How Ancient Civilizations Used Chemistry Before It Was Called Chemistry
How Ancient Civilizations Used Chemistry Before It Was Called Chemistry “Modern chemistry didn’t begin in a lab. It began in a temple, a kitchen, and sometimes, a battlefield.” Long before periodic tables and test tubes, humans were experimenting with the materials of nature. What we now call chemistry was once woven into everyday life — practiced by metalworkers, healers, priests, and perfumers. From dyes and medicine to metallurgy and glassmaking, early civilizations laid the foundation for today’s science without ever calling it that. Let’s journey back in time and explore how ancient cultures used chemistry — before they even had a word for it. 1. Egypt: The Land of Alchemical Beginnings Ancient Egypt is often considered the cradle of alchemy , the philosophical precursor to chemistry. Egyptians practiced: Embalming (Mummification): They used resins, natron (sodium carbonate), and bitumen to preserve bodies Cosmetics & Perfumes: Chemi...