Ancient inventions

Musical instruments, 43,000–40,000 years ago The oldest known musical instruments are flutes made of mammoth bone, found in the Swabian Alps, Germany.

Map, 13,000 years ago A stone tablet found in Abauntz Cave, Spain, in 1993 contains the earliest known map, which is of the surrounding area.

E U R O P E

Wheeled vehicle, 3200 BCE The oldest known wheel used for transportation was unearthed in Slovenia in 2002 and is believed to have belonged to a two-wheeled cart.

Brick, 7500 BCE The earliest known bricks were made of mud and straw. Experts believe they originated in Anatolia (Turkey). Aqueduct, 2000 BCE Aqueducts were channels running along the ground, underground, or above ground on bridges, that supplied fresh spring or river water to wherever people needed it. Aqueducts were first built in the ancient city of Nineveh (Mosul in Iraq).

Coin, 610–600 BCE The first coin was used in the ancient kingdom of Lydia, in modern-day

Turkey. It was marked with a roaring lion. Bronze, 3200 BCE Archeological findings suggest that bronze was first used in ancient Egypt to make tools and weapons.

Shadow clock, 1500 BCE The ancient Egyptian shadow clock was a simple pillar. The length of the shadow it A F R I C A cast indicated the time of day. Fire, 790,000 years ago (See box below)

Mastery of fire

Archeologists have found evidence in Israel of the earliest known use of fire—by ancestors of humans, such as Homo erectus. They discovered that burning happened in specific spots, which shows that hearths existed. The control of fire meant that Homo erectus was able to spread to colder regions, drive away dangerous predators, and cook food. Glass, 3500 BCE Archeologists believe that glass was first used in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) more than 5,000 years ago to make ornamental beads. Soap, 2800 BCE Soap made of oils and salts was first used in Babylon (modern-day Iraq) to clean wool and cotton.

Potter’s wheel, 3500 BCE The potter’s wheel allowed people to make perfectly round pots. Experts believe that it was invented in Mesopotamia.

The ancient world Ancient inventions 790,000 years ago – 50 BCE

It is impossible to know the origin of most of the great inventions of the ancient world because they occurred before people recorded things in writing. Therefore, historians have had to rely on archeological discoveries to trace the earliest known appearance of many of these inventions.

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

English proverb Blast furnace, 100 BCE Invented in China, blast furnaces were used to make cast iron—an important metal that was used for making tools and cooking pots.

Plumbing, 2600 BCE Remains of the earliest known drainage systems were found in the Indus Valley (modernday Pakistan). They directed rainwater into drains and stopped the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro from flooding.

A S I A

Paper, 1st century BCE Paper was invented during China’s Han Dynasty. It was cheap to produce and replaced more expensive writing materials, such as bamboo and silk.

Ink, 2600 BCE Made of soot and glue, the first ink was used in China for shading artwork. It came in a solid block; water was added before use.

Stirrup, 500–200 BCE

Ancient sculptures suggest that stirrups were first used in India. The stirrup gave riders greater control of their horses, which helped them to fight on horseback.

Pottery, 18,000 BCE In 2012, archeologists found shards of the earliest known pots in Jiangxi, China.

The medieval world

Aztec calendar One of the most advanced civilizations of medieval times, the Aztecs developed their own calendar. The “Sun Stone” represents this calendar and shows Tonatiuh, the Sun god, at the center.