The Background of Modern Science 5 



by irrigation. These basic facts and necessities early led to 

 the development of methods for predicting the rise and fall 

 of the rivers, and for constructing dams and canals. It was 

 noticed quite early that the rise and fall of the rivers oc- 

 curred when the sun and stars were in particular positions 

 in the heavens. This observation led to a great interest in 

 mapping the heavenly bodies and plotting the courses they 

 pursued during the year. In order to do this accurately it 

 was necessary, of course, to develop instruments for measur- 

 ing angles and a method of noting down the observations. 

 Much the same methods were useful in measuring and 

 dividing the land. Arithmetic, geometry, and elementary 

 trigonometry developed in this way, hand in hand with 

 astronomy and surveying. Problems of irrigation led in the 

 same way to elementary knowledge of certain physical prin- 

 ciples underlying the art of engineering. 



The success of these primitive sciences, coupled with the 

 development of a highly organized legal and social system, 

 made these societies far more productive than the hunting 

 and grazing ones of the nomadic tribes which inhabited 

 most of the world. Indeed the great river civilizations of 

 the Middle and Far East were so successful that they existed 

 for a far longer period of time than have any that succeeded 

 them. 



StabiHty and lack of change became prized beyond all 

 other things, and it is probably this fact that kept science 

 from developing as we know it. The essential astronomical 

 and engineering knowledge became vested in the ruling 

 priests who dictated the distribution of land, the time of 

 planting and reaping, and the construction of dams and 

 canals. Their position of power and privilege depended on 

 their superior knowledge which they therefore preferred not 

 to share with others. They also made little effort to increase 

 knowledge since they had enough to maintain their society 



