Buzz
Our brains naturally connect objects to specific cultures or time periods to help organize information. For example, when we hear the word 'pyramid,' we immediately think of ancient Egypt, even though there are many pyramids outside of Egypt. Many of these associations are inaccurate. Some things we strongly link to the modern era are actually far older than we realize.
10. Rap Battles
While rappers in 1980s New York are often credited with popularizing this form of lyrical competition, its origins trace back to Scotland. Known as flyting, this practice was popular among makaris (Scottish poets) in the 15th and 16th centuries. In these contests, two poets would exchange insults, often in poetic form, with the audience determining the winner. The victor would celebrate with a large cup of mead or beer and frequently invite the loser to join in the celebration.
Flyting gained such widespread popularity in Scotland that its use of profanity and vulgar language was often excused, despite being generally unacceptable in public settings. Flytes typically occurred in spacious venues like banquet halls, but the most talented poets performed at royal courts. Both King James IV and James V were known to be enthusiastic supporters of this poetic duel.
Sadly, few records of flytes from that era have survived. The most notable example is the famous “The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedy,” which occurred at the court of James IV and featured a verbal battle between Walter Kennedy and William Dunbar.
9. Dentures
The history of dentures stretches back much further than many realize. While George Washington is famously associated with dentures (none of which were wooden, contrary to popular belief), their origins date back to the Etruscan civilization in modern-day Italy, flourishing between the eighth and fourth centuries B.C.
Numerous findings indicate that the Etruscans pioneered the creation of false teeth as early as 700 B.C. Ancient skulls have been unearthed with gold bands, and in Marzabotto, a skull was found with an artificial tooth still secured using gold wire. In addition to dentures, individual crowns designed for molars and canines have also been discovered.
Their dental expertise was remarkably advanced, and the dentures they crafted closely resembled those used centuries later, even during George Washington's time. These dentures were made from animal or human teeth, attached to a gold band with metal pins, and then firmly positioned in the mouth.
8. Newspapers
To qualify as a newspaper, a publication must provide current information on various topics at regular intervals and be widely accessible to the public. Some argue that newspapers must also be printed, which would mean they couldn’t exist before the invention of the printing press. However, if we disregard this requirement, newspapers date back much further. Both ancient Rome and China had handwritten news sheets regularly distributed to the public, detailing current events and other significant occurrences.
In Rome, the first daily gazette was called Acta Diurna, even though it wasn’t printed on paper but instead carved into stone or metal. Initially, it focused solely on legal proceedings and trial outcomes. As its readership expanded, it began covering politics, military campaigns, births, deaths, and executions.
In China, the earliest newspapers were referred to as tipao (also Di Bao). These were imperial bulletins produced during the Tang Dynasty. During the Kaiyuan era, they were succeeded by Kaiyuan Za Bao, an official handwritten publication on silk, primarily distributed to imperial officials.
7. Toothbrushes
Early dental care methods were far more rudimentary. The first “toothbrushes” were simply sticks with frayed ends that people rubbed against their teeth. While not particularly effective, they did help freshen breath. These “chew sticks” have been discovered in ancient China, Egypt, and Babylonia, dating back to 3,000 B.C.
A tool resembling the modern toothbrush didn’t emerge until the 15th century in China. Crafted from bone or bamboo, it featured natural bristles made from hog neck hairs. As trade between China and Europe grew, the design quickly spread. Europeans, however, found hog hairs too stiff and opted for softer horsehair instead.
Although the toothbrush design underwent occasional updates, it didn’t evolve into the modern version we recognize today until the early 20th century. This transformation occurred after Wallace Carothers invented nylon for DuPont, replacing the traditional use of animal hair for bristles.
6. Welfare
Ancient Rome implemented several programs to offer its citizens subsidized food. Initially, this wasn’t mandatory but was frequently practiced by the government or wealthy individuals seeking public favor. They distributed corn, known as frumentatio, to the populace. In 123 B.C., Gaius Gracchus, a tribune, introduced Lex Frumentaria, a law granting every Roman citizen access to a monthly wheat supply at a reduced price (approximately half the market rate). This benefit was available to family heads and wasn’t limited to the poor.
Roman emperors adopted various strategies to address poverty. It was common for emperors to distribute money to citizens to celebrate significant events, often military victories. Emperor Trajan, for instance, expanded welfare by increasing the number of citizens eligible for free grain and establishing alimenta, a public fund aimed at supporting underprivileged children.
5. The Odometer
The odometer, a device found in most modern vehicles to measure travel distance, traces its origins back to ancient Greece. Its exact inventor remains uncertain. Vitruvius mentions an early odometer in his writings, and some attribute its creation to Archimedes.
The ancient odometer relied on chariot wheels of a standard size. A wheel needed to rotate 400 times to cover a Roman mile. A pin on the axle engaged a 400-tooth cogwheel, connected to another gear. After each full rotation, the gear would drop a stone into a container. By counting the stones at the journey’s end, the distance traveled could be determined.
While there’s no definitive proof this device was constructed, Alexander the Great employed specialists called bematists to measure route distances during his expeditions. Their precise measurements, later documented by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History, align so closely with modern calculations that the use of a mechanical device seems almost certain.
A similar odometer was independently invented in ancient China by the renowned inventor Zhang Heng. His design operated on a comparable principle, but instead of stones, a drum was struck every half kilometer.
4. High Heels
High heels are often seen as a modern fashion accessory primarily worn by women to accentuate beauty and create the appearance of longer, slimmer legs. However, their origins are far from contemporary. High heels trace back to the ninth century, where they were initially worn by men.
Ancient Persian ceramic bowls from over 1,000 years ago showcase men donning high-heeled shoes. At the time, heels served a functional purpose rather than a decorative one. Persian archers wore them to stabilize their feet in stirrups while shooting arrows from horseback.
Heels remained in use for centuries, helping Persia develop some of the world’s most skilled archers. As Persian culture influenced Europe, high heels gained popularity there by the 17th century. This time, they were adopted by the aristocracy rather than soldiers.
These shoes became symbols of status. The higher and more impractical the heel, the better. European elites often used uncomfortable and impractical clothing to display their privilege. Heels were frequently dyed red, as red dye was a costly luxury item.
3. Chewing Gum
Chewing gum, in various forms, has been around for approximately 5,000 years. The oldest known example was found in Finland and dates back to the Neolithic era. This ancient gum was made from birch bark tar and bore clear tooth marks. Even then, chewing gum served a medicinal purpose, as birch bark contains phenols with antiseptic properties, likely used to treat gum infections.
Throughout history, many cultures developed their own versions of chewing gum. The Greeks used resin from the mastic tree, while Native Americans chewed spruce tree resin. However, it was the Aztecs who played a key role in the rise of modern chewing gum.
The Aztecs chewed chicle, a natural gum extracted from certain South American trees. In the 1860s, Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna introduced chicle to inventor Thomas Adams, hoping to use it for rubber tire production. When this failed, Adams repurposed chicle as the main ingredient for his Adams New York Chewing Gum. The product was a hit, and within two years, Adams was mass-producing it. Chicle remained the primary gum base for a century before being replaced by cheaper synthetic alternatives.
2. Roller Skates
While roller skates are often linked to the roller disco craze of the 1960s and 1970s, their origins are much older. The earliest known version of roller skates dates back to the 18th century. Belgian inventor John Joseph Merlin designed inline skates in the 1760s, essentially ice skates with wheels replacing the blades. He debuted them at a masquerade ball in Huys, Belgium, but legend has it he couldn’t stop and crashed into a large mirror.
The first patented roller skate design came from French inventor M. Petitbled. His version resembled wooden sandals with three wheels attached to the bottom. Like Merlin’s skates, Petitbled’s design was challenging to maneuver, making it nearly impossible to turn or stop.
The breakthrough came in 1863 when James Leonard Plimpton invented the precursor to modern roller skates. His design featured two pairs of wheels, making it safer and more user-friendly. Plimpton converted his furniture business office into a skating rink and later established the New York Roller Skating Association to popularize the sport.
1. The Seismometer
Earthquakes can cause immense destruction. While we can’t prevent them, having a device to detect seismic activity is invaluable. Modern seismographs serve this purpose, but the ancient Chinese also had such technology. Zhang Heng, a renowned Chinese polymath, is credited with creating the world’s first seismograph, adding to his many accomplishments.
The device, known as Houfeng Didong Yi (“instrument for measuring the wind and earth’s movements”), was invented in A.D. 132. Described in the History of the Later Han Dynasty, it was a large bronze vessel with eight dragon-shaped contact points, each holding a ball. Inside, a bronze column would shift during an earthquake, triggering a lever that caused a dragon to drop its ball, indicating the quake’s direction.
