Ancient Times

Agriculture
Babylon was an ancient city located on the lower Euphrates river in southern Mesopotamia, within
modern-day Hillah, Iraq, and South of modern-day Baghdad. Babylon functioned as the main cultural
and political center of the Akkadian-speaking region of Babylonia. Its rulers established two
important empires in antiquity, the 19th–16th century BC Old Babylonian Empire, and the 7th–6th
century BC Neo-Babylonian Empire which built an empire that gave the world among other things.
Babylon was also merely a religious and cultural center at this point and neither an independent state
nor a large city, subject to the Akkadian Empire.

Agriculture started most likely in Babylonian during ancient time includes growing crops like emmer,
wheat, and barley as well as flax for clothing because these was the only livelihood that Babylonians
could have to surpass their everyday life.

One of the first challenges for early farmers was finding a method to bring water to the crops, because
the region was very hot. In this case, Sumerians built on Egyptian technology and developed an
advanced irrigation system for farming. They used ditches, canals, channels, dikes, weirs, and
reservoirs in order to fertilize and transport water to crops .

Sometimes hunter-gatherers collect grains because they want to take their camp back in order to
separate the grain from the chaff. During this process, some seeds inevitably fall to the ground.

With the highly efficient, organized nature of modern farming, it can be difficult to envision a world
where agriculture was an innovative new technology. During the Neolithic Age, new agricultural
communities in Mesopotamia northern Africa, China, and South America began tending the roots of
farming as we know it today. Those early steps toward agriculture helped stabilize populations and
allow them to grow a significant change from the nomadic hunter-gatherer tribes of the earlier era.
Papyrus
Papyrus played a major part in ancient Egyptian civilization as both a natural resource and a
revolutionary writing material. Derived from the papyrus plant, which grew abundantly along the Nile
River, this material was crafted by cutting the plant’s pith into thin strips, layering them, and pressing
them to create durable sheets. These sheets became the foundation for Egyptian writing, allowing for
the recording of religious texts, administrative documents, literature, and personal correspondence.
The use of papyrus had a profound impact on communication and record-keeping in Egypt, enabling
the efficient management of a complex society. Additionally, the production and trade of papyrus
strengthened the Egyptian economy, with the material being exported to neighboring regions. Its role
in cultural and educational advancement was equally significant, as it facilitated the spread of
knowledge in areas such as religion, mathematics, medicine, and literature. Papyrus also became a
medium for artistic expression, contributing to the creation of important works like the Egyptian Book
of the Dead. Overall, papyrus was a life- changing invention in ancient Egypt, shaping their ability to
communicate, educate, and preserve their cultural heritage. Its impact extended beyond Egypt,
influencing the development of writing materials and techniques in other ancient civilizations.
Ancient Wheel
David Anthony is professor emeritus and curator emeritus of anthropology at Hartwick College in
Oneonta, New York. He has done extensive archaeological fieldwork in Ukraine, Russia and
Kazakhstan. Anthony is the author of "The Horse, the Wheel, and Language" (Princeton, 2007) and
has co-authored studies including the finding that humans first rode horses 5,000 years ago.

"The stroke of brilliance was the wheel-and-axle concept," Anthony previously told Live Science.
"But then making it was also difficult." For example, he stated that the holes in the middle of the
wheels and the ends of the fixed axles ought to be almost precisely smooth and spherical. A crucial
element was the axle's size and how snugly it fit into the hole—not too tight, but not too loose, either.

The amount and distance that humans could carry on land was severely restricted before the wheel
was invented about 3500 B.C. The hardest aspect of "inventing the wheel" wasn't creating the wheel
itself; rather, David Anthony, an emeritus professor of anthropology at Hartwick College, says that
the challenging element was connecting a stationary platform to that rolling cylinder.

The work was well worth it. Wheeled carts made it easier for people to travel long distances and
allowed for the transportation of commodities to and from markets, which promoted both agriculture
and commerce. Wheels are now an essential part of modern life, appearing in clocks, automobiles,
and wind turbines, among other things.
Makeup
Makeup invention holds a very interesting place in the history of the Egyptian civilization, which is a
potent means of expression for beauty, culture, and spirituality. The Egyptians perfected elaborate
techniques and formulas that still inspire modern-day beauty, being among the first civilizations to
invent the art of cosmetics.

Makeup in ancient Egypt was not only for beautification but was also closely associated with religion
and culture. Cosmetics were used by men and women in their daily routines and ceremonies. The
people of ancient Egypt treated makeup as a protective tool that would safeguard them from evil
spirits and bring blessings to whoever wears it.

One of the most iconic elements of Egyptian makeup was the use of kohl, a dark pigment usually
made from various minerals such as galena, malachite, and charcoal. Kohl was dramatically painted
around the eyes for that characteristic almond-shaped eye shape now synonymous with ancient
Egyptian beauty. Indeed, it was also a very practical eyeliner: it had additional functions of preventing
glare from the sun and protecting the skin from harsh desert conditions.

Besides kohl, other forms of cosmetics included bright-colored lip and cheek pigments, perfumed skin
oils, and henna for coloring hair. Most cosmetics were prepared with natural raw materials obtained
from flora and fauna found in the rich Nile Delta, testifying to the ingenuity of Egyptians in using
such environmental resources for beauty products.

In ancient Egypt, makeup was a fine art, and the application of makeup required an artisan's skill.
Cosmetologists would concoct personal blends and designs for the rich. The skill and art commanded
much respect and admiration among the cosmetologists.

The power of cosmetics transformed much from beyond mere physical value to communicating social
status, religious beliefs, and personal being. Through art, the Egyptians could array themselves with
symbols of divine protection and eternal beauty via makeup, thus leaving an etching in our memory
that still fascinates and inspires us today.

Cuneiform
Cuneiform, the world's earliest known writing system, originated in ancient Sumeria around 3500
BCE. Initially pictographic, representing objects or ideas with simple pictures, it evolved into a
syllabic script where each mark represented a syllable or sound. Sumerians pressed wedge-shaped
marks into clay tablets using a reed stylus, creating durable records that have survived for millennia.
Cuneiform was crucial for Sumerian civilization, used to document everything from administrative
records and legal documents to literature and scientific observations. This ancient writing system laid
the foundation for later scripts like Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian, shaping the course of human
communication and knowledge.
Ancient Map
The “Imago Mundi” or Babylonian map, created around the 6th century BCE, is one of the earliest
representations of the world. It was made on a clay tablet and inscribed with cuneiform writing. The
map presents Babylon as the center of the known world, surrounded by other regions and landmarks,
including rivers like the Euphrates. The map is circular, with the surrounding regions enclosed by
what the Babylonians believed was the outer ocean. This demonstrates how ancient civilizations
viewed the world, and it reflects both their geographical understanding and their worldview.

The purpose of the map was twofold. First, it had a practical use for navigation and understanding the
landscape. Babylonians were able to comprehend their city's location in relation to other towns, rivers,
and trade routes even though their maps were not as advanced as those of today. Second, the map held
great religious and cultural importance. The idea that Babylon was the physical and spiritual center of
the world was mirrored in the placement of the city at the center.

This map was a significant advancement for the Babylonians. Not only did it help with navigation and
trade, but it also had a political and cultural purpose. Additionally, it was an expression of their
worldview and pride in their civilization, reinforcing their cultural identity.

To conclude, this invention had a lasting impact on Babylonian society. It helped people better
understand their surroundings and facilitated trade, navigation, and governance. The map allowed
Babylonians to organize their empire more effectively and maintain control over their wide territory.
By emphasizing Babylon as the world’s center, it strengthened their cultural pride and sense of
superiority. Overall, the map not only helped them navigate but also shaped how they viewed their
place in the world, influencing both their daily life and their larger worldview.
The Babylonian map laid the foundation for cartography, which has evolved significantly over the
centuries. It was one of the first attempts to represent the world on a physical surface, paving the way
for modern maps and geographic tools like GPS. Today, maps are used for navigation, urban
planning, and global communication. Without early maps like this, the complex maps and geographic
systems we rely on today might not have been developed as quickly or effectively.