Science in Ancient Egypt (Science of the Past) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The Nile River winds through more than 4,000 miles (6,400 km) of Africa before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8 The accomplishments of ancient Egyptians in architecture, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and agriculture are presented in a clear and concise manner. A concluding chapter summarizes the more visible parts of modern everyday life which owe their beginnings to Egypt. For example, the Egyptians were the first to design locks with a notched key matching pegs within the lock and were responsible for our sun-based calendar. Woods is careful to point out where our knowledge of Egyptian technology is incomplete, such as techniques used for shaping stones, and he describes several probable alternative methods. The paucity of illustrations is a weakness. Those that have been included are often incomplete or fail to deal with the processes being described. Still, this is a good general introduction, which should be followed up by books that focus on specific aspects of Egyptian civilization, such as Mildred Pace's Wrapped for Eternity (McGraw, 1974; o.p.) and David Macaulay's Pyramid (Houghton, 1975). David N. Pauli, Northern Waters Library Service, Ashland, Wis.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Discusses the achievements of the ancient Egyptians in science, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, agriculture, and technology.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Children's Press(CT) (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531159159
• ISBN-13: 978-0531159156
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #159,012 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Egyptians knew more than just mummification, May 12, 2004

By	K. Schumann "schu" (Pearland, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There were many interesting topics in the book but I felt it was overall a little short. I used it as a read aloud for my children during our Egypt unit study. We were amazed at how the Egyptians multiplied and divided numbers. We tried it and it really worked! Many interesting things we did not know before. I do recommend the book, but because of it's short length I did not give it 5 stars. Fascinating read.
Chapters include: Geography & science; The Pyrmids; Mathematics; Adtronomy and Timekeeping; Medicine.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Did You Know in Ancient Egypt...?, July 3, 2006

By	Khyraen "Superintendent, Barlow Christian Aca... (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

What sort of science was available to, or discovered or invented by, the ancient Egyptians? What lasting impact did Egypt have on our world, and specifically on the development of the sciences? This book seeks to inform you, including:

How the Nile River contributed to the development of irrigation, agriculture, and raising cattle.

The possible ways the Egyptians could build the magnificent pyramids, including the tools that were used.

The number system the Egyptians developed, and how they used it to solve problems.

The other mathematic topics the Egyptians understood and/or developed.

How the Egyptians came up with an incredibly accurate calendar and how they told time.

The types of medicine the Egyptians practiced and how they passed that knowledge down to the next generation.

What the Egyptians got wrong about anatomy.

How the scientific achievement of the Egyptians affect our lives today.

This book makes a good supplement to a study on ancient Egypt. However, this is not an in-depth book, and it seems to just skim the surface of most of the topics it covers (with how the stones got from quarry to being part of a pyramid being the exception I can recall.)

This book would be a good read aloud for younger elementary kids, there are pictures on most pages, or a supplementary reader for older elementary kids studying Egypt. The information introduced here may cause them to seek out more details at the library.

Possible Problems:

I am a little confused after reading this book. Did the Egyptians or the Sumerians invent the irrigation of crops and the domestication of livestock? It seems to suggest that the Egyptians did, but every history book I have read credits the Sumerians. Both civilizations could have, simultaneously, or in isolation, invented these techniques, but even then, would the Egyptians be "the first."

Also, it is said that the Egyptians used science to advance medicine. However, as they used trial and error alone, and did not seek to explain how or why something worked, the Egyptians did not practice true science in the development of their medical procedures. A small detail, perhaps, but it may blur a child's understanding of the term "science."