By Raza Mehdi
May 2, 2022
Numerous ancient cultures like the Egyptians, Chinese, Arabs, and Indians used perfumes. In 2003, archaeologists in Cyprus discovered the oldest known perfume factory, which dates back over 4,000 years.
Video source: Pexels
When: 2000 BC
The Greeks developed a central heating system called the hypocaust that created floor heat. The system included pipes built beneath the floors and walls, circulating heat from a constantly tended fire under the building.
Image source: Pexels
When: 350 BC
Experts believe that people enjoyed pancakes as far back as 30,000 years ago during the Stone Age. In fact, researchers found pancakes in the stomach of Ötzi the Iceman, whose naturally mummified remains date back over 5,000 years!
Video source: Pexels
When: Stone Age
The earliest known remnants of eye makeup have been found dating to predynastic Egypt. The use of black and green makeup around the eyes became common amongst the Egyptian upper classes.
Video source: Pexels
When: 4000 BC
Although he likely never implemented them, Greek mathematician Heron of Alexandria designed a set of automatic doors that used a pulley system powered by heat from a fire and weighted with buckets of water.
Video source: Pexels
When: 1 AD
Although the origins of chocolate have long been traced to Central America as far back as 4,000 years ago, recent archaeological evidence from Ecuador shows that Theobroma cacao seeds were used by the Mayo-Chinchipe people over a thousand years earlier.
Image source: Pexels
When: 3300 BC
Grooves found in stone structures in Greece suggest that Ancient Greeks used cranes to lift massive stones while building temples. The cranes would have consisted of a set of tongs attached to a rope powered by either humans or donkeys.
Video source: Pexels
When: 6th century BC
Toothpaste is thought to have been used in Egypt as far back as 5000 BC, but the oldest recorded recipe for toothpaste dates back to the 4th century AD. The paste recipe included rock salt, mint, iris flowers, and black pepper.
Video source: Pexels
When: 5000 BC
The Acta Diurna, which translates to "daily acts", was a series of Roman public notices carved into stone or metal and posted daily in prominent places in 131 BC. Eventually, the format moved to handwritten notices on papyrus, an ancient paper-like material, making it the first newspaper in the world.
Video source: Pexels
When: 131 BC
Another of Heron's inventions is considered to be the first vending machine, designed to dispense holy water to worshippers. A coin was inserted in a slot, which pushed down a bar to release a precise quantity of water so that no one could take more than their fair share.
When: 62 AD
Video source: Pexels