Haven’t we all heard that the foundation of our present can be traced back to our past? Well whoever said that was absolutely on-point!
Our lives have become so inclined towards new trends that we always look at things from a scientific or technical point of view. But let's not forget that some inventions and techniques that we use today are actually inspired by ancient times. Yes, some of the most basic things we use today and take for granted were actually invented hundreds and thousands of years ago.
So what say today we travel back in time and have a look at some such valuable inventions we should be thanking our ancestors for?
Paper
Egypt, the land of pyramids and the bassinet of ancient civilization, was a total invention powerhouse back in the time. Did you know the paper first originated in Egypt?
It’s true! Paper was first invented in 3000 B.C from the center of Papyrus, a plant that grew on the shore of the river Nile. If travel to Egypt, you can still find local people who know and can show you how paper was made in ancient times. Trust us, it's an experience in itself! Long strips of the material were weaved together, damped in the water, and finally pressed for a required amount of time in order to bind together. As a result, people got a sturdy piece of writing material, obviously when completely dried. These pieces of paper used to be so durable back in ancient times that hieroglyphic inscriptions written on them are still so clear, even after thousands of years have passed.
Kohl (Eye makeup)
“Smokey eyes” are among the most popular and classic style when it comes to bold eye makeup. Millennials dig that look! But did you know that ancient Egyptians were the ones who came up with this look for the very first time?
Back in 4000 B.C., ancient Egyptians started making kohl in order to beautify their eyes. They used to mix soot and galena, a mineral with a hint of a greyish or bluish hue, to come up with this material to beautify their eyes. If you see ancient Egyptian paintings, you'll notice that both men and women used to wear heavy eye makeup and most of it was dominated by kohl. They believed that kohl had a lot of healing properties. It didn't just beautify their eyes, but also improved their eyesight.
Chocolate
There are two types of people in the world - those who enjoy chocolate in every shape and form, and those who can’t stand its taste and strong aroma. Which category do you belong to?
If you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll definitely find this interesting. Chocolate first originated about 3000 years ago in the ancient parts of Mesoamerica. The tribes of Mayas, Toltecs, and Aztecs cultivated the cacao tree, which birthed chocolate. The Maya tribe used to worship the cacao tree as it yielded cocoa beans, the main ingredient used to make a lathered beverage resembling liquid chocolate. The drink used to work as a major energy and mood booster for them, which is why they considered the tree as sacred. But later, on the conquest to find treasures in the new world, Spanish conquerors got their hands on the cocoa plant and they brought chocolate under their own domain. The rest, and as they say, is history.
Are you in awe yet?
We bet you didn’t know about some of those facts, did you? Well now that you do, don’t forget to thank your ancestors for handing down precious gems of wisdom or prized possessions and trinkets from their time. Even if you don’t realize it now, such things are valuable beyond some of the best riches in the world.