Picture yourself standing on the banks of the Nile River, the lifeblood of a civilization that flourished for over three millennia. The ancient Egyptians were pioneers in many fields, and their innovations have left an indelible mark on history. Let's delve into the remarkable achievements that continue to influence our world today.

Picture yourself in ancient Babylon, a bustling city with towering ziggurats reaching toward the heavens. The Babylonians were keen observers of the night sky. Without the light pollution we experience today, the stars and planets were vivid and captivating. They meticulously recorded the movements of celestial bodies, not just out of curiosity, but because they believed these patterns were messages from the gods. This practice laid the groundwork for both astronomy and astrology.

Imagine life before numbers, before alphabets, before even paper. Picture early humans living in small groups, probably moving around to find food, relying on memory and oral storytelling. Now think about the challenges they faced. You have a few sheep—you want to keep track of them, make sure none wander off, and know how many you can trade. Or say you harvested some grain and needed to know how much you had left after winter. How do you keep track without words or numbers?