Eternal India Encyclopedia

Ancient Concepts, Sciences & Systems

Eternal India

encyclopedia

Date

Scientific and Technological Developments

Remarks

Sulba-sutras:

beginnings of geometry; anticipation of the Pythagorean

theorem; development of the knowledge of the irrational numbers.

As aid to construction of sacrifical altars

Early ideas of the

Vaisesika; Samkhya

and the

Mimamsa;

of the Bauddha,

Jaina and the Carvaka; physical concepts: atomism, space, time, motion and

sound.

As part of the respective religio-philoso-

-phical position

4th C B.C-

4th C A.D.

The Ayurvedic treatises -the

Caraka

and the

Susruta Samhitas:

the

tridosa

theory; physiology; anatomy; pathology; therapeutics; surgical practices.

Emphasis on herbal medicine; skill in

rhinoplasty, laparotomy and lithotomy

Development of the orthodox philosophical

sutras;

the Jaina, the Bauddha

schools; extension of the doctrine of five elements, space, time and sound.

Respective epistemological positions ~

defined

The

Arthasastra

of Kautilya : mining, metal-working, agriculture irrigation.

Bhagavati-sutra; Tattvarthadhigama-sutra.

of Umasvati : atomism, class-

ification of living and non-living.

Recasting of astronomical ideas; adoption of the zodiacal system; knowledge

of the motion of planets.

Possibly some Babylonian and Greek

influences

Progress in mathematics; permutations and combinations -

meruprastrara

and the early binomal ideas.'

Pingala's

Chandah-sutra

Increased and widespread use of iron; construction of the Sudarsana Lake

Use of bellows for extracting and forging

iron

Glass objects at a number of places.

Foreign influences particularly Roman, at

Taxila (Sirkap) and Arikamedu

(Tamilnadu)

5th C. A.D.

Nyayabhasya

of Vatsyayana -atomic ideas further extended; views on

vision and propagation of sound; impetus theory; classification of animals

and plants.

Padarthadharmasamgraha

of Prasastapada; atomism, space, time, motion,

sound.

Also known as

Prasastapadabhasya\

though a bhaya on the Vaisesika

categories, an independent work

5th C. A.D.

Aryabhatiya

: theory of the rotation of the earth, epicyclic theory for the

planetary motions; values of pi & sines; alphabetical system of expressing

decimal place-value notation; extraction of square and cube roots; indeter-

minate equation of the first order

Growth of the Indian decimal place-value

system

Metal-working; art of jewellery; Iron Pillar now at Delhi.

Made of wrought iron (99.72%)

Copper statue of the Buddha from Sultanganj in Bihar

(now in Birmingham Museum)

Cast in two layers

Sophisticated ceramic ware.

Particularly on the Indo-Gangetic plains

6th C A.D.

Paricasiddhantika

of Varahamihira-the five

siddhantas: Saura, Paulisa,

Romaka, Brahma and Paitamaha

concept of

mahayuga

(4,320,000 years);

notion of the libration of the equinoxes in the

Suryasiddhanta.

The

Suryasiddhanta

considered as the

best and the most accurate

Brhat Samhita

of Varahamihira- a number of chemical processes; plant and

animal classifications.

Encyclopaedic work

Amarkosa

: classification and synonyms of plants and animals, minerals and

metals.

Lexicon

Buddhist logic and Jaina views.

Problem of matter elucidated

7 th-

8th C A.D.

Brahmagupta- astronomer and mathematician:

Brahmasphutasiddhanta

and

Khandakhadyaka',

lemma for solution of the indeterminate equation of the

second order; formula for the sum of

terms of Arithmetic progression;

.rules for the volume of a area of the cyclic quadrilateral, etc.

Nyaya-vartika

of Udyotakara; further elucidation of atomic views

Both translated into Arabic in the eighth

cent. A.D., under the titles

Sindhind

and

Arkand