Egyptian inventions and discoveries are ideas, objects, processes or techniques invented, innovated or discovered, partially or entirely, by Egyptians. Often, things discovered for the first time are also called inventions and in many cases, there is no clear line between the two. The following is a list of inventions, innovations or discoveries known or generally recognized to be Egyptian.
Ancient Egypt
Government and economy in Ancient Egypt
Community banking models — Community banking is a non-traditional form of money-lending. Unlike banks or other classic lending institutions, the funds that community banks lend to borrowers are gathered by the local community itself. This tends to mean that the individuals in a neighborhood or group have more control over who is receiving the capital and how that capital is being spent. This practice has existed in some form for centuries; in ancient Egypt, for example, when grain was often used as currency, local granaries would store and distribute the community's food supply. Since that time, a variety of community banking models have evolved. Police – In ancient Egypt evidence of law enforcement exists as far back as the Old Kingdom period. There are records of an office known as "Judge Commandant of the Police" dating to the Fourth Dynasty. Postal system — The first documented use of a postal system, state-sponsored, designated courier service for the dissemination of written documents is in Egypt, where Pharaohs used couriers to send out decrees throughout the territory of the state (2400 BCE). Law — Ancient Egyptian law, dating as far back as 3000 BC, was based on the concept of Ma'at and characterised by tradition, rhetorical speech, social equality, and impartiality.
Warfare Arrowslit — Loop holes are found for the first time in some Middle kingdom forts. Battering rams — The earliest depiction of a possible battering ram is from the tomb of the 11th Dynasty noble Khety, where a pair of soldiers advance towards a fortress under the protection of a mobile roofed structure, carrying a long pole that may represent a simple battering ram. Battlements – Another feature of the Buhen fortress the construction of the world's oldest battlements. Catapult — A catapult dating to the 19th century BC was found on the walls of the fortress of Buhen. Dagger — In ancient Egypt, daggers were usually made of copper or bronze, while royalty had gold weapons. At least since pre-dynastic Egypt, (c. 3100 B.C) daggers were adorned as ceremonial objects with golden hilts and later even more ornate and varied construction. One early silver dagger was recovered with midrib design. Draw bridge — The fortress of Buhen contains the oldest known drawbridges. Encryption — One of the earliest forms of encryption is symbol replacement, which was first found in the tomb of Khnumhotep II, who lived in 1900 B.C. Egypt. Symbol replacement encryption is "non-standard," which means that the symbols require a cipher or key to understand. Grappling hook — The ancient Egyptians used grappling hooks as early as the Bronze Age collapse and in their war with the Sea people. Military organization — As early as the Old Kingdom (c.2686–2160 BC) Egypt used specific military units, with military hierarchy appearing in the Middle Kingdom (c.2055–1650 BC). Military scribe and battle recording – The first well documented battle in the history of the world is the Battle of Megiddo. Naval ram — Naval rams were built on ships since at least the reign of Amenhotep I. Police dogs and war dogs — were used by the Egyptians as early as 4000 B.C. Siege towers — Moving siege towers were invented in Egypt during the First Intermediate Period.
Agriculture and animal husbandry Beekeeping — domesticated beekeeping was first recorded in ancient Egypt around 2600 BC. as well as the first use of smoke while extracting the honey from bee nests. Diversion dam — The first diversion dam is Sadd el-Kafara Dam built in Egypt around 2700 B.C. Horse stable — The world's oldest horse stables were discovered in the ancient city of Pi-Ramesses in Qantir, in Ancient Egypt, and were established by Ramesses II (c. 1304–1213 BC). These stables covered approximately 182,986 square feet, had floors sloped for drainage, and could contain about 480 horses. Noria — Norias appeared in Egypt in the 4th Century B.C. Olive cultivation – Some scholars have argued that olive cultivation originated with the Ancient Egyptians. Ox drawn plough — Ox drawn ploughs were used by Ancient Egyptians as early as 2000 B.C. Zoo — The world's first zoo was discovered at Hierakonpolis dating back to 3,500 B.C.
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