SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

IN THE MIDDLE AGES

The period from 450 A.D. is commonly called the middle ages.

This is usually divided into the so called Dark ages, from 450 A.D. to 1450 A.D.

Classical culture slowly died out.

Only the Christianized Empire in Constantinople was able to guard the classical heritage.

The economy of the Middle ages from the 5th century may bee described as feudal.

The economic basis of the feudal system was land marked by its independence on local agricultural production mostly consumed on the spot and on handicraft industry.

By the 11th century towns were well established and by the 12th they were growing in Northern France , England and Germany.

By the 11th century towns were well established and by the 12th they were growing in Northern France , England and Germany.

The establishment, of these towns was crucial importance because it was from them that eventually were to come the bourgeois class to found capitalism.

European universities were established in the 1100’s, the science and mathematics were given emphasis.

THE IMPACT OF GREEK AND ARAB KNOWLEDGE

It was in the avid intellectual activities in the Universities that there came the bulk of Arab and Greek knowledge that had been preserved in the Dark ages translated into Latin mostly from Arabic and some directly from Greek.

MEDIEVAL SCIENCE The totality of the Medieval natural

science achievement can be summarized as:

A few notes on minerals and natural history by St. Albert Magnate;

A treatise on sporting birds by Emperor Frederick II;

Some improvements in Alhazen’s optics by Dietrich or Witelo and Freiburg, including an account of the rainbow and

Criticism of Aristotle’s theory of motion by Buridan and Oresme.

Groseteste thought science basically as a means of illustrating theological truths.

Believing that the light was analogous to the divine illuminations, he studied optics.

At the common level however life in medieval times was full of irrational beliefs, mysticism, and superstitions.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE AGES EUROPE

New horse harness-the horse-collar pulling on the shoulders of the horse instead of a band hugging his breast, allowed the horse to increased its “attractive” effort five times.

The water-mill and Windmill-watermill was invented in the stone age. By a using suitable mechanism, its rotary motion could be converted to reciprocal motion making it a source of general power.

Windmill from Persia reached Europe about 1100A.D. It was primarily for blowing bellows, filling cloth, forging iron, sawing, weaving and threashing.

Clock and Watch -just like the horse-collar, the clock and watch seemed to have come from China, though it was developed into the present form in Europe. In the 11th century an ingenious mechanism was devised which imparted a to-and fro motion, thus the mechanical clock was born.

The Mariner’s magnetic compass –the ability of a natural magnet to show direction was known to the Chinese several centuries ago or about the 6th century.

The sternpost rudder – the sternpost rudder apparently came also from china. This led to the development of the sail that could be adjusted such that ship voyages could be made in rougher weather.

Lenses with spectacle – the discovery of lenses resulted in the invention of spectacles in Italy around 1350 A.D. this gave impetus to the study of light or optics.

Gunpowder and cannon – of all the inventions introduced to Europe in the middle ages gunpowder of chinese origin was to have a greatest effect scientifically, politically, and economically. Their use and was initiated a technical revolution in warfare comparable only to what happened at the start of the Iron Ages.

Paper - paper and paper-making originated from china based on vegetable fibers. It was already widely used in China as a cheap writing material in the 1st century B.C.

Printing – like paper, printing originated in China using movable wooden type. It was introduced in Europe in the middle of the 15th century A.D. and spread extraordinarily and rapidly for books.

Distillation and Alcohol - the first preparation of strong spirits of wine was made in Europe in the 12th century. As the distillation of perfumes and oil was already known, alcohol was probably produced by accident in the course of the some medical preparation.

MEDICINE IN THE MIDDLE AGES

Astrology ruled prognosis, diagnosis was largely limited to inspection of the urine.

Medical learning was devoted to the study of ancient authoritative texts.

Therapy was through prayer, magic, charms, amulets and faith healing.

Various herbs were used widely. The medical school of Salermo that

flourished from the 10th to the end of the 13th century was the first organized medical school in Europe.

THE INTERACTION OF MEDIEVAL TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIEVAL

ECONOMY By the middle of 13th century, the rich merchants

and town oligarchies acquired monopoly position and cooperated for the common exploitation of less territories.

The new bourgeoisie was initially were interested in profit than belief. When they found that church an obstacle to their increasing wealth and power, they became most ardent advocates of reform.

The increase in the wealth of merchants and bourgeoisie resulted in the following:

Interest in mathematics which they used in commercial accountancy, astronomical tables and maps.

A new impulse to art technology and science, art becoming more secular and more naturalistic. In pottery, textiles, glass and metal work there was incentive and opportunity for practical research on the properties of matter, chemical and physical or providing the material basis for the revival of science.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN CHINA

The first civilization in China emerged independently in the fertilized river valleys of Huang Ho(yellow river) and Yangtze rivers.

Farming communities existed along the Huang Ho and Yangtze Rivers where rice was first cultivated in 5000 B.C.

Silk production was developed about 2500 B.C.

Bronze productions around 1700 B.C. were more perfect and sophisticated, a result of long experimentation.

The first Chinese writing was on flat shoulder bones of cattle and tortoise shells.

During this period China became the most technically advanced Country in the world.

Paper- paper making started in 140 B.C. but was officially used in writing starting in 105 A.D.. Paper was also used for clothing, wall décor, art work and even in toilet.

Seismograph- a bronze vessel with pendulum sensitive to vibration was invented to detect earthquakes in the 2nd century A.D.

Physics - motion of solid objects was thought to be caused by force and cessation of motion due to obstacle. Studies of magnets and magnetism were done in China long before the same was initiated in Europe.

Physical theories - events and phenomena are due to the interaction between feminine principle YIN and the male principle YAN.

Science – It was qualitative and dynamic.

World View Organicist views are which every

phenomenon was connected with hierarchical order.

Mathematics

The ancient Chinese expressed numbers decimally and analytically. Decimal place-value and a blank space for zero had began in earlier than anywhere else in the ancient world together with the metrology. They knew how to extract square root and evaluate the value of n, equations and sum of various series.

Astronomy They developed calendars

with 365 and ¼ days in a year and divided a circle similarly in to 365 and ¼ degrees.

They plotted names and catalogue stars , describe and predicted eclipses. They kept records of comets , meteors , novae and eclipses.

Medicine and Biology the ancient Chinese believe that

disease are caused by 6 chhih (Breath) : heat, cold, wind, rain, light and darkness, physician described exercise, hydrotherapy and wine anesthesia.

They tried to describe the size of organs, blood circulation between heart and organ.

they compared body to a state , heart to a king, lungs to ministers and liver to a commander in chief. They were the greatest pioneer of inoculation(acupuncture)

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering was field in which ancient and classical Chinese triumphs, harness of animals and water power for grinding and operation of metallurgical bellows were invented.

Mastery of iron casting was made some 15 centuries before its use Europe. Mechanical clock work began in Tang China.

Iron chain suspension bridges, and segmental arch structures were built around 610 A.D..Hydraulic engineering such as control of water ways, irrigation and tax grain transport were prominent. The wheel barrow was invented in 100 A.D

Gun Powder

appeared around 9th century A.D., vigorous development of explosive weapons from 1040 A.D., about three centuries before it appeared in Europe.

From fire-lance using a rocket combination and bamboo tube a close combat weapon, all barrier guns and cannon were constructed at the beginning of the 12th century A.D.

Printing Press

wooden block printing was done in China around 700A.D.. In 1020 A.D. the first movable-type printer made from pottery was developed. Mass printing of paper money and Confucian work were made around 1200 A.D..

Magnetic Compass and Stern-Post Rudder

Magnetic of loadstones a naturally occurring magnetic iron led to magnetizing floating needle a prototype of magnetic compass. The magnetic compass and the invention of stern-post rudder in 6th century A.D. predated modern ships by centuries.

By:Frinces Mae D.

Cristal