ANC: Lesson - Egypt: Technology and Culture

Image: a carving with Egyptian hieroglyphicsEgypt: Technology and Culture

While many people know about Egypt’s pyramids, they were not the only major innovations from this kingdom. Egypt also invented hieroglyphics (sacred symbols representing sounds and words) and papyrus (paper-like material made from reeds).

Technological Discoveries and Advances

Led by priests like Imhotep, one of history’s first named doctors and architects, the Egyptians invented medical books and pregnancy tests and studied dentistry and surgery. They invented a measurement called a cubit, which they used to calculate and build the pyramids. They organized time into a 24-hour day and a 365-day calendar. They engineered dams and irrigation canals. In fact, it was a Greek mathematician studying in Egypt who demonstrated that the earth was round.

Egyptian Culture

During the time of the pharaohs, several important cultural artifacts defined Egypt:

  • Egyptian families mummified their deceased loved ones
    • mummification is a method of preserving a dead body; this was most often done by drying it out (desiccation)
  • Egyptians had strong beliefs about the afterlife, which led them to create elaborate monuments for the deceased, including the pyramids, like the one pictured below
  • Egyptian architects and laborers built elaborate palaces and obelisks (tower monuments)
  • Egyptian priests honored Egyptian gods in temples
  • Pharaohs and nobility feasted on birds, goats, fruit, bread, and honey
  • Egyptian sailors navigated the Nile in large cargo boats

Image: the Great Pyramid of Giza with giant Sphinx in front.

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