accounted for
the origin and configuration of living creatures – the Salvador.
most diversified, complex and interesting realities of o The Mesoamerican civilization were isolated from the
the world. It was Darwin’s genius to resolve this accumulated scientific knowledge of Africa, Asia and
conceptual schizophrenia (Ayala, no date) Europe.
o They were confronted with much harder conditions
C. Freudian Revolution than the ancient civilizations of the Indus valley,
Mesopotamia and Egypt which developed in parallel
o Sigmund Freud was born in 1856, before the advent with each other and established contacts between
of telephones, radios, automobiles, airplanes, and a each other at a very early stage.
host of other material and cultural changes that had
taken place by the time of his death in 1939. Maya Civilization

o He began his career as an ambitious but isolated

o The most advanced Mesoamerican civilization that
neurologist by the end of the World War.
o He describe himself, not inaccurately, as someone was well on its way to develop true science.
who had a great impact on humanity’s conception of o They knew how to make paper and had pictorial
itself as had Copernicus and Darwin. script called Maya Hieroglyphs that allowed them to
o Before psychoanalysis, which Freud invented, mental record all knowledge on long strips of paper folded
illness was almost universally considered ‘organic’; harmonica-style into books.
that is, it was thought to come from some kind of
Maya Hieroglyphs
deterioration or disease of the brain.
o Despite his background in physicalism (learned
during his stay in Ernst Brucke’s laboratory), his
theories explicitly rejected the purely organic
explanations of his predecessors.

Jean-Martin Charcot

o He is one of Freud’s biggest influences during his

early days as a neurologist.
o He is the famous French psychiatrist

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One of the three books recovered called The Dresden Codex o These finds strongly suggest that the early Meso-
contains predictions of solar eclipses for centuries and a table American civilizations knew about and used
of predicted positions of Venus. magnetism (Malmstrom, 1976, 1979)

E. Asian Scientific Revolution

o Japan is probably the most notable country in Asia

in terms of scientific and technological achievement,
particularly in terms of its electronics and
o The Maya made predictions by aligning stars with automobile products.
two objects that were separated by a large distance, o Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and China together
a technique that achieved great accuracy calendar produce a staggering 90% of the world’s digital
ever designed. gadgets.
o The Aztec followed the same road. They kept their o South Korea’s cultural popularity around the world
own script and languages but assimilated all they has caused a number if startup’s to emerge working
could learn from Maya society. Their manuscripts within the digital and technology sectors, including
describe how the Maya performed their astronomical website, viki.com
observations. o Taiwan is following a similar path to Japan
o The manufacture of rubber was one of the earliest meanwhile, moving away from hardware production,
inventions, documented by the use of a rubber ball instead turning to software and content
in the ball game tlachtli, a game played by Meso- development.
American civilizations from the earliest times. o Together, the points raised throughout this article
o In architecture, the Maya were the first to use proves Asia is truly a crucible of innovative
pitched ceilings in their buildings after the invention technological development; a continent that will play
of the corbelled vault. an incredibly important role in the evolution of our
digital age.
Rubber Ball in the Game Tlachtli
F. Scientific Revolution in Middle East

o The Egyptians excelled in such applied sciences as

medicine, engineering and surveying; in
Mesopotamia greater progress was made in
astronomy and mathematics.
o In engineering and architecture Egyptians took an
o Several sculptures found at Meso-American sites in early lead, owing largely to the stress they laid on
1975, 1979 and 1983 and dating back to 2000- 1500 the construction of such elaborate monuments as
BC have clear magnetic properties vast pyramids and temples of granite and sandstone.
o In some of these sculptures the north and south
poles are in most conspicuous positions, for example
at the snout and at the back of the head of a frog
or turtle.
o Another magnetic object found in 1966 was shaped
as if it was to be used to indicate direction.

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o On the other hand, the Babylonians led in the medicine, dominated the field of activity across
development of such practical arts as irrigation Africa.
(Albright 2014) o The culture of farming within West Africa, that ‘New
World’ agricultural growth was spawned by the use
of captives from these African societies that had
already made enormous strides in the field of
agronomy.
o Judith Carnoy demonstrates the legacy of enslaved
Africans to the Americans in the sphere of rice
cultivation.
o A variety of African plants were adopted in Asia,
including coffee, the oil palm, fonio or acha
o The Egyptians and Mesopotamians wrote no
(digitaria exilis), African rice (oryza glabberima) and
theoretical treatises; information had to be
sorghum (sorghum bicolor).
transmitted piecemeal through personal contacts.
o Plants, whether in terms of legumes, grain,
o Alphabet is probably the greatest invention of the
vegetables, tubers, or wild or cultivated fruits, also
ancient Middle East.
had medicinal implications for Africans and were
o Pre-alphabetic systems of writing in the Old World
used as anesthetics or pain killers, analgesics for the
became steadily more phonetic, they were still
control of fever, antidotes to counter poisons, and
exceedingly cumbersome, and the syllabic systems
anthelmints aimed at deworming.
that gradually replaced them remained complex and
o They were used also in cardiovascular, gastro-
difficult.
intestinal, and dermatological contexts.
o Laird Scranton, making use of the extensive
collections of Marcel Griaule, has deepened our
understanding of Malian cosmological myths and
their perceptions of the structure of matter and the
physical world.
o The solar calendar that we use today evolved from
the Egyptian calendar of twelve months, calibrated
according to the day on which the star Sirius rose on
o In the early Hyksos period (17th century BC) the
the horizon with the Sun.
Northwestern Semites living in Egypt adapted
o In the field of medicine, common patterns and trends
hieroglyphic characters – in at least two slightly
emerged across the continent.
differing forms of letters – to their own purposes.
o Among the common principles and procedures were
o This alphabet spread rapidly and was in quite
hydrotherapy, heat therapy, spinal manipulation,
common use among the Northwestern Semites
quarantine, bone-setting and surgery.
(Canaanites, Hebrews, Arameans, and especially the
o Incantations and other psychotherapeutic devices
Phoenicians) soon after its invention.
sometimes accompanied other techniques
G. Scientific Revolution in Africa
o Various types of metal products have been used
over time by Africans, ranging from gold, tin, silver,
o The applied sciences of agronomy, metallurgy, bronze, brass and iron/steel.
engineering and textile production, as well as

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
BSPH 1201 | Introduction | Historical Development of Science and Technology in the Philippine | Intellectual Revolutions that Defined
Society

o The Sudanic empires of West Africa emerged in the previously inaccessible geographical regions in
context of various commercial routes and activities Africa and Asia will come online.
involving the gold trade. o The new internet-based global economy requires a
o In Southern Africa, the kingdom of Monomotapa worldwide network with high capacity and
(Munhumutapa) reigned supreme as a major gold availability, which is currently limited by submarine
producer. optical communication cables.
o The various metal products served a wide range of o Sir William Thomson (known as Lord Kelvin), who was
purposes, including: armor (as in some northern the scientific leader of an 1858 endeavor that built
Nigerian city- states), jewelry (of gold, silver, iron, the first submarine cable with a transmission speed
copper and brass), cooking utensils, cloth dyeing, of one word per minute.
sculpture and agricultural tools. o Sir Thomson and Cyrus Field, an American
o In various parts of ancient, medieval, and businessman and telecommunications pioneer, would
contemporary Africa, building constructions of be surprised to find out how many tools developed
various dimensions, shapes and types emerged, during their transatlantic expedition are still in use
reflecting various concepts, techniques, raw material today.
preferences, and decorative principles.
Impact of Information Revolution
H. Information Revolution
o It is not “information” that fuels this impact.
o Information Revolution is a period of change that o It is not “artificial intelligence”.
describes current economic, social and technological o It is not the effect of computers and data processing
trends beyond the Industrial Revolution. on decision-making, policymaking or strategy.
o It was fueled by advances in semiconductor o It is something that practically no one foresaw or
technology, particularly the metal-oxide- indeed, even talked about ten or fifteen years ago:
semiconductor field- effect transistor (MOSFET) and e-commerce – that is the explosive emergence of the
the integrated circuit (IC) chip, leading to the Internet as a major, perhaps eventually the major,
Information Age in the early 21st century (Lukasiak, worldwide distribution channel for goods, for
2010; Orton , 2009) services, and surprisingly for managerial and
o Computer technology is the root of this change, and professional jobs
continuing advancements in that technology seem to o This is profoundly changing economies, markets, and
ensure that this revolution would touch the lives of industry structures; products and services and their
people. flow; consumer segmentation, consumer values and
o Computers are unique machines; they help to extend consumer behavior; jobs and labor markets.
the brain power. o At the same time, new and unexpected industries will
o Computers are merely devices that follow sets of no doubt emerge, and fast. One is already here:
instructions called computer programs, or software, biotechnology. And another: fish farming.
that have been written by people called computer o The Information Revolution will be likethe Industrial
programmers. Revolution of the late eighteenth and early
o The information revolution led us to the age of the nineteenth centuries. And that is indeed exactly how
internet, where optical communication networks play the Information Revolution has been during its first
a key role in delivering massive amounts of data. fifty years.
o The internet will continue to expand due to user
population growth and internet penetration:

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