SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 1

(SCIE 101)

ASYNCHRONOUS MODULE 1
Egyptian Civilization’s Contributions to Science and Technology

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Enhance ability to gain knowledge on the interaction between science and technology
throughout history;

2. Trace back the development of science and technology in ancient Egypt; and

3. Recognize important contributions of ancient Egypt in science and technology.

INTRODUCTION

Ancient Egypt is a land of mysteries. No other civilization has so captured the

imagination of scholars and laypeople alike. Mystery surrounds its origins, its religion and its
monumental architecture: colossal temples, pyramids and the enormous Sphinx. The Egyptian
pyramids are the most famous of all the ancient monuments, the only remaining wonder of the
seven wonders of the ancient worlds.

While much of the world was living in primitive conditions, the ancient Egyptians were
inventing writing and advancing the sciences of mathematics, medicine and astronomy. They
developed ways to measure time and distances, and applied their knowledge to monumental
architecture.

Today, Egyptian archaeologists are still making important discoveries, and the scientific
study of royal mummies is shedding new light on the genealogy of the pharaohs. The ongoing
deciphering of hieroglyphics writings and research on the life of the peasants are also
answering many questions related to the evolution of the Egyptian culture. The pharaonic
religion gives the impression that the Egyptians were preoccupied with death; however there are
ample indications that they were a happy lot who knew how to enjoy life.

MSEUF| College of Arts and Sciences

 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 2
(SCIE 101)

Egyptian Civilization

Another early civilization famous for its legacy is the Egyptian civilization located in North
Africa. Many stories tell about the engineering feats of the Egyptians especially regarding the
infrastructures established by the pharaohs. Aside from engineering technology, the Egyptians
have contributed other practical things that the world now considers as essential. It is thus safe
to say that the pyramids are not the only contributions of the Egyptian civilization to the modern
world.

Table 1. Egyptian Civilization Contributions in the Development of Science and Technology

Contribution Illustration
Handheld Mirror
 The simple handheld mirror one finds so
commonplace in the present day was created by the
Egyptians.
 These were often decorated with inscriptions and
figures, such as that of the protector-god Bes, and
were owned by men and women alike.
 More ornate wall mirrors were also a part of middle-
and upper-class homes and were likewise
decorated.
 The ancient Egyptians were very aware of their self-
image and personal hygiene and appearance was
an important value.
Fig. 1. The Trustees of the British Museum
Toothpaste
 Toothpaste was made of rock salt, mint, dried iris
petals, and pepper, according to one recipe from the
4th century CE, which dentists in 2003 CE tried and
found to be quite effective (although it made their
gums bleed).
 Another earlier recipe suggested ground-up ox
hooves and ash, which, mixed with one's saliva,
created a cleansing paste for the teeth.
 This recipe, lacking the mint, did nothing for one's
Fig. 2. www.google.com.ph
breath and so tablets were created from spices like
cinnamon and frankincense heated in a honey

MSEUF| College of Arts and Sciences

 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 3
(SCIE 101)

mixture, which became the world's first breath mints.

Toothbrushes
 Toothbrushes and toothpaste were invented
because of the grit and sand which found its way
into the bread and vegetables of the daily meals.
 The image presented in the modern day by art and
movies of Egyptians with exceptionally white teeth is
misleading; dental problems were common in
ancient Egypt, and few, if any, had an all-white
smile.
 Dentistry developed to deal with these difficulties but
never seems to have advanced at the same rate as
other areas of medicine. While it appears doctors
were fairly successful in their techniques, dentists
were less so.
 To cite only one example, the
queen Hatshepsut (1479-1458 BCE) actually died
Fig. 3. www.google.com.ph
from an abscess following a tooth extraction.
Paper or Papyrus
 One of the earlier contributions of the Egyptian
civilization was the paper or papyrus.
 Papyrus was a plant that grow abundantly along the
Nile River.
 The invention of paper was a major accomplishment
in Egyptian record-keeping and communications.
 People then were able to send letters or
correspondences anywhere in the world.
 Documents would not take huge storage spaces.
 It was easier to keep them away from raiders who
often destroyed records of the nations they invaded.
Fig. 4. www.google.com.ph

MSEUF| College of Arts and Sciences

 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 4
(SCIE 101)

Ox-drawn plow
 Among the many inventions or innovations of the
ancient Egyptians was the ox-drawn plow and
improvements in irrigation.
 The ox-drawn plow was designed in two gauges:
heavy and light. The heavy plow went first and cut
the furrows while the lighter plow came behind
turning up the earth.
 Once the field was plowed then workers with hoes
broke up the clumps of soil and sowed the rows with
seed. To press the seed into the furrows, livestock
was driven across the field and the furrows were
closed. Fig. 5. The Trustees of the British Museum

Irrigation
 Egyptian irrigation techniques were so effective they
were implemented by the cultures of Greece and
Rome.
 New irrigation techniques were introduced during
the Second Intermediate Period by the people
known as the Hyksos, who settled in Avaris in Lower
Egypt, and the Egyptians improved upon them;
notably through the expanded use of the canal.
 The yearly inundation of the Nile overflowing its
banks and depositing rich soil throughout the valley
was essential to Egyptian life but irrigation canals
were necessary to carry water to outlying farms and
villages as well as to maintain even saturation of
crops near the river. Fig. 6. www.google.com.ph

MSEUF| College of Arts and Sciences

 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 5
(SCIE 101)

Ink
 The Egyptians invented the ink by combining soot
with different chemicals to produce inks of different
colors.
 The ink must withstand the elements of nature since
it was used to record history, culture and codified
laws.
 It must also be tamper-proof so that people could
not simply tinker with those written down by
authorities.
Fig. 7. www.google.com.ph

Hieroglyphics
 Like the Sumerians, the Egyptians also developed a
system of writing using symbols, the hieroglyphics.
 The Egyptians believed that this writing system was
provided to them by their gods.
 This form of writing can still be seen today and was
the language that tells the modern world of the
history and culture of the ancient Egyptians.
Fig. 8. www.google.com.ph

Cosmetics
 Cosmetics in the ancient Egypt was used for both
health and aesthetic reasons.
 Egyptians wore Kohl around the eyes to prevent and
even cure eye diseases. Kohl was created by mixing
soot or malachite with mineral galena.
 Egyptians also believed that a person wearing
make-up was protected from evil and that beauty
was a sign of holiness.
Fig. 9. www.google.com.ph

MSEUF| College of Arts and Sciences

 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 6
(SCIE 101)

Wig
 During the ancient Egyptian times, wigs were worn
for health and wellness rather than for aesthetic
purposes.
 The wigs were used to protect the shaved heads of
the wealthy Egyptians from the harmful rays of the
sun.
 It was considered cleaner than natural hair because
it prevented the accumulation of head lice.
Fig. 10. www.google.com.ph

Water Clock or Clepsydra

 This device utilizes gravity that affects the flow of
water from one vessel to the other.
 The amount of water remaining in the device
determines how much time has elapsed since it is
full. In the process, time is measured.
 The water clock was widely used as a timekeeping
device during the ancient times. Fig. 11. www.google.com.ph

Pyramids
 Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom has immense
pyramids built to serve as their tombs.
 These demanded not only the greatest skills of
Egypt’s architects and engineers but also the labor
of thousands of workers.

Fig. 12. www.google.com.ph

Obelisks
 The creation of an obelisk, for example, seems to
have always involved the exact same procedure
performed in precisely the same way.
 The quarrying and transport of obelisks are well
documented (though how the immense monuments
were raised is not) and shows a strict adherence to
a standard procedure. Fig. 13.by Dennis Jarvis (CC BY-SA)

MSEUF| College of Arts and Sciences

 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 7
(SCIE 101)

Embalming (Mummification)
 The bodies of people who had died were carefully
preserved before their burial. Chemicals were used
to dry out or mummify the body.
 The mummy was then painted, wrapped in fine
linen, and adorned with jewelry.
 Egyptian embalmers were so skillful that modern
archaeologists have found mummies that still have
hair, skin and teeth after thousands of years of
burial.
Fig. 14. www.google.com.ph

Medicine
 Medicine in ancient Egypt was intimately tied to
magic. The three best-known works dealing with
medical issues. of medical knowledge.
 The Ebers Papyrus is a text of 110 pages treating
ailments such as trauma, cancer, heart disease,
depression, dermatology, gastrointestinal distress,
and many others.
 The Edwin Smith Papyrus is the oldest known work
on surgical techniques and is thought to have been
written for triage surgeons in field hospitals. This
work shows detailed knowledge of anatomy and
physiology.
 The London Medical Papyrus combines practical Fig. 15. The Trustees of the British Museum
medical skill with magical spells for the treatment of
conditions ranging from eye problems to
miscarriages.
Dentistry

 Based on the evidence of mummies who have been

examined, as well as letters and other documents,
ancient Egyptians seem to have experienced fairly
severe and widespread dental problems.

 Dentistry does not seem to have evolved at the

same pace as other branches of medicine but still Fig. 16. www.google.com.ph

MSEUF| College of Arts and Sciences

 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 8
(SCIE 101)

was more advanced and showed a greater

knowledge of dealing with oral pain than later
remedies practiced by other cultures.

 The first known dental procedure dates to 14,000

years ago in Italy, according to evidence published
in 2015 CE, but the first dentist in the world known
by name was the Egyptian Hesyre (c. 2660 BCE)
who held the position of Chief of Dentists and
Physician to the King during the reign of Djoser (c.
2670 BCE) showing that dentistry was considered
an important practice as early as Djoser's reign and
probably earlier.

 This being so, it is unclear why dental practices did

not evolve to the same degree as other medical
fields.

Reference:

Brier, B & Hobbs, H. (2013). Ancient Egypt: Everyday Life in the Land of the Nile. Sterling
Bunson, M.(1991). The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Gramercy Books.
David, R. (2007). Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt Revised. Oxford University Press
James, G. (2014). Stolen Legacy: The Egyptian Origins of Western Philosophy. CreateSpace
Independent Publishing Platform
Lewis, J. E. (2003).  The Mammoth Book of Eyewitness Ancient Egypt. Running Press
Perry, M. (1989). A history of the world. Houghton Mifflin Company. USA

Shaw, I. (2016). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford

Wilkinson, R. H. (2000). The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson
Egyptians Used Their Pyramids as Waterworks Accessed 1 Dec 2016.
Oldest Known Dentistry Found in 14,000 Year Old Tooth by Rosella Lorenzi Accessed 1 Dec 2016.
The Ancient Egyptian Recipe for Toothpaste by Irene Zoech Accessed 1 Dec 2016.
The Great Pyramid: The Inside Story by Robert Carson Accessed 1 Dec 2016.
The Practice of Dentistry in Ancient Egypt by R.J. Forshaw Accessed 1 Dec 2016.

MSEUF| College of Arts and Sciences

 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 9
(SCIE 101)

MSEUF| College of Arts and Sciences