Introduction
The world we live in today has not always been what it is but has been built to what it is today. While little is known of the Western world, specifically the Americas before explorers such as Christopher Columbus discovered it, there exists rich literature of ancient civilizations that have shaped all spheres of modern life. The most recognized civilizations include the Egyptian civilization, the Roman Empire, and the Greek civilization. The fall of one civilization led to the rise of another civilization and so forth. The earliest recorded civilization, however, is the Egyptian civilization and scholars have credited it with influencing the subsequent empires that rose afterward, especially Alexander's the Great Greece Empire and its successor, the Roman Empire. The latter borrowed heavily from the Egyptians and used their systems to build their civilization. Today, remnants of the civilization are still physically present, but they permeate deeper than just being preserved in museums as simple artifacts, they are part of today's lives, from the alphabet to the biomedical fields as well as architecture. There is no denying how much today's civilization depends on this civilization and this paper will explore this dependence in all areas. For this reason, the study has become quite popular in university studies as people are fascinated by their culture and the connection it could have with today’s world.
Background of Ancient Egyptian Civilization
Egypt is located in North Africa, and it borders the Asian continent with only a few kilometers of the sea separating the two continents. Similarly, the ancient Egyptian civilization occupied the same region and was divided into two kingdoms for better governance. They were the Upper Kingdom, which ironically was in the south while the Lower Kingdom was in the north, these were given so according to the flow of the Nile. The kingdoms are referred to as a hydraulic empire because of their massive dependence on water, and they represented some of the first people to ever use irrigation as a form of farming besides Mesopotamia. The water also served as a form of transport. The kingdom's population was typically found in densely populated clusters along the Nile River, and it has been described in Histories, that it has black soils that refer to the rich, fertile silt deposited by the flood waters of the river. The black soils were known as Kemet. However, when the Rosetta stone was being deciphered by Champollion he discovered that the term may have been misinterpreted. It did not refer to the black soils but rather to the color of the skin of the inhabitants of the nation and was thus effectively changed to mean "Black Nation” from “Black soil.”(New World Encyclopedia, 2016). They were ruled by Pharaoh, who was the king of the whole kingdom, and the kingdom thrived for close to 31 centuries, and their lives were interrupted by the invasion of the Greeks in 332 B.C.
Ancient Egypt’s Contribution to Medicine
The Egyptians were one of the first people to use plants as sources of medicine to treat ailments, and it has been recorded for that they were quite famous for their hygienic practices. They had strict rituals such as bathing consistently in clean water as well as shaving their hair. Their medical industry was largely based on the trial-and-error basis as they tried to identify plants and practices that would work on certain ailments. But like all other civilizations before the age of Renaissance, they also believed that diseases were caused by angry evil spirits and gods and thus the medicine man also served as a religious leader who cast out these spirits.
However, the Egyptians have incredibly detailed medical books, the most famous being the Edwin Smith Papyrus and the Ebers Papyrus, which details surgical procedures they undertook at the time such as non-invasive surgery. (Gordon, 2015). Such techniques were also utilized by the physicians who mummified the wealthy pharaohs and removed their brains using an iron hook and pulling it through the nostrils. It is during a similar surgery today that sinuses are removed, and the surgery is based on the ancient technique. These books also contained plants that were used as painkillers and anesthesia during surgery and to stop the pain. They were using present-day narcotics, and they study into these documents led the scientists of the 18th century to use these plants during surgery as well. Mandrake was until recently used in hospital theaters for surgery as anesthesia. They were also thought to use nicotine and cocaine, and hashish as recreational drugs which present a similar situation in today’s world. The Egyptians had physicians who were highly specialized just as in the current medical world, and they included embalmers who were familiar with the human anatomy and performed autopsies, to surgeons and general physicians. The Egyptians were also responsible for naming some organs and provided a well-detailed account of the heart and the brain, which was quite advanced for their times.
Besides the practice of good hygiene that has been carried forward in today's world, the Egyptian physicians are accredited with a commitment to morality. They took oaths that prevented them from disclosing medical information of their patients. The oaths were recorded in their books and resembled those set forth by Hippocrates, who visited the civilization about 100 years before Greek invaded the civilization. (Journey to Ancient Egypt, 2009).
The Egyptians had also one of the world's oldest dental practices, and they were even able to construct dental bridges to reinforce their teeth as it today with braces and other tools. They were able to drain abscesses successfully regularly as well as teeth extraction because of their diet that consisted of grainy wheat cause wear on them. They also observed oral hygiene by using twigs to brush their teeth and even had a rudimentary form of mouthwash where they used a concoction of honey and perfumed herbs for their antibacterial properties and prevent gum diseases. They were also experts in resetting fractures as they could fashion a splint from twigs. It was discovered that the mummies that were unburied contained remodeled bones that had been set using splints. It is a concept that is used today to set the bones properly. They also had an understanding of the function of antibiotics, and their original use is not credited to Alexander Fleming. The Egyptians used moldy bread, yeast, to cure antibacterial infections although they did not know what bacteria were at the time.
They also influenced modern day renditions of prosthetics and amputations, and there have been discovered several amputees with well-crafted and functional prosthetics. It is not uncommon for a doctor today to recommend brewing mint leaves to ease digestive problems. The practice has roots in Egypt where they used it together with pomegranate to treat digestive ailments and what they referred to as "snakes of the digestive system" which are worms. (Gordon, 2015). Finally, the biggest export out of ancient Egypt has been aloe vera that has been credited with numerous medicinal properties. Just as today, the plant was a staple product for skin care and was used to soothe skin ailments and burns like in modern day lotions.
Ancient Egypt and Modern Mathematics and Computer Science
The Egyptians had numerous, albeit unknown to them at the time great application of the mathematical manipulations that were found recorded in the Rhind and Moscow Papyri. They originally used a graphical representation of their math using the hieroglyphic writing, but they later switched to a numbering system. (McIntyre, n.d.). Their system is what computers use today because they did their calculations on two levels, the 0s, and 1s which represent the computer readable binary language. Michael S. Schneider once gave a riveting lecture on how Europeans "stole" computer science from the Africans. Computers do not use the Arabic 10 digit numerals we typically use today but borrow from the Egyptians who were able to work out complex mathematical problems without them becoming cumbersome. When computer science was developing, they looked into a system the machine could grasp easily and formulate complex commands very simply without causing a lengthy response time. They decided to apply the Egyptian numbering system and came up with binary code.
Mathematicians and physicists to this day marvel at the structural integrity of the pyramids, some of which are older than 7,000 years old. It was another application of the Egyptians’ (unknown to them) mathematical prowess. The pyramids have been found to adhere to the Pythagoras theorem with only little margins of errors. In fact, it was reported that the Greek philosopher was inspired by the pyramids on a visit to Egypt to perfect his theorem, and it evolved into what it is today. (Tyldesley, 2011). They have stood the test of time and weathered harsh climatic patterns, and their impressive architecture can now be attributed to well-established concepts such as the golden ratio, the Fibonacci numbers, and pi.
The pyramids and temples of Egypt have inspired modern-day architecture, not only in their spectacular design but also serve as a source for the architectural study of structural integrity. Their design has been using to build edifices that will hopefully also last as long as the pyramids have. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio is designed as a pyramid and the Louvre, one of the world's largest museums is also designed as a pyramid.
Ancient Egypt and Modern Writing
The Egyptians were among the first people to invent the concept of writing on paper. They used the papyrus reeds to write, originally in pictographs but over the years, their writing evolved to only 24 letters of the alphabet that are now recorded on the Rosetta stone. The papyrus reeds were treated in a similar fashion as modern day paper manufacturing where they were polished. They also had some of the world’s first pens made from the stems of plants and dipped them in ink.
They were also prolific astronomers who in turn inspired many Greek philosophers and helped start the process of understanding astronomy as we know it today. Our current calendar system is based off their calendars which consisted of 360 days in a year, 30 days in a month and 12 months that made up the entire year. (Ghosh, 2016). They also added five days for celebrations at the end of the year. Thus, the 365 day year was born and later adopted by the Roman Empire to become what the calendar is today.
Ancient Egypt and Modern Art
Egypt has some of the world's best-preserved artifacts of a past age and their paintings present on their many pyramids are deciphered on a daily basis to give an insight into how humankind has lived in the past. Their mummification process aside from serving as a medical source of disease study is also a work of art. Egyptian art was transported into the subsequent empires that rose after its collapse and can be observed in museums or as renderings in buildings. The most famous artifacts are the obelisks which are observed atop many buildings. The Egyptian art is displayed in museums all over the world and serve as tourist attraction sites in Egypt as well as reference points for art students. Egyptian artists used a scale during their sculpturing, a concept the Greek and Roman are now known for, these proportions have gone on to inspire modern art and classical art such as Michelangelo’s David and other Renaissance artists who scaled their art.
Ancient Egypt has also found its way into popular culture mainly in the form of film, animation and games. Such films as The Scorpion King and The Mummy Returns are set in ancient Egypt and although despite their gross inaccuracies, they do give the viewer an idea of the past Egypt. The harp is also another cultural export that has found its way into classical music. It originated in Egypt and was used for entertainment purposes as well as the flute. As the kingdom aged, they invented newer instruments such as the cymbals and the tambourines that are a staple in the music industry today. Today, numerous other instruments such as the oboe, pipes, and the trumpet are designed after the flute. They also engaged in sports such as wrestling which today is almost widely known as the WWE universe.
Finally, the Egyptians are credited with the domestication of animals and the rise of the pet. They kept cats, dogs and even monkeys in their houses while still bizarre; the rich families also imported exotic pets such as lions. These are practices that are still going on currently and have been carried on through civilizations.
Conclusion
The ancient Egyptian civilization is one of the most crucial keys to unlocking the origin of humankind and how it has evolved over the years into what know the world today. Egypt is reincarnated every day in medicine, art, physics and mathematics and contrary to popular belief; Africa could be the cradle of all mankind after all. The civilization has caused various controversies as Europeans have been accused of appropriating African culture. Studying this civilization thus puts to rest that while it is the earliest known civilization, it has nonetheless influenced others in Europe and as a consequence, some of their cultures has been integrated as their own. The remnants of the civilization now serve as some of the biggest areas of study by even the most qualified and advanced scientists as they try to borrow some of their cultures to better our lives today.
References
Gordon, T. (2015). 10 Major Contributions Ancient Egyptians Made to Modern Medicine. Atlanta Blackstar. Retrieved online from http://atlantablackstar.com
Journey to Ancient Egypt. (2016). How Did the Egyptian Medicine Influence Modern Medicine? Retrieved online from www.journey-to-ancient-egypt.com
McIntyre, L. (n. d.). Ancient Egyptian Mathematics and Computers. The University of Georgia. Retrieved online from http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu
The New World Encyclopedia. (2016). Ancient Egypt. Retrieved online from www.newworldencyclopedia.org
Tyldesley, J. (2011). Ancient Egypt and the Modern World. BBC, UK. Retrieved online from www.bbc.co.uk
