Science is a systematic study of things and phenomena that construct and organise knowledge in the structure of testable predictions and explanations about everything that exists in the observable universe. It deals with the physical world and related phenomena. It is based on unbiased systematic experimentation and observations. Science is a pursuit of knowledge that concerns fundamental truths or laws of the physical world. Science can be categorised into various branches as per the scope of the topics.
The physical sciences deal with inorganic nature and comprise the subjects like earth sciences, physics, chemistry, and cosmology. The organic sciences, such as medicine and biology, deal with the organic world and its phenomena. The term science has been used since the 14th century, meaning “the state of knowing”. The term was derived from the Latin word scientia, which means awareness, knowledge, and understanding.
The earliest practice of science can be found in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt (around 3000 to 1200 BC). So this period is considered as the time in which the recorded history of science began. Their practices in medicine, astronomy, and mathematics shaped the classical Greek philosophy of antiquity, whereby attempts were made to develop explanations of phenomena in the world based on natural causes. Even though concepts and words of “nature” and “science” were not part of the culture, the ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians made significant contributions that later became the foundations of Greek and medieval astronomy, medicine, and mathematics. From the third 3rd millennium BCE, the Egyptians constructed a decimal counting system. They solved physical problems employing geometry. They also developed a detailed calendar system. Egyptian healing techniques consisted of drug usage as well as metaphysical activities like rituals, prayers, and incantations.
Aristotle and Plato developed the first systematic analysis of natural philosophy, which paved the way for the later complex investigations of the physical world. The development of reasoning was of particular significance for the evolution of scientific inquiry.
In 387 BCE, the philosopher Plato established the Platonic Academy. It produced many notable philosophers. After the disintegration of the Roman Empire, the Greek knowledge system also deteriorated (during the early centuries of the Middle Ages). In the Middle East, it was preserved during the Islamic Golden Age. The assimilation and recovery of Greek and Islamic works into Western Europe from the period between the tenth and thirteenth centuries revived the European “natural philosophy”. This was later transformed by the Scientific renaissance that started in the 16th century as new discoveries and concepts departed from the Greek traditions and conceptions.
Scientific methodologies played a larger role in knowledge generation. It was not until the eighteenth century that most of the professional and institutional characteristics of science started to take form along with the transformation of the philosophical approach to the analytical approach.
In 499 AD, Aryabhata put forward a heliocentric model of the solar system along with basic concepts similar to gravitation. He developed mathematical and astronomical theories in which the planet Earth was considered to be spinning on its own axis, and the planets’ periods were described as elliptical paths with respect to the sun. His works were translated into Arabic versions, and those were available in the Islamic region by the 8th–10th centuries. In the seventh century, Indian scholar Brahmagupta briefly explained the law of gravitation and considered gravity as an attraction force. He also showed the application of zero as both a decimal digit and placeholder with the Hindu-Arabic number system currently used globally. Arabic translations of Brahmagupta’s text introduced this numeral system to the Arabic region, where it was taken as Arabic numerals.
The early modern phase is considered as a blossoming of the European Renaissance. The urge to question conventional beliefs and perspectives started to engulf society. The search for rational and analytical answers churned out important scientific advancements. It was known as the Scientific Revolution, which resulted in the rise of a new scientific approach that was more mechanistic and rational in nature, more sided with mathematics and newly developed scientific methodologies.
The video is about the history of gravitation
Important History of Science Questions with Answers
What is science?
Science is a systematic study of things and phenomena that construct and organise knowledge in the structure of testable predictions and explanations about everything that exists in the observable universe.
What are the three important branches of science?
Physical science, life science, and earth science are the three important branches of science.
What is meant by physical science?
Physical science is the study of the inorganic world which does not include the study of living things.
The term _____ was derived from the Latin word scientia, which means awareness, knowledge, and understanding.
Answer: science
Explanation: The term science was derived from the Latin word scientia, which means awareness, knowledge, and understanding.
What is the scientific method?
The scientific method is a process by which scientists investigate, verify and construct a reliable and accurate outlook of any natural phenomenon.
What is meant by the hypothesis?
The hypothesis is a proposition that is deduced from theoretical reasoning and some evidence. This is the beginning state of any research that transforms theoretical questions into predictions.
Explain the earliest notions of science in world history.
The earliest practice of science can be found in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt (around 3000 to 1200 BC). Their practices in medicine, astronomy, and mathematics shaped the classical Greek philosophy of antiquity, whereby attempts were made to develop explanations of phenomena in the world based on natural causes. Even though concepts and words of “nature” and “science” were not part of the culture, the ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians made significant contributions that later became the foundations of Greek and medieval astronomy, medicine, and mathematics. From the third 3rd millennium BCE, the Egyptians constructed a decimal counting system. They solved physical problems employing geometry. They also developed a detailed calendar system. Egyptian healing techniques consisted of drug usage as well as metaphysical activities like rituals, prayers, and incantations.
What are the contributions of ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians to the development of science?
The ancient Mesopotamians utilised the knowledge of various natural chemicals for creating glass, pottery, metals, soap, and lime plaster. They studied animal anatomy, physiology, astrology, and behaviour for divine purposes. The Mesopotamian civilisation also had extensive interests in medicine. During the Third Dynasty of Ur (Sumerian civilisation), the earliest medical documents appeared. They studied subjects which have religious or practical applications and have a meagre interest in fulfilling curiosity.
Starting from 3000 BCE, the Egyptians developed a fairly capable numbering system that was based on decimals. They applied their knowledge of geometry to solve practical physical problems (helped builders and surveyors). They even constructed a fully functional calendar that had twelve months, 30 days each and five days at the year-end. The development of geometry was a crucial advancement to preserve ownership and layout of agricultural land, which was flooded periodically by the river Nile. The right angle and other laws of geometry were applied to construct rectilinear buildings and bodies.
What are the important works of Aristotle?
Aristotle was a student of Plato; he put forward empiricism and the concept that universal laws can be deduced through induction and observation. He laid the foundation of the scientific method. He also developed numerous biological theses that were very much empirical and analytical in nature. It was focused on the diversity of life and biological causation. He made many observations on nature, especially the attributes and habits of animals and plants. He classified around 540 animal species and physically dissected around fifty species. The writings of Aristotle directly influenced European and Islamic scholarship. They were then ultimately superseded in the scientific revolution.
Explain the main works of Aryabhatta.
In 499 AD, Aryabhata put forward a heliocentric model of the solar system along with basic concepts similar to gravitation. He developed mathematical and astronomical theories in which the planet Earth was considered to be spinning on its own axis, and the planets’ periods were described as elliptical paths with respect to the Sun. He also considered that the planets and the Moon shine by reflecting sunlight, and planetary orbits are ellipses. He had done precise calculations of astronomical quantities based on his system, such as the Earth’s circumference, periods of planets, lunar eclipse, and solar eclipse, the time required for one rotation of the Earth on its own axis, the length of the revolution of the Earth, etc. He also put forward many trigonometric functions (versine, sine, inverse sine, and cosine), algorithms and techniques of algebra, and trigonometric tables. His works were translated into Arabic versions, and those were available in the Islamic region by the 8th–10th centuries.
How did Islamic Golden Age contribute to the development of science?
After the disintegration of the Roman Empire, the Greek knowledge system also deteriorated (during the early centuries of the Middle Ages). In the Middle East, it was preserved during the Islamic Golden Age. The assimilation and recovery of Greek and Islamic works into Western Europe from the period between the tenth and thirteenth centuries revived the European “natural philosophy”.
What is the main contribution of Brahmagupta?
In the seventh century, Indian scholar Brahmagupta briefly explained the law of gravitation and considered gravity as an attraction force. He also showed the application of zero as both a decimal digit and placeholder with the Hindu-Arabic number system currently used globally. Arabic translations of Brahmagupta’s text introduced this numeral system to the Arabic region, where it was taken as Arabic numerals.
Who developed the first systematic analysis of natural philosophy?
Aristotle and Plato developed the first systematic analysis of natural philosophy, which paved the way for the later complex investigations of the physical world. The development of reasoning was of particular significance for the evolution of scientific inquiry.
When did the scientific revolution begin in Europe?
The scientific revolution is considered a transition point in history, from where science started to change its form from ancient thought and philosophy to classical physics, which is dominated by mechanics. It is considered to have started in 1543 when the books De revolutionibus by Nicolaus Copernicus and De humani corporis fabrica by Andreas Vesalius were first published. In 1687, this period culminated with the release of Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Isaac Newton. This period marked an unprecedented surge of scientific publications all over Europe.
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Practice Questions
1) What is meant by pseudoscience?
2) What is the difference between life science and physical science?
3) Who invented the concept of zero?
4) Who is the father of modern science?
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