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When we think of the ancient Egyptians, names like Cleopatra and the fascinating art of mummification often come to mind. Yet, we rarely think about the everyday items and concepts they gifted to our modern world.
While many of today’s most influential tools are attributed to later civilizations, the ancient Egyptians were ahead of their time. Much like us, they constantly sought ways to improve their daily lives and reduce stress. The following is a list of things they created that have endured through the ages, often without us realizing it.
10. Government
Although it's commonly taught that the Roman Empire introduced the first system of government, that’s only the earliest recorded version in the Western world. In fact, the very first governmental structures trace back to the early ancient Egyptians.
Even more astonishing is that this political system didn’t revolve around the pharaoh, as many people assume. Until around 1570 BC, ancient Egypt was ruled by kings. During the predynastic period, Egypt was under the rule of the Scorpion Kings, which almost sounds like the name of a biker gang. We don’t know exactly how the government functioned until King Narmer came to power and established the first centralized government within Egypt’s existing borders.
From that point, Egypt’s economy evolved from trade between different social classes to separate provinces, individual wealth, and taxes. Yes, this means that ancient Egyptians probably also attempted to get away with tax evasion.
9. Calendar
Before government policies and the development of the economy, there was little need to track days. However, it wasn’t just about the annoying tax collectors needing to know when to collect. Thanks to their advanced irrigation systems, the ancient Egyptians also needed to predict when the Nile would flood.
Thus, they invented the 365-day calendar. Initially, the calendar had 370 days until they realized they needed a shorter year and simply added leap years. So, if you were born on a day that only occurs in a leap year, are actually only 20, and have grandchildren, you can thank the ancient Egyptians for that.
8. Wine
New Year’s Eve, Christmas, birthdays—what better reasons to throw a party and maybe drink a bit too much? We can thank the ancient Egyptians for one of our favorite pastimes, as they were the first to invent wine. The new calendar likely gave them even more excuses to indulge, marking special days to get tipsy.
At first, archaeologists thought the vineyards they uncovered were meant for growing grapes to eat. But then they discovered wine residue in the bottoms of various pots, showing that the ancient Egyptians knew how to have a good time.
In fact, so many pots have been tested with the same results that it’s clear the ancient Egyptians were almost obsessed with wine. With numerous festivals (including a five-day celebration at the end of the year), it's easy to see why it became so beloved. So next time you're at a party, channel your inner Egyptian and party like it’s 3000 BC.
7. Toothpaste
In the 1600s, London kept a record of deaths through the “Bills of Mortality.” Though a rather morbid document, it noted infected teeth as one of the leading causes of death (second only to devastating epidemics like the bubonic plague). This was due to the lack of dental care at the time. In fact, people didn’t even consider that their diet could be contributing to such dental issues.
Little did they know, the ancient Egyptians had already tackled this problem centuries earlier. They understood the damage their teeth were enduring and created a simple yet effective solution. The first form of toothpaste, made from a rather unappealing mix of crushed ox hooves, ashes, and burned eggshells, was invented by the Egyptians.
Along with toothpaste, the Egyptians also came up with mints. These had a much more pleasant ingredient list, including rock salt, dried mint, and dried iris. In fact, several ancient Egyptian recipes (along with step-by-step guides) have been uncovered. This humble invention saved countless lives during that time.
6. Pens
If you’ve ever explored conspiracy theories, you’ve probably encountered the idea that ancient Egyptians had help from aliens. After strange carvings and hieroglyphics were found on stones, theorists ran wild with the idea that extraterrestrials and ancient Egyptians coexisted peacefully. However, they overlooked the fact that such carvings were far rarer than we tend to think.
The ancient Egyptians were among the first to recognize the impracticality of early writing systems, leading to the invention of parchment and pens. Although many of us think the quill came first, reed pens actually preceded it as a tool for writing.
The ancient Egyptians created a groundbreaking writing technique by soaking the ends of long reeds in water, then cutting them into points. This method cracked the reed, allowing ink to flow, and thus made portable documents a reality, enhancing daily life efficiency.
However, they soon realized that reed pens dried out too quickly, prompting the transition to quills. It wasn't until the late 1800s that society revisited the Egyptian design and created the modern ballpoint pen, complete with a cap to prevent it from drying out as quickly.
5. Clocks
Even in ancient Egypt, being late for work was an issue. The Egyptians used early forms of clocks, such as obelisks or sundials, but they were only effective when the sky was clear.
This led to the creation of the water clock, which resembled the cold brew makers often seen in trendy local coffee shops. It worked by gradually dripping water throughout the day, enabling people to track time indoors.
Following that, portable shadow clocks were developed. These devices made such an impression on daily life in ancient Egypt that people became deeply intrigued by the concept. This marked the beginning of the evolution of modern clocks.
4. Prosthetics
Though prosthetics may seem like a modern innovation, their origins date back to 950 BC. While not as advanced as today's electronic versions, these early prosthetics helped their users live more functional lives.
To date, archaeologists have uncovered an Egyptian artificial big toe, which is considered the earliest known prosthesis. Numerous body part replicas have been found in the tombs of ancient Egyptians, but these were purely symbolic for the afterlife. The story changed when a mummified, three-part big toe made from wood and leather was found alongside its owner.
To demonstrate that the artificial toe was designed to aid its wearer in walking, several replicas were crafted and tested using the scientific method. A group of individuals without toes walked both with and without the prostheses to determine their effectiveness. The results confirmed that the prosthesis led to positive outcomes, establishing the original toe as one of the earliest known prosthetics.
3. Hair Dye
If you’ve ever seen an artistic representation of ancient Egyptians, you’ll know they paid great attention to their appearance. They not only created makeup, wigs, and hair extensions but also pioneered the first techniques for hair dyeing. Hair wasn’t just about beauty; it was a sign of your social standing. The better you maintained your hair, the wealthier you were perceived to be.
The ancient Egyptians were determined to maintain a youthful look, and gray hair didn’t fit that vision. To counter this, they used dried henna leaves to create a reddish-brown paste that could color the hair. Henna was also applied to stain the nails and lips, with the depth of the color varying depending on how many leaves were added to the mixture.
2. Plow
Agriculture has always been the cornerstone of many civilizations, but it was the ancient Egyptians who pioneered the tools that enabled more efficient farming.
Before the plow was invented, people had to rely on “digging sticks,” long rods driven into the earth to create holes for planting seeds. These sticks made the process slow and laborious, often taking weeks or even months to complete. The Egyptians grew weary of this manual method and created the first plow, known as the ard.
The ard was a simple design—a digging stick with a curved handle and a pointed stone or metal attachment. With this tool, the Egyptians could walk and carve a deep furrow for planting several seeds at once. While primitive by today's standards, this invention revolutionized the way farmers worked at the time.
1. Scissors
Many people mistakenly believe that Leonardo da Vinci invented scissors. However, the earliest known design dates back to around 1500 BC. While the Romans refined the cross-blade mechanism we are familiar with today, the ancient Egyptians used a simpler yet effective version. It consisted of a single metal piece shaped into two blades connected by a metal strip between them.
The invention of scissors allowed the ancient Egyptians to style their hair in various ways. Even the most talented hairdressers of the time couldn't achieve such precision without a proper pair of shears.
