Ancient Egyptian Inventions
Studying ancient Egyptian inventions makes you realize that Egypt is the starting point for everything! For thousands of years, the ancient Egyptians ruled over a large empire, taming enormous swaths of wilderness, constructing structures that have survived the test of time, and crafting stories that have become legendary. The ancient Egyptians passed down many lesser-known inventions that are still in use today. This article examines ancient Egyptian innovations, including how they came to be, their role in Egyptian culture, and how they are remembered now.
Ancient Egypt has one of the world’s most extensive collections of antiquities and monuments. It also had a huge cultural influence on nearby ancient and modern civilizations, influencing issues like language, mathematics, and architecture. Ancient Egyptian inventions were also recognized for their vast range of diversity, many of which are still in use today. Continue reading to learn about ten of the most significant Ancient Egyptian innovations. The following is a list of ancient Egyptian inventions and discoveries:
Language and Literature
Language is one of the most important ancient Egyptian inventions; they invented the art of writing to express their ideas. Initially, the Egyptians used pictures and pictographic signs to express their ideas, but after a few thousand years, they invented 24 alphabets (where each symbol represents a sound rather than a whole word).
In 3200 B.C.E, this caught on with Egypt’s neighbors, the Phoenicians, who created their own alphabet, which spread throughout the Near East. This affected speech and writing by serving as the catalyst and foundation for alphabets all throughout the ancient world.
The discovery of the Rosetta stone in 1799 A.D. brought all of this knowledge to light. In 3000 B.C.E., the ancient Egyptians were the first to abandon stone tablets in favor of writing on papyrus using ink. They were able to utilize their creativity to produce eternal literature like “The Pyramid Texts,” “The Coffin Texts,” and “The Book of the Dead,” which expressed their feelings, tales, myths, experiences, and religious views.
They spoke a variety of languages, including
- Archaic Egyptian (before 2600 B.C.E.)
- Old Egyptian (2600–2000 B.C.E.)
- Demotic Egyptian (7th century B.C.E.–4th century C.E.)
- Coptic (3rd–12th-century C.E.)
- Middle Egyptian (2000–1300 B.C.E.)
- Late Egyptian (1300–700 B.C.E.)
Ancient Egyptian Mathematical, Geometrical, and Architectural Inventions
The ancient Egyptians were talented in mathematics; they were quick at addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and they were the first to create simple and complicated fractions, as evidenced by remnants discovered on a papyrus written around 1650 B.C.E.
In 3100 B.C.E., the first confirmed use of a decimal system emerged. The Egyptians had more advanced practical mathematics than the Greeks or Mesopotamians. They possessed the oldest records of geometry, and their methods for these calculations are still used in current computing. Their understanding of building and the science behind shapes like triangles and squares allowed them to measure land and create monuments like the Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx.
The ancient Egyptian inventions also include custom-made bricks and cement, which they were the first to create. They used copper plumbing around 3000 B.C.E. and precise surveying in 2700 B.C.E. to build their stunning structures. They also invented the Astronomical calendar in 2400 B.C.E., which is still valued today for its accuracy and regularity.
Inventions in Medicine
They put a lot of effort into learning the art of human anatomy, which dates back to 3000 B.C.E. In the ancient world, Egyptian medicine had a good reputation since numerous doctors could stitch up wounds, mend shattered bones, and even amputate limbs.
They utilized opium as a pain reliever, and they ate onions and garlic on a regular basis for their medicinal advantages. Because they were concerned about their oral hygiene, they were the first to develop and utilize a toothbrush and toothpaste. The world’s oldest documented usage of the word surgery was in ancient papyrus around 2700 B.C.E. They utilized numerous herbs to heal wounds and performed highly sophisticated surgeries utilizing several surgical bronze instruments. Egyptian doctors were well-known throughout the Mediterranean for all of these reasons.
Ancient Egyptian Ships, Trade, and Farming Inventions
Boats were initially used in internal and international trade and commerce by the ancient Egyptians. Egypt was a major trading hub in the Mediterranean, exporting and importing a variety of products such as livestock, Asian wine, valuable stones from Persia, and copper from Senia. Sudan, Phonecia, Crate, and Persia all had excellent trading connections with them.
They were the first to establish their own fleet, utilizing superior aerodynamics and shipbuilding skills. In 1160 B.C.E., they also constructed the first known geologic and topographic map. They were the first to investigate and invest in the full potential of agriculture and farming, as they studied the Nile’s cycles, which led to the development of the earliest irrigation systems and the employment of sickle blades and oxen-driven plows to soften the parched soil.
Craftsmanship, Art, and Entertainment Inventions
The ancient Egyptian inventions reflect a culture that combined science and beauty. They were the first to abandon wood and stone for metal, pioneering metallurgy. Around 3300 B.C.E., they created bronze by fusing copper and tin, which they used for tools, weapons like swords and shields, and construction equipment such as saws and axes.
They also invented the pottery wheel to mass-produce vases and crockery, and created glass around 3500 B.C.E. by heating silica sand and soda. Their artistic skills are evident in the beautiful paintings and sketches that have survived on temple walls. Other innovations include natural-resource wigs, fashionable jewelry, cosmetics, and Senet, the world’s first known board game, invented around 2900 B.C.E.
Book an Egypt Fun Tour
Egypt was the envy of its neighbors. It left a beautiful legacy. It created countless innovations and ideas. These still influence our lives today. When you take a vacation or Nile cruise, be sure to explore the mythology, temples, and tombs. You can find these in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Alexandria.
