The Invention of Building Bricks or Blocks
Who invented building bricks or blocks?
We don't actually know who invented bricks or blocks, what we do know is the oldest found bricks were shaped from mud and dirt. They were found at the "Tell Aswad" region in Syria, not far from Egypt in the Middle East. "Tell Aswad" is a prehistoric/neolithic site:
Prehistoric means before the period of written records.
Neolithic means the nearest part of the Stone Age where people used stone weapons and tools
Make a house that lasts...
Once upon a time, long, long ago, in a world without smartphones or video games, people had to get creative when building their homes and towering monuments. Imagine if Minecraft was real life – instead of pixels, they used blocks of stone, dirt and mud. This ancient version of "building blocks" wasn't just child's play, it was serious business if you wanted your house to last.
Someone had block-tastic idea!
Picture this: way back around 7500 BC, someone, somewhere, had a lightbulb moment – let's make bricks out of mud! And thus, the OG brick was born. These early bricks were like the grandparents of the plastic blocks you love today. They weren't perfect rectangles, but they got the job done. Some say there might even be older bricks out there, hidden away like buried treasure, just waiting for an adventurous archaeologist to discover them!
Ancient Egyptians and the Aztec people were the real life "Master Builders"
Now, let's zoom forward a few thousand years to ancient Egypt, where they took block-building to a whole new level – literally! The Egyptians weren't messing around when they decided to build their famous pyramids. These massive structures weren't just impressive, they were mind-blowing! Each block used to build the pyramids on average weighs 2.3 tonnes (2,300kg) as much as a large truck.
What weight could the strongest man lift?
Gregg Ernst, a Canadian Strong Man lifted two fully grown oxen (2,422kg) making this the worlds heaviest human lift. But remember that the "average weight" is not what they all weigh. You have to add the weights of each thing together and then divide it by the number of things to get the average weight.
How do you work out the "average" weight of something?
So look at these three blocks pictured here and the weights:
1. Smallest - Hot Pink - 3kg
2. Medium - Light Pink - 6kg
3. Large - Purple - 9kg
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So to find the average we add them all up:
3kg + 6kg + 9kg = ?
(3kg + 6kg) = 9kg + 9kg = 18kg
Now we have the total 18kg we divide it by the number of blocks, which was 3, 18kg divide by 3 blocks = 6kg
Egyptian pyramids largest blocks!
The largest blocks in the Egyptian pyramids weighs 25 to 80 tonnes, they form the ceilings of the "King's chamber" and the supporting chambers above it.
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But the Egyptians weren't the only ones playing with blocks. Across the world, ancient civilizations were putting their own spin on brick-making. From the majestic ziggurats of Mesopotamia to the sturdy walls of the Indus Valley, people everywhere were getting crafty with their construction materials.
The largest brick or block used in the Egyptian pyramids is about 80 tonnes! That's about 10 x Tyrannosaurus Rex!!!
Some bricks or blocks might have crumbled away...
Unfortunately, not all ancient bricks stood the test of time. Just like your sandcastle at the beach, some mud bricks crumbled away over the centuries, leaving behind only whispers of their former glory. But fear not, young builders! Each crumbling brick tells a story, reminding us of the incredible feats of engineering achieved by our ancestors.
Are you next in line to discover the next future build?
So, the next time you stack up your plastic blocks or build a fort out of cushions, remember the ancient builders who paved the way (quite literally) for the structures we marvel at today. Who knows? Maybe one day, you'll discover the next great wonder of the world – all with the help of a few trusty building blocks!
