MOI UNIVERSITY
BAS 402 – HISTORY OF SCIENCE
Science in Ancient World
Course Otline
- China, Mesopotamia, India, Egypt
- Medieval world and Europe
- Arab and Islamic world
- Science in Africa
- Science in Africa
- Science in modern and contemporary world
- Experimental sciences
- Major discoveries between 16th and 19th century/ 20th century
- Perspectives of science in Africa
- Transfer of technology
- The future of science
References
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica
2. Encyclopaedia Americana
3. Edward M. Burns, R. Lerner and S. Meacham, Western civilizations vol 2.,
NewYork, W W Norton & Company, 1980
4. J. D. Bernal, Science in History, NY, 1954
Introduction
The History of Science is the study of historical development of science and scientific
knowledge – it is a narrative of theories of physical and biological sciences and their
developments and impact on mankind.
,The spread of scientific ideas has been a decisive factor in remoulding the whole pattern
of human thought. People have hope of living better living better lives through the
application of science in agriculture and medicine.
In Science we begin on identifying this phenomenon and delineating it as clearly as
possible so as to find out what it is in itself.
Science is so old, has undergone so many changes in its history, it is linked with other
social activities.
Albert Einstein defined science as something existing and complete as the most
objective thing to mankind.
Science is a body of empirical, theoretical and practical knowledge about the natural
world produced by researchers making use of ……methods which emphasize the
observation, exploration and prediction of real world phenomenon by experiment.
Science is by its nature changeable. It was not until the 17 th century that it began to
achieve an independence status.
Science may be taken as
i) An institution
ii) A method
iii) A cumulative tradition of knowledge
iv) A major factor in the maintenance and development of production.
v) One of the most powerful influences moulding beliefs and attitudes to the
universe and man.
Ancient societies had methods of getting food and protection and means of preserving
and using these methods in form of a continuous tradition. Man evolved from ape-like
creatures through evolution and then developed essential bodily and mental equipped of a
grasping and handling objects.
2
, The combination of hand and eye capacity with the ability to learn that made the use of
implements possible. The methods which gave human societies their particular advs were
largely dependent on the use of material implements for catching, collecting, transporting
and preparing food and also a rapid means of communication to ensure cooperation in
these tasks i.e. language.
What was the impact of Science?
Implements and tools
Implements are essentially an extension of human limbs – the extension of the fist and
tooth with the stone, the arm with the stick, the hand or mouth with bag or basket.
Science in ancient world
About 8000 years ago Man began a revolution in food production that altered the whole
materials and social mode of existence of man. The difficulties that men had to face at
that time led to an intensive search for new or even old and despised kinds of food, such
as roofs and the seeds of wild grasses. This pursuit led to the invention of the technique
of agriculture, ranking with the utilization of fire and power of one of the three most
momentous inventions in human history. It was a step by step accumulation of
interlocked inventions all subservient to the essential achievement. Society was
transformed from the exploitation of the animate environment to its control.
Crafts making
Agriculture involved a set of new techniques in the growing of crops and the preparing of
food from them such as sowing, hoeing, reaping, threshing, storing, grinding, baking and
brewing.
With them came a whole set of ancillary techniques like weaving, made possible by
supplies of wool and flax and like pottery and hut building arising from possibilities and
needs of permanent occupation.
Neolithic Age
3
BAS 402 – HISTORY OF SCIENCE
Science in Ancient World
Course Otline
- China, Mesopotamia, India, Egypt
- Medieval world and Europe
- Arab and Islamic world
- Science in Africa
- Science in Africa
- Science in modern and contemporary world
- Experimental sciences
- Major discoveries between 16th and 19th century/ 20th century
- Perspectives of science in Africa
- Transfer of technology
- The future of science
References
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica
2. Encyclopaedia Americana
3. Edward M. Burns, R. Lerner and S. Meacham, Western civilizations vol 2.,
NewYork, W W Norton & Company, 1980
4. J. D. Bernal, Science in History, NY, 1954
Introduction
The History of Science is the study of historical development of science and scientific
knowledge – it is a narrative of theories of physical and biological sciences and their
developments and impact on mankind.
,The spread of scientific ideas has been a decisive factor in remoulding the whole pattern
of human thought. People have hope of living better living better lives through the
application of science in agriculture and medicine.
In Science we begin on identifying this phenomenon and delineating it as clearly as
possible so as to find out what it is in itself.
Science is so old, has undergone so many changes in its history, it is linked with other
social activities.
Albert Einstein defined science as something existing and complete as the most
objective thing to mankind.
Science is a body of empirical, theoretical and practical knowledge about the natural
world produced by researchers making use of ……methods which emphasize the
observation, exploration and prediction of real world phenomenon by experiment.
Science is by its nature changeable. It was not until the 17 th century that it began to
achieve an independence status.
Science may be taken as
i) An institution
ii) A method
iii) A cumulative tradition of knowledge
iv) A major factor in the maintenance and development of production.
v) One of the most powerful influences moulding beliefs and attitudes to the
universe and man.
Ancient societies had methods of getting food and protection and means of preserving
and using these methods in form of a continuous tradition. Man evolved from ape-like
creatures through evolution and then developed essential bodily and mental equipped of a
grasping and handling objects.
2
, The combination of hand and eye capacity with the ability to learn that made the use of
implements possible. The methods which gave human societies their particular advs were
largely dependent on the use of material implements for catching, collecting, transporting
and preparing food and also a rapid means of communication to ensure cooperation in
these tasks i.e. language.
What was the impact of Science?
Implements and tools
Implements are essentially an extension of human limbs – the extension of the fist and
tooth with the stone, the arm with the stick, the hand or mouth with bag or basket.
Science in ancient world
About 8000 years ago Man began a revolution in food production that altered the whole
materials and social mode of existence of man. The difficulties that men had to face at
that time led to an intensive search for new or even old and despised kinds of food, such
as roofs and the seeds of wild grasses. This pursuit led to the invention of the technique
of agriculture, ranking with the utilization of fire and power of one of the three most
momentous inventions in human history. It was a step by step accumulation of
interlocked inventions all subservient to the essential achievement. Society was
transformed from the exploitation of the animate environment to its control.
Crafts making
Agriculture involved a set of new techniques in the growing of crops and the preparing of
food from them such as sowing, hoeing, reaping, threshing, storing, grinding, baking and
brewing.
With them came a whole set of ancillary techniques like weaving, made possible by
supplies of wool and flax and like pottery and hut building arising from possibilities and
needs of permanent occupation.
Neolithic Age
3
