Ancient Egyptians: fathers of science,math,writing

[kmt]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt#Ancient_Achievements

Ancient Achievements

The earliest evidence (circa 1600 BC) of traditional empiricism is credited to Egypt, as evidenced by the Edwin Smith and Ebers papyri. The roots of the Scientific method may be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. The ancient Egyptians are also credited with devising the world's earliest known alphabet, decimal system [3] and complex mathematical formularizations, in the form of the Moscow and Rhind Mathematical Papyri. An awareness of the Golden ratio seems to be reflected in many constructions, such as the Egyptian pyramids.

[Mike the Jedi]

Yes, the Egyptians did very well, but they are nothing as special as what some make them out to be.

I think of great civilizations in terms of regions. North (and East) Africa's greatest civilization was Egypt, the Middle East's greatest was Babylon, and Europe's greatest was of course Greece (I consider Rome to be the heir of Greece in the end). All of these civilizations influenced each other, so it would not be correct to say that only one is responsible for all technical achievements that have been made in Western civilization.

And I highly doubt the Chinese, the Aztecs, or the Incas who were quite advanced in their own respects, were influenced by Egypt half a world away.

[kmt]

xcalator1 said:

Yes, the Egyptians did very well, but they are nothing as special as what some make them out to be.

Right, they only founded mathematics, writing, science, religion, most of the world's branches of knowledge, but yeah, apart from that, they're nothing special.

I think of great civilizations in terms of regions. North (and East) Africa's greatest civilization was Egypt, the Middle East's greatest was Babylon, and Europe's greatest was of course Greece (I consider Rome to be the heir of Greece in the end). All of these civilizations influenced each other, so it would not be correct to say that only one is responsible for all technical achievements that have been made in Western civilization.

You're ignoring that Egypt predated Greece, and served as the basis for Greek knowledge, as the Greeks themselves freely admitted. There would be no Greece or Rome, and consequently no Western civilization, without Egypt. But there would have been an Egypt, and African civilizations, without Greece and Rome. So the importance of Greece and Rome (and Europe) do not measure up to the importance of Egypt (and Africa).

In addition,Greece or Rome achieved nothing comparable to the pyramids, which still baffle the best architects and scientists to this day.

[Mike the Jedi]

You fit the true definition of Afrocentrist, which is to give Africa a more important place in world history than it deserves.

I suppose you think the Greeks stole everything they knew from the Egyptians. Please consult Lefkowitz. She could do you some good.

And your comment on how Egypt's architecture blows Greece's out of the water is flagrantly absurd. If the pyramids were so great, then why aren't our court houses and government buildings modelled after them?

What the Egyptians show off in majesty, the Greco-Roman tradition makes up for in elegance and simplicity. I don't want to make this a pissing contest between Greece and Egypt, but what you said really infuriates me. That kind of stupidity should not warrant a response, but I can't help myself.

[jrj26]

older doesn't mean better. Also, it's all speculation about whether there would be a Greece or Rome without Egypt(whatever that means). I do think that ancient Egyptian history is fascinating, and Sub-Saharan civlizations are underrated, but I don't think that all other cultures/civilizations wouldn't exist if it weren't for Egypt, etc.

[Mike the Jedi]

Exactly.

Egypt was a grand civilization, but I think the fact that it is so old and lasted so long affects a realistic interpretation of its contributions by people who feel they've been disenfranchised and have to reach out and latch onto the history of a people they have nothing to do with (other than coming from the same continent) in order to make themselves feel better.

I happen to be of Greek descent, Kmt. How about you, are you really an Egyptian, or are you an African American?

[kmt]

When comparing civilizations, I'm sorry to say, older IS better. That is why Ancient Greece, being closer to the root of the civilization tree than England, France, Germany, etc., is considered greater and more important than post-renaissance Western Civilization. Much of racism was built on the idea that older is better: Europeans thought they were civilized long before Africans, and so they looked upon blacks as sub-human. Now as it becomes more clear that Africans were first, whites are changing the rules - older is not better!

The ancient Greeks recognized Ancient Egypt as the oldest, greatest and most important civilization, a black civilization that was the foundation of their own. Even through the middle ages it was still widely known that Egypt was first, and was black. Only after colonialism was this view disputed as whites needed a doctrine of superiority to justify their actions in Africa..... Any pretense of superiority would have been impossible if Ancient Egypt continued to be recognized as black.

[kmt]

xcalator1 said:

I happen to be of Greek descent, Kmt. How about you, are you really an Egyptian, or are you an African American?

I am African.

[Charlie Bass]

kmt said:

xcalator1 said:

Yes, the Egyptians did very well, but they are nothing as special as what some make them out to be.

Right, they only founded mathematics, writing, science, religion, most of the world's branches of knowledge, but yeah, apart from that, they're nothing special.

All of those things didn't originate in one place and diffuse across the world kmt.

I think of great civilizations in terms of regions. North (and East) Africa's greatest civilization was Egypt, the Middle East's greatest was Babylon, and Europe's greatest was of course Greece (I consider Rome to be the heir of Greece in the end). All of these civilizations influenced each other, so it would not be correct to say that only one is responsible for all technical achievements that have been made in Western civilization.

You're ignoring that Egypt predated Greece, and served as the basis for Greek knowledge, as the Greeks themselves freely admitted. There would be no Greece or Rome, and consequently no Western civilization, without Egypt. But there would have been an Egypt, and African civilizations, without Greece and Rome. So the importance of Greece and Rome (and Europe) do not measure up to the importance of Egypt (and Africa).

In addition,Greece or Rome achieved nothing comparable to the pyramids, which still baffle the best architects and scientists to this day.


[/quote]

[Ponto Hardbottle]

kmt said:

xcalator1 said:

I happen to be of Greek descent, Kmt. How about you, are you really an Egyptian, or are you an African American?

I am African.

Yeah, I am Ainu! The bullshit meter gone into overload with this thread. Mathematics and science are Greek. All the previous people had primitive concepts but no systemic way of enumeration or categorizing. The decimal system could not have been invented by Egyptians as there was no zero until the Indians invented or discovered it. The ancients had counting systems based on 12 or 16. That is not decimal.
Don't try to teach mathematics or science as you are ignorant of basic mathematical or science history.
The Egyptians were a rather dumb group of people. Their forte was cosmetics, making red gold and beer. They only discovered mummification by accident from the natural effect of burying bodies in hot dry desert sands. They were disease ridden with parasites and suffered from smallpox and other hideous diseases. They had no separation of clean from sullied water, no system of removing garbage or controlling plagues or pests. They were bloody hopeless.

[Mike the Jedi]

The biggest problem with the Egyptians is that everybody wanted to conquer them.

The biggest problem with the Greeks is that the Greeks never got tired of fighting each other.

[Charlie Bass]

holyjesus said:

kmt said:

I am African.

Yeah, I am Ainu! The bullshit meter gone into overload with this thread. Mathematics and science are Greek. All the previous people had primitive concepts but no systemic way of enumeration or categorizing. The decimal system could not have been invented by Egyptians as there was no zero until the Indians invented or discovered it. The ancients had counting systems based on 12 or 16. That is not decimal.
Don't try to teach mathematics or science as you are ignorant of basic mathematical or science history.
The Egyptians were a rather dumb group of people. Their forte was cosmetics, making red gold and beer. They only discovered mummification by accident from the natural effect of burying bodies in hot dry desert sands. They were disease ridden with parasites and suffered from smallpox and other hideous diseases. They had no separation of clean from sullied water, no system of removing garbage or controlling plagues or pests. They were bloody hopeless.

A 'dumb' group of people cannot build pyramids that cannot be duplicated even in this modern world. And they didn't discover mummification by 'accident', they emblamed the body before mummification. Mummification came from the Sahara.

[Crimson Guard]

The Pyramid shape was basically useless and who gives a crap?! The Pyramids in the Americas where by far superior and better looking...oh I forgot ,the Negroid African Olmecs invented those aswel. ;D!

The Italian Arch was the most ingenious design ever created,without it, modern civilization would bever made it this far.Its use in construction is with us today and will be used well into the future.

Charlie Bass and/or his multiple names & Negrophile buddies ( no doubt direct from EgyptSearch) never end..The moderators really should start cleaning house already,this board has become a cesspool of Afrocentric idiocy !

[Mike the Jedi]

The Egyptians weren't dumb, they just got way too much sun.

*walks like an Egyptian out of thread*

[Charlie Bass]

crimsonguard said:

The Pyramid shape was basically useless and who gives a crap?! The Pyramids in the Americas where by far superior and better looking...oh I forgot ,the Negroid African Olmecs invented those aswel. ;D!

Pyramids in Meso-America were technologically advanced, but built by African Olmecs, no. Of course would love it if I believed that, but I do not.

The Italian Arch was the most ingenious design ever created,without it, modern civilization would bever made it this far.Its use in construction is with us today and will be used well into the future.

What a loaded statement, learn to never speak in absolute terms.

Charlie Bass and/or his multiple names & Negrophile buddies ( no doubt direct from EgyptSearch) never end..The moderators really should start cleaning house already,this board has become a cesspool of Afrocentric idiocy !

I may change my name here but I have never said I was another person. I don't know who kmt is and don't care, he speaks for himself and for himself only. I'll leave it at that.