DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0077
61
The regular inundations of the Nile necessarily taught the
Egyptians to apply the principles of geometry and hydraulics.
Without the latter they could not have carried agriculture to
such a state of improvement as they must have done to sup-
port their vast population. The former was equally indis-
pensable for the determination of the different properties, when
the water had retired, and to introduce them to the theory
and practice of mechanics—a science in which great advances
must have been made before a pyramid or a temple could have
been built.
It may, indeed, be asked, If the Egyptians had been such
able mechanics, how is it that we see their implements of
husbandry awkward and imperfect—their vessels apparently
incapable of being navigated but with a fair wind? The answer
is—First, All the knowledge of the priests, i. e. all the knowledge
in the empire, would naturally be confined to the promotion of
their own studies—the building of temples, the general improve-
ment of the laws; and we may add—to augment their own
weight and influence over the people. Secondly, As the object of
the government was to increase the population and promote
industry, it was perhaps thought prejudicial to both, to facilitate
too much by mechanical means the cultivation of the ground,
which was the most desirable employment for the inhabitants:
Nature had already been sufficiently kind ; all that was wanted
was to direct those means, by which the favours she bestowed
might be enjoyed by the greatest possible number in the most
profitable manner. Thirdly, It was another principle with the
Egyptian government to discourage foreign navigation; and as a
step to this, it was necessary to check every mechanical and
nautical improvement in that at home.—As to the physical
knowledge of the Egyptians, their cotemporaries gave them
credit
The regular inundations of the Nile necessarily taught the
Egyptians to apply the principles of geometry and hydraulics.
Without the latter they could not have carried agriculture to
such a state of improvement as they must have done to sup-
port their vast population. The former was equally indis-
pensable for the determination of the different properties, when
the water had retired, and to introduce them to the theory
and practice of mechanics—a science in which great advances
must have been made before a pyramid or a temple could have
been built.
It may, indeed, be asked, If the Egyptians had been such
able mechanics, how is it that we see their implements of
husbandry awkward and imperfect—their vessels apparently
incapable of being navigated but with a fair wind? The answer
is—First, All the knowledge of the priests, i. e. all the knowledge
in the empire, would naturally be confined to the promotion of
their own studies—the building of temples, the general improve-
ment of the laws; and we may add—to augment their own
weight and influence over the people. Secondly, As the object of
the government was to increase the population and promote
industry, it was perhaps thought prejudicial to both, to facilitate
too much by mechanical means the cultivation of the ground,
which was the most desirable employment for the inhabitants:
Nature had already been sufficiently kind ; all that was wanted
was to direct those means, by which the favours she bestowed
might be enjoyed by the greatest possible number in the most
profitable manner. Thirdly, It was another principle with the
Egyptian government to discourage foreign navigation; and as a
step to this, it was necessary to check every mechanical and
nautical improvement in that at home.—As to the physical
knowledge of the Egyptians, their cotemporaries gave them
credit