STS - 2 Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology

Sumerian Civilization Innovations

• Cuneiform

• Wheel

• Sailboat

• Plow

• Irrigation & Dikes

• Roads & Pavements

• Ziggurat of Ur

Cuneiform

Oldest writing system using triangular symbols on clay

Wheel

Used for farming and food production

Sailboat

Used for transportation and trade

Plow

Used for cultivating soil

Irrigation & Dikes

Controlled flooding and increased agriculture

Ziggurat of Ur

Religious architectural structure

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

• One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (Babylonian Civilization)

• Built with layered gardens containing plants and trees

Egyptian Civilization Innovations

• Hieroglyphics

• Papyrus

• Ink

• Shadoof

• Water Clock (Clepsydra)

• Cosmetics and Wigs

Hieroglyphics

System of pictorial writing

Papyrus

Early writing material

Ink

Made from soot and chemicals

Shadoof

Irrigation device

Water Clock (Clepsydra)

Time-keeping

Greek Civilization

Known as the birthplace of Western philosophy

Greek Civilization Innovations

• Alarm clock (water-powered)

• Water mill

• Antikythera Mechanism

Antikythera Mechanism

• Ancient astronomical calculator

• Considered the oldest analogue computer

Roman Civilization Innovations

• Gazettes

• Codex

• Roman Numerals

• Aeolipile

Gazettes

First newspapers

Codex

Early bound book

Aeolipile

Early steam engine prototype

Middle Ages (5th-15th Century)

Also known as the Dark Ages

Middle Ages Innovations

• Heavy plow

• Gunpowder

• Silk production

• Tea production

• Great Wall of China

• Paper money

• Spinning wheel

• Mechanical clock

Modern Age Innovations

• Printing Press

• Pasteurization

• Telephone

• Calculator

• Compound Microscope

• Telescope

• Jacquard Loom

• Airplane

• Television

Johannes Gutenberg

Who invented the Printing Press?

Louis Pasteur

Who invented Pasteurization?

Alexander Graham Bell

Who invented the Telephone?

Blaise Pascal

Who invented the Calculator?

Zacharias janssen

Who invented the Compound Microscope?

Galileo Galilei

Who invented the Telescope?

Joseph Marie Jacquard

Who invented the Jacquard Loom?

Wright Brothers

Who invented the Airplane?

John Logie Baird

Who invented the Television?