Important Innovations in Ancient Egypt

By: Sabrina Thiruvathukal

Thesis

Most of the significant innovations in fashion and personal hygiene during ancient Egyptian time are still being used today.

Ancient Egyptians inventedPaper

Written Language

The Calendar

The Ox-Drawn Plow

Black Ink

Sundial

Water Clock

Source: Jonathan Atteberry & Patrick J. Kiger "10 Amazing Ancient Egyptian Inventions" 12 January 2011. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/5-amazing-ancient-egyptian-inventions.htm> 14 February 2016

Important Innovations in Inventions in fashion and personal hygiene include:

The Wig Cosmetics Toothpaste Breath Mints

Source: Jonathan Atteberry & Patrick J. Kiger "10 Amazing Ancient Egyptian Inventions" 12 January 2011. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/5-amazing-ancient-egyptian-inventions.htm> 14 February 2016

WigsModern WigAncient Wig

Material Used to Make Wigs

● Were made of human hair which was often

supplemented by plant fiber or from the wool of sheep.

Source: Ancient Egyptian Hair and Beauty. Retrieved from: http://purchasereq.tripod.com/id9.html

● Are made of human hair, animal hair or synthetic fibers.

2016In Ancient Egypt

Why people wear wigs?

● Ornate hair decorations

● Wigs protected the scalp from the sun

● They shaved their head and wore wigs to protect them against lice

● For fashion

● Baldness

● Some people lose their hair during cancer treatment and wear wigs

2016Ancient Egypt

Eye makeup in Ancient Egypt

Eye makeup in Ancient Egypt

Egyptians wore green eye paint and black kohl

Green eye paint was made of copper

The black kohl was used as eyeliner and was made of lead.

These two minerals were not readily available in Egypt which means the Egyptians made the makeup from rock salt and natron

Source: Beauty and cosmetics in ancient Egypt. (2016, January 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:08, February 15, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beauty_and_cosmetics_in_ancient_Egypt&oldid=70085672

Eye makeup

● Used kohl (eyeliner) to prevent eye infections

● Kohl helped the damaging effects of sun glare of their eyes

Source: Source: Ancient Egyptian Hair and Beauty. Retrieved from: http://purchasereq.tripod.com/id9.html

● Used for beauty

● Now it is made of safer material and is not made out of lead

2016In Ancient Egypt

Facial Makeup in Ancient Egypt

Facial makeup included stains from red pigmented clay that was used for blush and lipstick

They used henna which is a red dye made from a plant to paint nails and to dye hair.

In 2016 we still use henna to dye their hair and for beauty

Henna is still used in Egypt

Toothpaste

Egyptians are believed to have started using a paste to clean their teeth around 5000BC, before toothbrushes were invented.

Ancient toothpastes were used to keep teeth and gums clean, whitening teeth and freshening breath.

Source: History of Toothbrushes and Toothpaste, Retrieved from: http://www.colgateprofessional.com/patient-education/articles/history-of-toothbrushes-and-toothpastes

Toothpaste

Toothpaste

● Ingredients included a powder of ox hooves, ashes and burnt eggshells that was

combined with pumice.

● Ingredients include fluoride, coloring, flavoring, sweetener, as well as ingredients

that make toothpaste a smooth paste foam and stay moist.

Ancient Egypt 2016

Breath MintsAncient Egypt 2016

Breath Mints

● Invented the breath mints to stop bad breath

● They would boil different herbs and spices- often frankincense, myrrh, and cinnamon-which was then

mixed in with honey to form small candy-shaped pellets that could be sucked on and chewed.

● While these may not have tasted as good as our breath mints today, they did help freshen up

mouths.

● We still use breath mints to stop bad breath

● Breath mints today are made of different ingredients. Homemade breath mints can be made of sugar, gum paste and peppermint

extract.

● Breath mints taste better now

Ancient Egypt 2016

Invention Timeline

In 5000 BC toothpaste

was invented in Ancient Egypt

In 4000 BC makeup was invented in

Ancient Egypt

In 2700 BC Wigs were

invented in Ancient Egypt

In 2500BC Breath mints

were invented in Ancient

Egypt

Conclusion:

Wigs, Cosmetics, Toothpaste and Breath Mints were important inventions in Ancient Egypt that we are still using today.

References Ancient Egyptian Hair and Beauty. Retrieved from: http://purchasereq.tripod.com/id9.htm

Beauty and cosmetics in ancient Egypt. (2016, January 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:08, February 15, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beauty_and_cosmetics_in_ancient_Egypt&oldid=700856722

History of toothbrushes and toothpaste, Retrieved from: http://www.colgateprofessional.com/patient-education/articles/history-of-toothbrushes-and-toothpastes

Jonathan Atteberry & Patrick J. Kiger "10 Amazing Ancient Egyptian Inventions" 12 January 2011. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/5-amazing-ancient-egyptian-inventions.htm> 14 February 2016

Unwrapping the Secrets of Ancient Egypt: Ancient Inventions Still Used Today, (2014), Retrieved from: http://www.themuseum.ca/blog/unwrapping-secrets-ancient-egypt-ancient-inventions-still-used-today