What is the timeline of ancient science to modern science?

Answer 1

The scientific method is a relatively modern invention, there is no ancient science.

As a measure of the effectiveness of the application if the scientific method to modern life, one could look at the average life span of populations through time. We now live to be about 70 years or better. In ancient times the average life span was under 30.

Another measure is the ease with which we transport goods and services. In ancient times people travelled by foot over trails overgrown by brush. Sometimes they used horses, but horses are no match for auto mobiles or air planes.

A third measure involves telecommunications. In the old days messages were transcribed by hand on parchment. It was a laborious process to produce both the parchment or vellum (a by-product of animal hide) and ink. Copies of messages would then be disseminated on foot or by horseback. The printing press enabled numerous copies of larger messages to be produced, but that 15th century invention hearkens the onset of the modern scientific era. Science has produced Broadcast Television, cellular phones, and the internet, over which messages span the globe almost instantly and at a fraction of the cost.

In terms of medicine and human lifespan, transportation, and communications, use of the scientific method trumps ancient practices hands down. It terms of military capability, science has no peer. I cannot think of a single category over which ancient beliefs supersede modern endeavours.