Q)Discuss the developments in the areas of astronomy and mathematics, chemistry, botany and zoology during the Bronze Age
Ans)Chemistry
The level of chemical knowledge and practices in the newly ordered society is reflected in the pottery iron tools and glass objects found at various iron age sites.By the fourth or the fifth century B.C. the Indian metalworkers had attained a high degree of perfection in the techniques of producing iron and steel. Glass objects unearthed in over 30 sites indicate that the production of sites came to be known over the end of this period. Ceramic bowls, dishes, lids and carinated jars dated from about fifth century B.C. to the second century B.C. were also found in these sites. Fermented methods dyeing techniques, the preparation and use of a number of chemicals and color pigments were well known.
Botany
In the Bronze and Iron ages agriculture became the principal mode of production in all lands. It is thus not surprising that in India, botany and elementary plant physiology developed with the advances made 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. A survey of vedic literature revealed that more than 260 animals had been known at that time. Classification of animals and study of their dietary values had been attempted. Human physiology had also been studied. post vedic literature also contains names of animals and a avast storehouse of observations on their natural history. These observations may have simulated their later thoughts and concepts about classification , heredity, embryology etc.
Astronomy and Mathematics
Much of the work in astronomy in the iron age is merely a detailed or expanded version of the astronomical knowledge already found in the rigveda. Astronomy later degenerated into astrology in the later years of this period. Sulvasutras show a fairly high level of knowledge of geometry. Arithmetic was equally well developed. Numbers in multiples of 10 going upto as high powers of 10 as 1012(one million million) were known and used. All arithmetic operations on numbers were well known. Sulvasutras contain several instances of addition subtraction multiplication division and squaring of fractions, quadratic equations indeterminite equations, permutation and combination also appear in the sulvasutras.
Ans)Chemistry
The level of chemical knowledge and practices in the newly ordered society is reflected in the pottery iron tools and glass objects found at various iron age sites.By the fourth or the fifth century B.C. the Indian metalworkers had attained a high degree of perfection in the techniques of producing iron and steel. Glass objects unearthed in over 30 sites indicate that the production of sites came to be known over the end of this period. Ceramic bowls, dishes, lids and carinated jars dated from about fifth century B.C. to the second century B.C. were also found in these sites. Fermented methods dyeing techniques, the preparation and use of a number of chemicals and color pigments were well known.
Botany
In the Bronze and Iron ages agriculture became the principal mode of production in all lands. It is thus not surprising that in India, botany and elementary plant physiology developed with the advances made 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. A survey of vedic literature revealed that more than 260 animals had been known at that time. Classification of animals and study of their dietary values had been attempted. Human physiology had also been studied. post vedic literature also contains names of animals and a avast storehouse of observations on their natural history. These observations may have simulated their later thoughts and concepts about classification , heredity, embryology etc.
Astronomy and Mathematics
Much of the work in astronomy in the iron age is merely a detailed or expanded version of the astronomical knowledge already found in the rigveda. Astronomy later degenerated into astrology in the later years of this period. Sulvasutras show a fairly high level of knowledge of geometry. Arithmetic was equally well developed. Numbers in multiples of 10 going upto as high powers of 10 as 1012(one million million) were known and used. All arithmetic operations on numbers were well known. Sulvasutras contain several instances of addition subtraction multiplication division and squaring of fractions, quadratic equations indeterminite equations, permutation and combination also appear in the sulvasutras.
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