Cyber Day Essays #2

Technological Advances that Contributed to the Long Lasting Civilization of the Ancient Egyptians

                  The ancient Egyptians medical treatments and knowledge of the human body still amaze archeologists today, because of the method of preserving bodies that last for thousands of years. Based on their religion, Egyptians used a process of mummification to preserve pharaoh's bodies for use in the afterlife. They had scribes that wrote everything down about the processes used and anatomy of the human body. This knowledge of the body and medical treatments for illness showed an advance for medicine. Even though they believed illnesses were caused by demons, they still knew it was an infection, they still created magical potions for cures for common ailments.

                 The mummification began with the removal internal organs, followed with a salt solution left on for about forty days to remove all the moisture from the body. Then the body was covered in various layers of perfumed oils and resigns then wrapped in linen strips. After layers of this were put on the body, the mummy was placed on a wooden board with another layer of resigns to connect the body to the board. A religious bird was placed on the abdomen and a pouch was put on the chest. Then the body was covered with a long linen sheet that was painted red. Egyptian symbols of protection and rebirth were painted on the mummy and his name was written in Greek at the feet.

              Egyptians also were very advanced in using the Nile river for many useful ways. Egyptians used it not only for irrigation, but for a source of transportation. After centuries of floating canoes down the river with supplies and manually carrying the boat back on land, they invented sailboats that could travel upstream back to the original location. 

              Another extremely useful technology was created by astronomers in Ancient Egypt. It was the first 365 day calendar based on the seasons for crops and moon locations. This invention allowed Egyptians to see the pattern of events yearly. The Nile flooded every July, leaving behind rich fertile silt in October. This helped the farming schedule.

Three Main Features of Egyptian Pyramids

             The Egyptian pyramids were built to provide protection for their god-like pharaoh for use of the body in the afterlife. The pharaohs were buried with their valuable possessions such as, gold, jewelry, and family members or beloved pets. The pyramids must have been thought out and made well, to keep out grave robbers that could steal the valuables from the tombs. Egyptians used blocks that weighted around 5000 tons each. They were covered in marble, which was then striped off during the Islamic conquest. The pyramids were filled with different form of art painted on the walls. The paintings usually depicted scenes of the afterlife and were drawn in the same perspective each time.

          Many pyramids had a type of animal with either a head of a hum and body of an animal or vis versa. For example the Great Sphinx Pyramid, which was built in 2555-2532 B.C., had a head of a human with a body of a lion. But unfortunately, part of the head was shot off.