The Egyptian General Book Authority is documenting the aspect of technology in ancient Egypt in a book authored by the late great Dr. Fakhrandah Hassan. “Ancient Egyptian Technology” discusses the different aspects that made ancient Egypt exceptional and allowed for the emergence and flourishing of the first civilization in recorded history. As the ancient Egyptian were making use of the resources available to them, they meticulously documented their achievements so that those who would succeed them could bear witness to their successive successes.
According to the book’s author, innovation and creating various tools gave the ancient Egyptians the capacity to document their achievements, either by engraving it in stone or writing it on a piece of papyrus like those seen in museums around the world.
The book sheds light on the most significant of the ancient Egyptians’ technological innovations, like “irrigation technology,” farming technology, tools that helped them make bread and other foods, construction technology, weapons, means that helped them write, medical technology, and others. Images and explanations of how these tools were used are also included in the book.
Experts believe that ancient Egyptians’ ingenuity is a consequence of their grave need for it at the time. Dr. Hussien Abdel Basir, the director of the Library of Alexandria, Asharq Al-Awsat, the ancient Egyptians surpassed all the other civilizations at the dawn of history in their achievements in the fields of medicine, construction, mining, mummification, agriculture, irrigation, and astronomy.
He adds: “The Nile River was the most prominent explanation for the prosperity of the ancient Egyptian civilization, with its centralization and its facilitation of movement between the north and south of the country, allowing all parts of the country to progress simultaneously. Abdel-Basir also likened ancient Egypt to the United States of America: “It had the ability to independently produce and regularly innovate, and this came at a time when rival civilizations were suffering from decline, weakness and an inability to innovate.”
The book is the last one written by late Dr. Fakhrandah Hassan, who had been Secretary-General of the National Council for Women taught geology at the AUC before passing away in October.
