Throughout history, Arab countries have made significant contributions to global science, culture, and arts. Many inventions from the ancient Arab world have become integral parts of our modern lives, often without us realizing their origins.

Let’s explore some of these groundbreaking innovations:

Clocks

Accurately tracking time is fundamental to human civilization. Whether it’s getting lost in a Sunday Night Football game or waiting in line at Starbucks during the morning rush, our perception of time shapes our daily experiences.

Timekeeping is a concept that dates back to 2000 BCE, too, in ancient Sumer, which is now Iran and Iraq. The ancient Egyptians can be credited with inventing clocks since they came up with a water clock system. Water clocks, also called clepsydras by the Egyptians, were created to help keep track of time without the use of the sun or night sky.

Coffee

Coffee originated in between the 11th and 15th centuries, and it was thought to have been invented by a goat herder named Kaldi. This herder discovered coffee beans after finding that his goats gained energy from eating them, although he assumed they were a form of berries at the time. After that, he tried the “berries” himself and shared them with monks, who found that they could create drinks by soaking them in hot water.

This legend originated in Ethiopia, and, eventually, coffee beans were shared and grown in the Yemeni area of Arabia in the 15th century. This region later became what we know today as Egypt, Syria, and Turkey.

Toothbrushes

Originally, toothbrushes were invented by both the Egyptian and Babylonian cultures around 3500 BCE. While the first toothbrushes were simply made of materials like twigs, small animal bones, and feathers, they proved useful in removing plaque and keeping gum tissues healthy.

Flush Toilets

Ismail Al-Jazari is a famous inventor from the Arab Golden Age, which took place during the 1100s and 1200s. Among his inventions are many automata, which are simple robotic machines designed to perform a certain task. Many historians believe later inventors, including Leonardo da Vinci, may have been influenced by Al-Jazari’s work.

Among Al-Jazari’s most notable innovations include a hand-washing automaton that was created for the kings of the time to use. This automaton featured a sink mechanism that would help the kings wash their hands during religious cleansing rituals. It also utilized a flushing function, which is the first known use of flushing in history. The flushing mechanism would later inspire the invention of modern flush toilets.

Soap

It is thought that soap was invented by the ancient Babylonians, perhaps around the year 2800 BCE. Researchers have discovered soap-making materials in clay cylinders that date back to this time period, suggesting that this civilization knew how to make soap from animal fats and ashes.

Additional accounts of using soap can be found in Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, and there is even written documentation of these civilizations creating soap. Interestingly, the process of creating soap has generally remained the same as it was during these ancient times since it is made with either vegetable or animal-based fats and oils.

Universities

The world’s first known university is the Al-Qarawiyyin University, which was started by a princess in Morocco around the year 859 CE. The university became a leader in providing education during the Arab Golden Age, and it was known as a religious center for followers of Islam. Today, this school remains open and retains its reputation as the first university in the world to award degrees.

Hospitals

The world’s first hospital, called the Ahmad ibn Tulun Hospital, was built between the years 872 and 874 CE. Notably, this hospital was available for all residents of its area in modern-day Cairo to use free of charge, and it also included a library and wing for mentally unstable patients to stay.

This original hospital inspired the building of similar facilities all over the Arab world, and each was built with an open-air floor plan that allowed them to remain cool in such hot climates. Buildings were also organized with several wings, much like today, with areas for intensive care, surgeries, orthopedics, ophthalmology, and even dining.

Conclusion

The innovations of the Arab Golden Age continue to shape our world today. From the coffee we drink to the hospitals we rely on, these innovations have left an indelible mark on human progress. As Arabs continue to make their mark in the world.