Cradles of Early Science

CRADLES OF EARLY SCIENCE M.M.

MAG-ISA
Development of Science in Mesoamerica
•The Maya civilization is one of the famous
civilizations that lasted for approximately
2,000 years.
- They incorporated their advanced understanding of
astronomy into their temples and other religious structures.
- They are known for their knowledge of predicting eclipse
and using astrological cycles in planting and harvesting.
- They are also known for measuring time using two
complicated calendar systems.
- They developed the technology for growing different crops
and building elaborate cities using ordinary machineries
and tools.
- They built looms for weaving cloth and
devised a rainbow of glittery paints
made from a mineral called mica.
- They are also believed to be one of the
first people to produce rubber products
3,000 years before Goodyear received
its patent in 1844.
- They are one of the world’s first
civilizations to use a writing system known
as the Mayan hieroglyphics;
- They were also skilled in mathematics and
created a number system based on the
numeral 20.
- They independently developed the
concept of zero and positional value, even
before the Romans did.
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:
- roads paved with stones;
- stone buildings that surmounted earthquakes
and other disasters;
- irrigation system and technique for storing
water for their crops to grow in all types of
land;
- calendar with 12 months to mark their
religious festivals and prepare them for
planting season;
- the first suspension bridge; quipu, a system of
knotted ropes to keep records that only
experts can interpret; and
- Inca textiles since cloth was one of the
specially prized artistic achievements.
Aztec Civilization
The Aztec civilization has also made substantial
contributions to science and technology and to the
society as a whole. Some of their contributions are the
following:
- Mandatory education. 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.
- Chocolates. The Aztec in Mexico developed chocolate during
their time. The Aztec valued the cacao beans highly and made
them as part of their tribute to their gods.
- Antispasmodic medication. They used a type of
antispasmodic medication that could prevent muscle spasms
and relax muscles, which could help during surgery.
- Chinampa. It is a form of Aztec technology for agricultural
farming in which the land was divided into rectangular areas and
surrounded by canals.
- Aztec calendar. This enabled them to plan their activities, rituals,
and planting season.
- Invention of the canoe. A light narrow boat used for traveling in
water systems.
Development of Science in Asia
•The Indians creatively developed various ideas
and technologies useful in their everyday lives.
- Their iron steel is considered to be the best
and held with high regard in the whole of
Roman Empire.
- Ayurveda, a system of traditional medicine
that originated in ancient India before 2500
BC, is still practiced as a form of alternative
medicine.
- They discovered some medicinal properties of
plants that led them to develop medicines to
cure various illnesses.
- The Susruta Samhita describes different surgical
and other medical procedures famous in Ancient
India.
- They developed theories on the configuration of
the universe, the spherical self-supporting Earth,
and the year of 360 days with 12 equal parts
of 30 days each.
- The people of this civilization, according to Bisht
(1982), tried to standardize measurement of
length to a high degree of accuracy and
designed a ruler, the Mohenjodaro ruler.
- Indian astronomer and mathematician Aryabhata
(476–550), in his Aryabhatiya, introduced a number
of trigonometric functions, tables, and techniques, as
well as algorithms of algebra.
- 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.
- Another Indian named Madhava of Sangamagrama
is also considered as the founder of mathematical
analysis (Joseph, 1991).
China
It is one of the ancient civilizations with
substantial contributions in many areas of
life like medicine, astronomy, science,
mathematics, arts, philosophy, and music,
among others.
- Known for traditional medicines, a product of
centuries of experiences and discovery of the
Chinese people
- Discovered various medical properties and uses
of different plants and animals to cure human
illness; an example is the practice of acupuncture
- Among the famous discoveries and inventions of
the Chinese civilizations were compass,
papermaking, gunpowder, and printing tools.
They also invented other tools like iron
plough, wheelbarrow, and propeller,
among others.

-They developed a design of different models of

bridges (Zhongguo ke xue yuan, 1983), invented
the first seismological detector, and developed a
dry dock facility (Needham et al., 1971).
Made significant records on supernovas,
lunar and solar eclipses, and comets,
which were carefully recorded and
preserved to understand better the They observed the heavenly
heavenly bodies and their effects to our bodies to understand weather
world (Mayall, 1939) changes and seasons that may
affect their daily activities. They
used lunar calendars.
The Middle East Countries
The Middle East Countries. With the

spread of Islam in the 7th and 8th
centuries, a period of Muslim
scholarship, or what is called the
Golden Age of Islam lasted until
the 13th century.
- Muslim scientists placed greater value on
science experiments rather than plain-thought
experiments.
- A Muslim scientist named Ibn al-Haytham is also
regarded as the Father of Optics, especially for
his empirical proof of the intromission theory of
light.
-Mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-

Khwarizmi gave his name to the concept of
the algorithm while the term algebra is
derived from al-jabr.
-Muslim mathematicians did make several
refinements to the number system, such as the
introduction of decimal point notation.
-Some scholars considered Jābir ibn Hayyān to
be the “Father of Chemistry” (Derewenda,
2007; Warren, 2005).
-Ibn Sina pioneered the science of experimental
medicine and was the first physician to conduct
clinical trials (Jacquart, 2008).
-Ibn Sina two most notable works in medicine, the
Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine,
were used as standard medicinal texts in both
the Muslim world and in Europe during the 17th
century.
Development of Science in Africa
Africa
Africa is blessed with natural and mineral
resources. Science also emerged in this part of the
planet long before the Europeans colonized it.
Astronomy was also famous in the African region.
Documents show that Africans used three types of
calendars: lunar, solar, and stellar, or a
combination of the three.
North Africa and the Nile Valley imported iron
technology from the Near East region that
enabled them to benefit from the developments
during the Bronze Age until the Iron Age.
Mathematics was also known to be prominent in the
life of early people in the African continent.
The Lebombo Bone, which may have been a tool for
multiplication, division, and simple mathematical
calculation or a six month lunar calendar, is
considered to be the oldest known mathematical
artifact dated from 35,000 BCE.
The Islamic regions in Africa during the medieval
period was also benefiting from mathematical
learning, which is considered advanced during those
times, such as algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
Ancient Egyptian Civilization
The ancient Egyptian civilization has

contributed immensely and made
significant advances in the fields of
astronomy, mathematics, and medicine.
For example:
-They are good in the four fundamental
mathematical operations and other
mathematical skills. They have
knowledge of the basic concepts of
algebra and geometry.
-The rules of geometry were developed and
used to build rectilinear structures, the post
of lintel architecture of Egypt.
-The great structures of the Egyptian

pyramids and the early dams built to divert
water from the Nile River are some proofs of
their advanced civilization.
-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.

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What scientific advancements did the Maya civilization make?

What technologies did the Inca civilization develop?

CRADLES OF EARLY SCIENCE M.M.

-They developed a design of different models of

The Middle East Countries. With the

-Mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-

The ancient Egyptian civilization has

-The great structures of the Egyptian

They tried to study human anatomy and

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