Notes on Lecture: Intellectual Revolutions Defining Society

Overview

• Continued discussion on science, technology, and society.
• Focus on the information revolution and early science cradles.

Information Revolution

• Sumerian Pictographs: Earliest writing system.
• Gutenberg's Printing Press (1455):
  • First book printed: The Gutenberg Bible.
  • Introduction of typewriter and telegraph.
• Evolution of Communication:
  • Transition from pictographs to printing press to the internet.
  • Modern communication and information dissemination through the World Wide Web.

Four Cradles of Early Science

1. Mesoamerica

   • Civilizations: Mayans, Incas, Aztecs.
   • Contributions:
     • Aztecs:
       • Developed chinampas (fertile land on shallow lake beds).
     • Mayans:
       • Use of rubber in games (e.g., ball game).
       • Cacao beans as currency.
       • Development of the Mayan calendar.
       • Kipus for bookkeeping (early calculators).
     • Incans:
       • Mita system for labor in agriculture and construction.

2. Middle East

   • Contributions:
     • Improvements to water mills (Noria) for irrigation and industrial work.
     • Innovations in machinery for war and agriculture (windmills, water mills).
     • Significant texts on engineering and mechanics.
     • Notable figures: Ibn Maroof Rashid (steam power, blueprint designs).

3. Asia (Focus on China)

   • Traditional Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture and herbal treatments.
   • Four Great Inventions:
     • Compass.
     • Gunpowder.
     • Paper making and printing.
     • Taoist alchemy (chemistry).

4. Africa

   • Contributions:
     • Production of coffee (originating from Ethiopia) and cola nuts.
     • Use of plants with salicylic acid (aspirin).
     • Advances in medicine (autopsies and cesarean procedures).
     • Technologies in irrigation and desalination.
     • Evidence of steel-making practices predating European techniques.

Summary of Contributions

• Mesoamerica: Chinampas, alchemy, cacao as currency.
• Middle East: Noria, windmill, and water mill advancements.
• Asia: Acupuncture, gunpowder, compass, and alchemy.
• Africa: Coffee, cola nuts, medicinal advancements, steel-making.

Conclusion

• Covered topics of the information revolution and the four cradles of early science.
• Encouraged revisiting previous lectures for comprehensive understanding.
• Provided references for further reading and credits for sources.