FST-1 SCIENCE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD - IRON AGE

FST-1 SCIENCE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD-IRON AGE

IRON AGE

• This civilisation was spread far and wide in the Gangetic plain of India.
•  Commodity production had started; i.e. certain articles were produced not for local consumption but for trade in far-flung areas.
• A cast system had emerged in this society. 

• Regular coinage had come into use in the trade practices.

• Small groups of people had started specializing in specific areas of science and technology.

• The need to make sacrificial altars gave rise to fairly high level of knowledge in geometry.

• Indians knew how to make steel in Iron Age.

• Plant and animal classification, anatomy and physiology were known in an elementary form.

ADVANCES IN SCIENCE IN INDIA DURING IRON AGE

Astronomy and Mathematics

The development of astronomy, which arose from astrological practices and sacrificial ceremonies. Astronomy degenerated into astrology in the later years of this period.

The need to make sacrificial altars gave rise to a fairly high level of knowledge in geometry. Arithmetic was equally well developed. Numbers of multiples of 10 going up to as high powers of 10 - one million, were known and used. All the arithmetic operations on numbers were also known.

Chemistry

The Indian metal workers had attained a high degree perfection in the techniques of producing iron and steel. Fermentation methods, dyeing techniques, the preparation and use of a number of chemicals and colour pigments were well known. The production of glass came to be known only towards the end of this period.

Botany

In India, botany and elementary plant physiology developed with the advances made in agriculture. The developments in medicine also helped these sciences.

Zoology

The domestication of animals like horses and elephants and their use in warfare necessitated the study of their anatomy and physiology. Classification of animals and study of their dietary value had been attempted. Human physiology had also been studied.

Medicine

The scientific practices of Carakas and Susrutas contradicted the ideas of priests in Indian society. They are transmitted through the ages in a form of practice known as Ayurveda.

In India, the Ayurvedic system of medicine adopted the ideas of the 'tridosas' - vayu, pitta and kapha; and 'panchabhutas' under the influence of the cosmogonist speculations. It was thought that diseases were caused by the three humours wind-vayu, bile-pita, and phelgm-kapha; and the curative substances got their healing properties from the five elements - earth, water, fire, air, empty space.