Ancient Technology

Development of technology | Whanaketanga hangarau

Technology isn't just digital. People groups have always needed ways to mark the passing of time, ways to navigate so that they can migrate, and ways to construct shelter or buildings. These are all solved with some form of technology. 

Time Telling

Most cultures around the world devised methods of tracking time independant of each other. These usually started simply by tracking celestial bodies (stars, sun etc.) and developed as technology developed. Sundials and water clocks were. The used by the Egyptians in 1500BC. The Chinese used an incense clock (otherwise known as a Chinese Fire Clock) around 950BC - the knew the speed the incense sticks would burn. They set weights at intervals along  the incense and as it burned the weights would drop and 'clang' on a piece of metal. The original chime clock.

Navigation | Whakatere

Similar with time telling, ancient peoples independent of each other developed ways to tell direction. Again these were based on the position of the sun and stars. Some people groups avoided losing sight of land so they didn't get lost on the water, Polynesian people used waves, birds, water temp, star positioning among other things to help navigate. 

Some used the shadows from rocks and sticks they positioned to tell them what way was what. We will have a look at this later...

On land people have always relied on landmarks. What landmarks do you use in Christchurch to help figure out direction?

Construction | Hanga

Ancient people didn’t necessarily have steel or wheels or electronic communications. Yet they built monuments even bigger than Stonehenge. They raised huge stone heads on Easter Island. And ancient Egyptians built the pyramids — with huge mystery rooms inside. Explore the pyramids through the video and powerpoint.

Work reward..

Here is a retro game Mrs Taylor used to play as a kid. Your job is to be innovative and use the tools available to you to solve a problem. Click the image to begin.