EARLY ACHIEVEMENTS BY DIFFERENT NATIONS IN SCIENCE

Abstract

Prof. Nil Ratan Dhar was a soil scientist, known for discovering thermal and photo-chemical fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. He served as a professor of soil science and chemistry at the University of Allahabad, and as the president of Indian Chemical Society and the National Academy of Sciences, India. Prof. Dhar has also received a nomination for the Nobel Prize four times. This article explores the early scientific achievements of different civilisations. It focuses on the contribution of Egyptian, Babylonian, Indus Valley, and Chinese cultures. The roots of western science and arithmetic are explored in the article. The paper also examines the transmission of scientific knowledge through traditions and the influence of different cultures on the progress of science. The role of Arabic culture as a bridge between Eastern and Western scientific traditions is emphasised, along with the significant contributions of Indian and Chinese civilisations to mathematics, medicine, and technology. The article also discusses certain philosophers that made significant contribution in shaping the field of modern science. The paper points out that while Europe has had scientific development going on for over 500 years, India has had it for only 60 years, and thereby has a long way to go.