
How Ancient India Contributed to Science and Technology
The glorious era of discovering fundamental truths about nature
India has been contributing to modern science and technology since ancient times. One of the oldest civilisations of the world, India has brought several revolutionary developments in the field of science and technology. The ancient Indian scientists and scholars brought some epoch-making research and information about the natural world and the numbers that even put the modern scientists and mathematicians into a spellbound condition. Amongst enamours discoveries of the ancient Indian scientists and scholars, one can find some magnificent contributions as listed below:
Discovery of Zero
The discovery of zero, the greatest and elementary contribution, not only in the field of Mathematics but also in almost every branch of science, was carried out in the 5th century, during the Gupta era. There's a debate, however, on the name of the discoverer of the zero. Some scholars assert that it was Aryabhatta, while some others suggest Brahmagupta as the discoverer of the zero. The discovery of zero brought a revolution in mathematics and the mathematisation of natural problems.
Decimal System
The introduction of the decimal system brought serious development in the process and techniques of counting and calculation. Furthermore, the decimal system, as introduced by the Indian mathematicians, opened the very first way towards the idea of a Real line or axis.
Introduction of Ruler for Measurement
The very evidence of measuring tools, like rulers or scales, have been found during the excavation in the Sindh area, where the civilisation of Harappa was established. Even there were bricks having dimensions that correspond to the units of those rulers.
Atomic Theory
Kanad’s concept about atoms (which he termed as ‘anu’) is an amazing example of the advances in the field of natural science that ancient India introduced. Kanad’s concept was introduced thousands of years from the modern concept of the atom that was proposed for the first time by John Dalton. Kanad’s contribution was also notable because of its strong philosophical background.
Heliocentric Theory
The basic proposals of the heliocentric theory, such as the roundness of the earth, its revolution around its axis, and its revolution around the Sun, were inferred by the ancient mathematician Aryabhatta. He used to develop mathematical models regarding the astronomical predictions at that period, which might make you spellbound.
Zinc Smelting
Chemical technology was unbelievably contributed and developed by scholars and scientists from ancient India. The smelting of zinc by the method of distillation, for the first time, took place in India around the 12th century.