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Owen Raymond
Mr. Barone
Period 5
September 14, 2014
Ancient Egypt in the World Today

Egyptian civilization thrived from 8,000 BCE through 525BCE. Ancient Egypts
influence is evidenced in every-day life by anyone who has ever seen a picture of the pyramids,
dressed as a mummy on Halloween, or heard of King Tut. A closer look reveals that the ancient
Egyptians were pioneers in the arts and sciences developing a wide-variety of skills, methods
and conventions that are still used in modern society. While the ancient Egyptians are credited
with the numerous contributions to modern society including breath mints and beer, arguably
their most influential contributions are in the fields of mathematics, medicine, and architecture.
As we will see, modern theory and practice of these disciplines has been influenced by the
ancient Egyptians.
One of ancient Egypts greatest advancements is in the field of mathematics. The Ancient
Egyptian civilization was formed along the Nile River owing to the abundance of water and
fertile land to grow their crops. The ancient Egyptians recognized property ownership and the
concept of paying taxes on owned land. However as the river flooded and shifted its boundaries,

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it became difficult if not impossible to locate property lines which resulted in disputes over
ownership and taxes. To remedy this problem, the Egyptians became the first to use the science
of land surveying. According to Herodotus, the mathematics of the Egyptians had its roots in
land surveying (Shuttlewoth 3). The land surveys created documented property lines regardless
of flooding or shifting river banks. These surveys were possible owing to the Egyptians
development and advancement of mathematic principles especially geometry.
The Egyptians used advanced math skills when building the pyramids. When the
Egyptians built the pyramids they used triangular designs that followed the formula A2 + B2 = C2,
a theorem credited to the Pythagoras, a Greek mathematician who would not be born for many
centuries. However unlike mathematicians today, the Egyptians did not use their mathematics to
solve theories, but instead to solve real world problems such as making buildings and settling
property disputes.
Scientists have found papyrus scrolls that show how Egyptians used formulas for
arithmetic, geometry and trigonometry. Four mathematical papyri still survive, most
importantly the Rhind mathematical papyrus dating to 1832 B.C. Not only do these papyri show
that the priests had mastered all the processes of arithmetic, including a theory of number, but
had developed formulas enabling them to find solutions of problems with one and two
unknowns, along with think of a number problems (Seawright 3). Through trial and error,
they developed mathematical techniques that would help them function as a society, and devise
their great building works. Even Plato and Aristotle admitted that the Greeks owed much to the
Egyptians for their previous work in arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy. (Shuttleworth 2).

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The Ancient Egyptians method performing mathematic calculations involved a
complicated process of doubling and halving numbers to solve multiplication and division
problems. This methodology is the primitive precursor to binary code which is the basis of
modern day computers. (Shuttleworth 3)
The Greek philosophers, most notably Hippocrates (born 460 BCE) are credited with the
discovery of modern medicine, but the true founders of modern medicine are the Egyptians.
(Egyptians not Greeks were the true fathers of Medicine 1). Scientists and architects have found
medical papyri written thousands of years before Hippocrates were born evidencing the
Egyptians were the first civilization to practice and record medicine. The first recognized
physician, Imhotep, was an Egyptian priest who is considered the father of medicine. This
ancient civilization and its medicine reflect the modern approach to medical diagnosis and
treatment. They documented their discoveries very specifically in the medical papyri by
describing disease conditions, treatment, and prognosis. Herbal remedies and surgical treatments
were widely used, and have been archived by the archeologists of our day. (Greiner 1). The
Smith papyrus describes forty-eight cases in clinical surgery, from cranial fractures to injuries of
the spine. (Ancient Egypt Medicine 2). This papyrus shows just much the Egyptians knew about
medicine. The Egyptians used the same method of treatment that we use today, diagnose and
then help. The Egyptians not only studied surgical techniques, but they also discovered that
certain herbs and plants cured the ill. The ancient Egyptians used metals in their treatments that
are now known to have medical benefit. Some ancient remedies may have even been better than
modern pharmaceutical medicines. (Egyptians not Greeks, were true fathers of medicine 1).

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From such depths we rise in Egypt to great physicians, surgeons and specialists, who
acknowledged an ethical code that passed down into the famous Hippocratic Oath. Some of them
specialized in obstetrics or gynecology, some treated only gastric disorders, some were oculists
so internationally famous that Cyrus sent for one of them to come to Persia (Ancient Egypt
Medicine 2). Egyptian physicians specialized by function just like in modern day society and
were so famous that they were taken to other countries to help. Ancient Egypt played a
significant part in the development of todays modern practice of medicine.
Not only have the ancient Egyptians math and medicine impacted todays society, but
their architecture has as well. Egypts pyramids and temples have inspired many artists. The
pyramid form, in particular, still plays an important role in modern architecture, and can be seen
rising above cemeteries and innumerable shopping centers, and at the entrance to the Louvre
Museum, Paris. (Tyldesley 3). The Washington Monument, the Empire State Building, and
Taipei 101 are all designed to look like an ancient Egyptian obelisk. The Egyptians also created
the very first graves and tunnels as well as the arch and vault. The Egyptians did not have much
wood as a resource, so their primary building materials were stone or sun dried mud. Using stone
as a building material influenced the Greek architects who would follow. The Egyptian style has
been so popular that it had two rivals in the 18th and 19th centuries. (Ickow 1)
From the cited sources it is apparent that the ancient Egyptians had a significant influence
on our modern day society. In the areas of mathematics, medicine and architecture, the ancient
Egyptians were inventors and pioneers setting the foundations upon which following
civilizations would build.

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Work Cited
Seawright Caroline, Article the Ancient Egyptian Number System,
Shuttleworth Martin, Article Egyptian Mathematics, date January 20, 2010

Greiner Ryan, Article Ancient Egyptian Medicine, 12/11/01

Ancient Egypt Medicine
Tyldesley Dr. Joyce, Article Ancient Egypt in the Modern World, date 2/17/11
Ickow Sara, Article Egyptian Revival, date July 2012
Egyptians, not Greeks, were the true fathers of medicine, Article in the University of Manchester
News Archives, date May 9, 2007