LESSON 1: ANCIENT TIMES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Vocabulary flashcards covering key people, places, tools, inventions, and concepts from the ancient civilizations and STS notes.

Sumerians

People of southern Mesopotamia (c. 4100–1750 BCE) living in city-states; name linked to Akkad as "land of the civilized kings."

Uruk

First true city in the world; dominated by monumental mud-brick buildings and mosaics.

Cuneiform

First writing system; wedge-shaped writing on clay tablets, originally for transactions, later broader uses.

Great Ziggurat of Ur

Temple tower (Mountain of God) dedicated to the moon god Nanna, built in stages with exterior staircases.

Irrigation and dikes

Advanced systems using ditches, canals, channels, dikes, weirs, and reservoirs to water crops (e.g., wheat).

Sumerian sailboat

Small masted boats facilitating long-distance trade; waterproofed with bitumen impressions.

Wheels (Sumerians)

Wheel invention enabling more efficient work and travel; early two-wheeled chariot development.

Plow

Ancient farming tool evolved from a hoe; allowed tilling soil for crops like barley and wheat.

Roads (Sumerians)

Meticulous brick-making with mud bricks, set with bitumen on temple sites.

Babylonian civilization

Culture from ~4000 BCE; used lunar calendar (12 months, ~30 days); active traders and importers.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Legendary terraced gardens built by Nebuchadnezzar for Semiramis’ comfort; elevated farm-like terraces.

Saros cycle

Cycle of eclipses repeating every 223 synodic months (~18 years 11.3 days).

Kidinnu

Astronomer who applied math to sun–moon variations and predicted lunar phenomena; associated with Mercury’s motion.

Egyptian civilization

Ancient Egypt (c. 3100–332 BCE); rich art, architecture, religion; hieroglyphs later deciphered.

Papyrus

Writing medium made from the papyrus plant of the Nile delta.

Ink

Black and red inks made from soot and ocher, with gum Arabic binder and water.

Hieroglyphics

Egyptian writing system carved on temple walls, tombs, and statues for eternity.

Cosmetics (Egyptians)

Early use of scented oils, ointments, dyes, and paints for skin and appearance.

Water clock (Clepsydra)

Time-measuring device where water flow indicates passage of time.

Greek civilization

Ancient Greece; Athens-centered early culture; philosophers (Plato, Aristotle), historians (Thucydides), Homeric literature; art and architecture.

Alarm clock (Plato)

Plato allegedly used an early alarm clock—four water vessels signaling start of a lecture.

Water mill

Milling device powered by water used in agriculture to grind grain.

Roman civilization

Roman military, politics, and society; roads, aqueducts, Latin language; urbanization and labor specialization.

Newspaper (gazettes)

Early newspapers in the Roman Empire used to announce information to the public.

Bound books / codex

Pages formed from stacked papyrus; wax covers initially, later replaced by animal skins.

Roman numerals

Numeral system used by the Romans for counting and record-keeping.

Chinese civilization

Ancient China with major inventions; four great inventions: papermaking, printing, gunpowder, compass.

Silk

Valuable textile connected China with the wider world.

Tea production

Production of tea by steeping crushed or dried leaves in hot water.

Great Wall of China

Massive infrastructure project; built to protect Chinese states; famous landmark.

Gunpowder

Explosive mixture (charcoal, sulfur, potassium nitrate) invented in China.

Medieval/Middle Ages

Era shaped by Germanic invasions, Christianity, Islam; era of faith and chivalry.

Printing press

Gutenberg’s device using cast type to print books rapidly and widely.

Microscope

First compound microscope developed by Zacharias Janssen.

Telescope

Optical instrument for viewing distant objects (advances in observation).

War weapons

Developments in warfare technology and equipment.

Pasteurization

Louis Pasteur’s process of heating liquids to kill microbes.

Petroleum refinery

Kerosene production via refining crude petroleum; associated with Samuel M. Kier.

Telephone

Invention by Alexander Graham Bell enabling voice communication over distance.

Barras calculator

Early arithmetic calculating device used to simplify calculations.

Salamander amphibious tricycle

Filipino invention—amphibious tricycle for road and water travel (Chung, Armada, Llave).

Salt lamp (SALT)

Sustainable Alternative Lighting lamp, a Filipino invention by Aisa Mijeno.

Medical incubator

Low-cost incubator by Dr. Fe del Mundo, using Indigenous materials; no electricity.

Mosquito ovicidal/larvicidal trap (OL Trap)

DOST–ITDI system to control mosquitoes by trapping eggs and larvae.