The Ancient Egyptians are most likely known to you because of their magnificent mummies and the amazing pyramids. However, did you know they actually gave us lots of inventions as well as these things? Here are some of the most amazing ones!
1. Make up
If you are into Christian Dior, Mac or any other make up brands, then did you know the Egyptians were the first to wear make up on their faces. The had a dedicated beauty regime and were the first society to do this! Both men and women wore eye make up- believing that it would cure eye diseases.
2. Wigs
Many Egyptians shaved their heads during the hot summer months to stay cool and also avoid lice. Wigs were expensive, so only the rich could afford them.
3. Toothpaste and toothbrushes
The Egyptians actually used a mix of rock salt, mint, iris flowers and grains of pepper to get perfect white teeth.
4. Surgical instruments
There are records to show that the Egyptians used scalpels (sharp knives), copper needles, forceps, hooks, spoons, lancets and a range of other instruments to perform surgery on people's bodies- not to mention how they were used in the mummification process!
5. Clocks
The Egyptians used what we would now know as a sun dial- where a shadow was cast onto a circular plate in order to tell the time.
6. The Police
If you think Sir Robert Peel invented the Police then you are sadly mistaken! Rich local officials were known to keep order in their area with private police forces. Punishments handed out included cutting off your nose!
7. The calendar
They devised the solar calendar- which was based on when the Nile flooded annually. Their calendar had 365 days with 30 days in each month combined with an additional 5 festival days at the end of the year.
8. The Sickle
They invented a curved blade for cutting and harvesting grain- some developing countries still use these today as part of their farming methods.
9. Black Ink
They mixed bees' wax, soot and vegetable gum to create black ink. They even made other colours by replacing the soot with a more appropriate colour.
10. Paper- or papyrus
All of that black ink would have been useless without anything to write on! The Egyptians invented papyrus- which a tough relative of our modern paper. It was even used in the Roman Empire as well- it was the most important writing material for 3000 years.
11. Writing
The Egyptians were one of the first civilisations to put their ideas down as a codified method- this was in the form of pictures- or hieroglyphics.
12. The ramp
Imagine trying to climb steep steps without ramps
13. The lever
A key to many machines- without levers- there would be no machines.
14. Astronomy
Gazing at the stars? Well, it was the Egyptians who invented this.
15. Bowling
Ever been to MegaBowl? Or Hollywood Bowl? The Egyptians were doing this 7000 years ago! Some Egyptians were buried with their personal items- one of which was their bowling balls and skittles.
16. Barbers
Not only did the Egyptians invent wigs, they also invented the idea of going to see someone you would pay to cut your hair. Although when barbers were first invented, they didn't use scissors, they used sharpened shells!
17. Tables
This may not seem exciting- what's so exciting about a table!? But without tables, where would you spend the majority of your day? Before the Egyptians, most people sat on the floor!
18. The lock
Thank goodness for the Egyptians who have prevented millions of robberies with this great invention!
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