Sts Lesson 2

CRADLES OF EARLY SCIENCE

Development of Science in Mesoamerica • Mesoamerica includes the entire area of Central America from Southern Mexico up to the border of South America. • This region is rich in culture and knowledge prior to the arrival of its European colonizers.

• The Maya civilization is one of the famous civilizations that lasted for 2,000 years. These people were known for their works in astronomy. • For example, the pyramid at Chichen Itza in Mexico is situated at the location of the Sun during the spring and fall equinoxes.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF MALAYAN CIVILIZATION

• Mayans have the knowledge of predicting eclipse and using astrological cycles in planting and harvesting. • They developed technology for crops and elaborate cities using ordinary machineries and tools. They have built hydraulics system. • They used various tools and adapt themselves to innovations especially in the field of arts.

• They used the writing system known as Mayan hieroglyphics. • They created a number system based on the numeral 20 where they independently developed the concept of zero and positional value, even before the Romans did.

THE INCA CIVILIZATION

• The Inca Civilization is also famous in Mesoamerica. The following were scientific ideas and tools that they developed to help them in everyday life: 1. roads paved with stones; 2. stone buildings that surmounted earthquakes and other disasters; 3. Irrigation system and technique for storing water for their crops to grow in all types of land;

4. Calendar with 12 months to mark their religious festivals and prepare them for planting season; 5. The first suspension bridge; 6. quipu, a system of knotted ropes to keep records that only experts can interpret; and 7. Inca textiles since cloth was one of the specially prized artistic achievements.

AZTEC CIVILIZATION

Contributions of Aztec Civilization 1. Mandatory Education The Aztec puts value on education; that is why their children are mandated to get education regardless of their social class, gender, or age. It is an early form of universal or inclusive education.

Contributions of Aztec Civilization 2. Chocolates The Aztec in Mexico developed chocolates during their time. They value cacao beans and made it as part of their tribute to their gods.

Contributions of Aztec Civilization 3. Antispasmodic medication. They used antispasmodic medication that could prevent muscle spasms and relax muscles, which could help during surgery.

Contributions of Aztec Civilization 4. Chinampa A form of Aztec technology for agricultural farming in which the land was divided into rectangular areas and surrounded by canals.

Contributions of Aztec Civilization 5. Aztec Calendar This enabled them to plan their activities, rituals, and planting season.

Contributions of Aztec Civilization 6. Invention of the canoe. A light narrow boat used for travelling in water systems.

DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE IN ASIA

INDIA India is a huge peninsula surrounded by vast bodies of water and fortified by huge mountains in its northern boarders. The Indians creatively developed various ideas and technologies useful in their everyday lives. They are known for manufacturing iron and in metallurgical works. Their iron steel is considered to be the best and held with high regard in the whole of Roman Empire.

India is famous in medicine, for example, Ayurveda, a system of traditional medicine that originated in ancient India before 2500 BC, is still practiced as a form alternative medicine.

Clifford (2008) and Bose (1998) pointed out that Indian astronomer and mathematician Aryabatha (476-550), in his Aryabhatiya, introduced a number of trigonometric functions, tables, and techniques, as well as algorithms of algebra.

• In 628 AD, another Indian, Brahmagupta, also suggested that gravity was a force of attraction, and lucidly explained the use of zero, as both a placeholder and a decimal digit, along the HinduArabic numeral system now used universally throughout the world.

CHINA • It is one of the ancient civilizations with substantial contributions in may areas of life like medicine, astronomy, science, mathematics, arts, philosophy, and music among others.

• Chinese are known for traditional medicines, a product of centuries of experiences and discovery of the Chinese people. • They discovered various medical properties and uses of different plants and uses of different plants and animals to cure illness, an example of which is acupuncture.

In terms of technology, Chinese have discovered and invented the following: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Compass Papermaking Gunpowder Printing tools that became known in the West only by the end of the Middle Ages 5. Iron plough 6. Wheelbarrow 7. Propeller

In terms of astronomy, the Chinese made significant records on supernovas, lunar and solar eclipses, and comets which were carefully recorded to understand the heavenly bodies and their effects to the world (Mayall, 1939).

Middle East Countries • With the spread of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries, a period of Muslim scholarship, or the Golden Age of Islam lasted until the 13th century.

Muslim Intellectuals 1. Ibn al-Haytham is regarded as the Father of Optics, for his empirical proof of the intromission theory of light. 2. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi gave his name to the concept of algorithm while the term algebra is derived from al-jabr, the beginning of the title of one of his publications

3. Jabir ibn Hayyan –played a great

role in the foundation of Modern Chemistry, some scholars called him to be the “Father of Chemistry”. 4. Ibn Sina-pioneered the science of experimental medicine and was the first physician to conduct clinical trials (Jacquart, 2008).

Sina’s most notable works are: 1. The Book of Healing 2. The Canon of Medicine

DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE IN AFRICA

 Africa is blessed with natural and mineral resources.  Egypt was known to be a center of alchemy, which is known as the medieval forerunner of chemistry. They tried to study human anatomy and pharmacology, and applied important components such as examination, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for the treatment of diseases.

• Astronomy is also African region. documents show used three types lunar, solar and combination of the

famous in the For example, that Africans of calendars: stellar, or a three.

• Metallurgy was also known in the African regions during the ancient times. They invented metal tools used in their homes, in agriculture, and in building their magnificent architectures.

Activity: 1. How did society shape science and how did science shape society? 2. How do social and human issues influence science? 3. Considering the current state of our society, do you think science literacy among people has contributed to the growth of our economy? 4. How can science influence government policies?