quote:While ancient Egypt is usually associated with pharaohs, mummies and pyramids; a great number of ancient Egyptian inventions are used in our everyday lives. It would be quite difficult to conveniently and comfortably handle our everyday affairs without most of these early Egyptian inventions. The history of the Egyptian nation spans thousands of years. Even before they were eventually ruled by one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world, the Romans, the Egyptians were already quite handy at making their own contributions to their part of the globe. Some of the inventions of ancient Egypt are quite well known while other ancient Egyptian inventions are hardly known at all, or at the very least, often credited to other peoples. List of Inventions in Ancient Egypt
Black Ink First Ox-Drawn Plows 365 Day Calendar and Leap Year Paper First Triangular Shaped Pyramids Organized labor Hieroglyphics as an early system of writing Sails One of the inventions before Christ in Egypt was surprisingly black ink. The Egyptian people were very talented at creating not only black ink, but many multi-colored types of ink and dye. The process and depth of color utilized in the Egyptian invention of ink and dye was so marvelous that these brilliant hued colors can still be seen today, thousands of years later. While not thought of in quite the same aspects as the technology we know today, the first ox-draws plows that appeared in Egypt as early as 2500 B.C. were; nevertheless ancient Egypt technological inventions. Skilled metal working would have been required in order to form a workable plow, as well as animal husbandry. One might wonder why the ancient Egyptians would have even needed ox-drawn plows when the majority of the Egyptian nation consists of deserts. While there certainly is a great amount of sweeping desert land in Egypt, the nation is also the home of extremely fertile black soil along the banks of the Nile River. This soil makes a very hospitable environment for growing crops such as wheat, in addition to a multitude of vegetables. Ancient Egyptian inventions, such as the ox-drawn plow, would have made farming much easier and more profitable. The ancient Egyptians also have the distinct honor of having invented not only the modern 365 day calendar but the leap year system as well. Ancient civilizations recorded and marked time using a lunar calendar system. A solar system established calendar, based on twelve months of 30 days each, with five extra days, was first conceived of by the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians also devised the leap year calendar of adding an extra day every fourth year in the year 238 B.C.One of the many ancient Egyptian inventions was an early system of writing, now recognized around the world, known as hieroglyphics. Not only did the ancient Egyptians invent a system of writing, but they also invented the paper on which to place it. Taken from the fibers of the papyrus plant, Egyptian paper was the first of its kind. While there remains speculation regarding how the ancient pyramids were constructed, it is obvious the Egyptians were the first to invent and employ organized labor on a massive scale in order to construct these magnificent stone structures. When one takes into consideration that the construction of just one pyramid often lasted several decades, the magnitude of the organized labor required becomes enormous. The first truly triangular shaped pyramids are also counted among the many ancient Egyptian inventions; although it took them several tries in order to achieve an idea model. Egyptian inventions also include sails. Living in such close proximity to the Nile River, it would have been imperative for the Egyptians to devise efficient methods of water transportation. Ancient Egypt inventions in some cases revolutionized the way the world lived and in other cases, they were merely the forerunner to the technologies we enjoy today. In all cases however, ancient Egyptian inventions were truly a marvel of ancient ingenuity.
quote:Locks were another making of the Egyptians. These were made to prevent the endless robberies. They made a wooden crossbar that was almost entirely enclose except for some space for the key and the pins. They dropped these pins into cavities, which locked the door. To unlock it, they slid the key into the opening, which pushed the pins out of the way, enabling the door to open.
Lady Ferret Member # 15263
posted
Beer
Djehuti Member # 6698
posted
^ Oh yes, not that I'm a beer fan, but we can't forget that!
Although beer-making might be a tradition in the Nile Valley or Africa in general that may predate Egypt.
By the way, here are other inventions attributed to the Egyptians per Wally's site:
Medicine: Anatomy (identifying and labeling internal and external body parts) Antibiotics Embalming Surgical instruments Medical specialists (Doctors who treated specific ailments) Dentists
Transportation: Rudder Canals (including the first Suez canal) Navy (including the circumvention of the African continent)
Technology: Steam engine (Heron of Alexandria, a native Egyptian, called Michanikos, the Machine Man) Automaton (Heron) Automatic door (Heron) Lock Key Clock Loom Ink Metal piping Egg hatchery Carpentry joints Fiberglass
Customs: Wedding ring Handshake Table manners "Amen" (Hidden) Thumbs up, thumbs down
Food & Drink: Pancakes Marshmellows
Agriculture: Plow
Home: Air-cooling system Fan Master bedroom Canopy bed Indoor lighting - oil lamps
Communications: Calendar Writing Postal system Carrier pigeons Drum
At play: Checkers Senet Rattles Marbles Bowling Darts Doll making industry Mechanical toys Zoos Literature (novels, poetry, narrative, drama) Sistrum Bagpipe Trumpet Wind Organ (Heron)
References: Ancient Inventions, Peter James & Nick Thorpe, Ballentine Books, NY Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things, Charles Panati, Harper & Row, NY
T. Rex Member # 3735
posted
I wonder, did the Egyptians invent the current Western practice of putting dead people into sarcophaguses? It certainly isn't an indigenous European custom like burning people on a pyre.
Djehuti Member # 6698
posted
^ Good question. Certainly Egyptians created sarcophagi that were far more elaborate, but I believe Europeans had sarcophagi of their own at least by the Bronze Age. As for cremation, many scholars tend to associate the custom with Indo-European speakers. How certain that is I don't know, but the custom of burial was definitely more prevalent and ancient than that of cremation.
kenndo Member # 4846
posted
i think Monotheism had a influence from the south on egypt.there was article on that.Mathematics has origins in inner africa really and Government and writing but these were early stages. i think Circumcision too.the drum?i do not know about that one.maybe,maybe not.
quote:While ancient Egypt is usually associated with pharaohs, mummies and pyramids; a great number of ancient Egyptian inventions are used in our everyday lives. It would be quite difficult to conveniently and comfortably handle our everyday affairs without most of these early Egyptian inventions. The history of the Egyptian nation spans thousands of years. Even before they were eventually ruled by one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world, the Romans, the Egyptians were already quite handy at making their own contributions to their part of the globe. Some of the inventions of ancient Egypt are quite well known while other ancient Egyptian inventions are hardly known at all, or at the very least, often credited to other peoples. List of Inventions in Ancient Egypt
Black Ink First Ox-Drawn Plows 365 Day Calendar and Leap Year Paper First Triangular Shaped Pyramids Organized labor Hieroglyphics as an early system of writing Sails One of the inventions before Christ in Egypt was surprisingly black ink. The Egyptian people were very talented at creating not only black ink, but many multi-colored types of ink and dye. The process and depth of color utilized in the Egyptian invention of ink and dye was so marvelous that these brilliant hued colors can still be seen today, thousands of years later. While not thought of in quite the same aspects as the technology we know today, the first ox-draws plows that appeared in Egypt as early as 2500 B.C. were; nevertheless ancient Egypt technological inventions. Skilled metal working would have been required in order to form a workable plow, as well as animal husbandry. One might wonder why the ancient Egyptians would have even needed ox-drawn plows when the majority of the Egyptian nation consists of deserts. While there certainly is a great amount of sweeping desert land in Egypt, the nation is also the home of extremely fertile black soil along the banks of the Nile River. This soil makes a very hospitable environment for growing crops such as wheat, in addition to a multitude of vegetables. Ancient Egyptian inventions, such as the ox-drawn plow, would have made farming much easier and more profitable. The ancient Egyptians also have the distinct honor of having invented not only the modern 365 day calendar but the leap year system as well. Ancient civilizations recorded and marked time using a lunar calendar system. A solar system established calendar, based on twelve months of 30 days each, with five extra days, was first conceived of by the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians also devised the leap year calendar of adding an extra day every fourth year in the year 238 B.C.One of the many ancient Egyptian inventions was an early system of writing, now recognized around the world, known as hieroglyphics. Not only did the ancient Egyptians invent a system of writing, but they also invented the paper on which to place it. Taken from the fibers of the papyrus plant, Egyptian paper was the first of its kind. While there remains speculation regarding how the ancient pyramids were constructed, it is obvious the Egyptians were the first to invent and employ organized labor on a massive scale in order to construct these magnificent stone structures. When one takes into consideration that the construction of just one pyramid often lasted several decades, the magnitude of the organized labor required becomes enormous. The first truly triangular shaped pyramids are also counted among the many ancient Egyptian inventions; although it took them several tries in order to achieve an idea model. Egyptian inventions also include sails. Living in such close proximity to the Nile River, it would have been imperative for the Egyptians to devise efficient methods of water transportation. Ancient Egypt inventions in some cases revolutionized the way the world lived and in other cases, they were merely the forerunner to the technologies we enjoy today. In all cases however, ancient Egyptian inventions were truly a marvel of ancient ingenuity.
quote:Locks were another making of the Egyptians. These were made to prevent the endless robberies. They made a wooden crossbar that was almost entirely enclose except for some space for the key and the pins. They dropped these pins into cavities, which locked the door. To unlock it, they slid the key into the opening, which pushed the pins out of the way, enabling the door to open.
I thought "paper" as we know it the cheap easy to make material has root in China. Papyrus was expensive and time consuming to make...right?
Jari-Ankhamun Member # 14451
posted
quote:Originally posted by Djehuti: ^ Oh yes, not that I'm a beer fan, but we can't forget that!
Although beer-making might be a tradition in the Nile Valley or Africa in general that may predate Egypt.
By the way, here are other inventions attributed to the Egyptians per Wally's site:
Medicine: Anatomy (identifying and labeling internal and external body parts) Antibiotics Embalming Surgical instruments Medical specialists (Doctors who treated specific ailments) Dentists
Transportation: Rudder Canals (including the first Suez canal) Navy (including the circumvention of the African continent)
Technology: Steam engine (Heron of Alexandria, a native Egyptian, called Michanikos, the Machine Man) Automaton (Heron) Automatic door (Heron) Lock Key Clock Loom Ink Metal piping Egg hatchery Carpentry joints Fiberglass
Customs: Wedding ring Handshake Table manners "Amen" (Hidden) Thumbs up, thumbs down
Food & Drink: Pancakes Marshmellows
Agriculture: Plow
Home: Air-cooling system Fan Master bedroom Canopy bed Indoor lighting - oil lamps
Communications: Calendar Writing Postal system Carrier pigeons Drum
At play: Checkers Senet Rattles Marbles Bowling Darts Doll making industry Mechanical toys Zoos Literature (novels, poetry, narrative, drama) Sistrum Bagpipe Trumpet Wind Organ (Heron)
References: Ancient Inventions, Peter James & Nick Thorpe, Ballentine Books, NY Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things, Charles Panati, Harper & Row, NY
"Architecture"...Hmmmm...Large stone Architecture yes but Architecture in general is older than Egypt.
Djehuti Member # 6698
posted
quote:Originally posted by kenndo: i think Monotheism had a influence from the south on egypt. there was article on that. Mathematics has origins in inner africa really and Government and writing but these were early stages. i think Circumcision too. the drum? i do not know about that one. maybe,maybe not.
By monotheism, I don't think Wally is saying they actually founded the Abrahamic faith, but that specifically Egyptians were the first people recorded to announce one god-- specifically Akhenaton's Aten cult (?)
Everything else you say I don't think can be attributed to Egyptians alone but many Africans in general.
quote:Originally posted by Jari-Ankhamun: I thought "paper" as we know it the cheap easy to make material has root in China. Papyrus was expensive and time consuming to make...right?
Well I don't know about the process of making papyrus paper--how long to make or how expensive it was-- but it is certain that the earliest use of paper recorded was that of the Egyptians' use of Nile papyrus.
quote:"Architecture"...Hmmmm...Large stone Architecture yes but Architecture in general is older than Egypt.
Of course. I think the architecture credited to the Egyptians specifically is the large stone architecture especially of the type involving pillar columns and entrance ways. Such a style that was later adopted by the Greeks and used to this day as 'Classical Western' architecture, was found to have been used by Nile Valley Africans since the Neolithic.
kenndo Member # 4846
posted
recorded yes but i rememeber this idea first having it's origin really south too.
posted ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)