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Toothbrushes -

The first recorded use of a toothbrush was around 3500 BCE, when cultures in ancient Egypt and Babylon used twigs with frayed ends to remove plaque from their teeth.

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Toothbrushes -

Prophet Mohammed popularized the use of the first toothbrush in around 600 CE.

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Telling time -

One of the most significant inventions from the Middle East was the clock, and formalized time-keeping itself.

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Telling time -

The system of counting from zero to 60 originates from 2000 BCE in Sumer, modern-day Iran and Iraq.

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Checks -

The modern check, originating from the Arabic word saqq, was first used by 9th-century Muslim traders. The Arabic word was a written vow to pay for goods after they were delivered.

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Checks -

The system was developed in order to avoid having to transport money through dangerous territories.

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Coffee -

There's a legend that it was an Ethiopian shepherd named Kaldi who first discovered the effects of coffee beans. He noticed that after eating the berries from a certain tree, his goats became so energetic that they didn't want to sleep at night.

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Coffee -

However, during the 11th century, the berries were then transported to Yemen, where they were used by Sufi Muslims to increase their concentration during prayer.

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Coffee shops -

The use of coffee spread across the region and led to a second invention: cafés. Although the use of coffee spread all over society, it was initially associated with religion.

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Coffee shops -

The world's first coffee shop is thought to be Kiva Han, which opened in Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul, in 1475.

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Fountain pens -

The fountain pen was invented in 953 CE in Egypt, after Sultan Ma'ād al-Mu'izz expressed his frustration at how messy it was using ink and a quill.

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Fountain pens -

The first English patent for a fountain pen was only issued in May 1809 to Frederick Fölsch. An improved fountain pen patent was issued to Joseph Bramah in September of that same year.

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Algebra and the algorithm -

Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī, also known simply as al-Khwarizmi, was a Persian polymath who produced vastly influential works in mathematics, astronomy, and geography.

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Algebra and the algorithm -

Often referred to as "The Father of Algebra," al-Khwarizmi also invented the algorithm during the 9th century.

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University -

The University of al-Qarawiyyin was founded by Princess Fatima al-Firhi in Fez, Morocco, in 859 CE. It was founded as a mosque and subsequently became one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the Islamic Golden Age.

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University -

It was the first degree-granting educational institute in the world, and still operates as a higher education institution today, teaching Islamic sciences and law.

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Soap -

The first soap-like material was invented around 2000 BCE in ancient Babylonia.

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Soap -

Fragrant soap as we think of it today was created by combining vegetable oil with sodium hydroxide and aromatics like thyme oil.

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Hospitals -

The earliest general hospital was built in 805 CE in Baghdad by Harun Al-Rashid. By the 10th century, Baghdad had five more hospitals.

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Hospitals -

By the 15th century, Damascus had six hospitals, and Córdoba in Spain, which was under Islamic rule, had 50 major hospitals, many exclusively for the military.

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Windmills -

Windmills were invented in 7th-century Iran, and some 1,000-year-old windmills in the region are still in use today.

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Windmills -

Known as asbads, these ancient windmills can be found in eastern Iran. Rotating around a vertical axis, they're made of six to 12 sails covered in reed matting or cloth material. They were used to grind grain or draw up water.

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The crankshaft -

The crankshaft was invented in the 12th century, in modern-day Turkey, by engineer Ismail al-Jazari. The device converts rotation into linear movement.

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The crankshaft -

It is the basis for much of the machinery in the modern world, including the bicycle.

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Combination locks -

Another well-known invention by al Jazari was the first ever combination lock for a chest or casket.

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Combination locks -

Al Jazari invented the four-dial combination lock. Only five caskets from the early 13th century with such a lock are known to still exist today.

Sources: (Business Insider) (Euronews)

See also: Notable public figures you didn't know were Arab Americans

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