Egypt: An Eternity of Giving

The British historian Will Durant says that the Egyptians are the first to establish an organized government that spread peace and security all over the country; the first to establish a system for education, mail and census; the first to introduce technical education to prepare employees and managers; the first to lay down a well-defined constitution for both the individual and public conscience; the first to promote arts, sciences and medicine; the first to write in philosophy; the first to upgrade architecture and sclupture; the first to promote arts to a high degree of excellence and accuracy that no nation had ever reached and was rarely matched by any that came after.
In addition to what Durant mentioned, the Egyptians are the first to discover time, first to define the year by 356 days, divide night and day into 12 hours each, and accurately observe the movement of celestial bodies and stars.

History also recalls that the Egyptians are the first to write encyclopedias. The first encyclopedia was by Amenemope known as ?the Home of Life?, this encyclopedia preceeded the encyclopedia of Ephraim Chaimbers by 3,000 years. This encyclopedia described existing elements in sky, land and water as well as the social classes of the state, Egypt's cities, the various kinds of buildings, food and drinks, all that comes out of mountains, all that is watered by the flood and all that grows on earth.
Egypt's human giving continued even during the Roman occupation and in the worst and hardest circumstances. Under Christianity, Egypt was the origin of theology, it presented monasticism to the whole Christian world. Thanks to Egypt, Christianity was introduced to Abyssinia, France, Belgium and Switzerland. Egypt was the source of ecclesiastic legislation; it has fixed the times of festivals and fasting to the whole Christian world.

In addition, Egypt under Islam was a pioneer; it was the minaret of Islam and a fortress for Muslims. Thanks to its scholars and preachers, Islam, with its tolerant teachings spread in African countries. Thanks to Egypt also a strong Islamic fleet was built. Islam was introduced to the eastern basin of the Mediterranean.