Modern medicine owes much to the Egyptians. Ancient records show that they developed over 800 medical procedures, from applying pressure to a wound to stop bleeding to treating dislocated bones. They knew of over 600 drugs, including how to use willow leaves and bark (the source of aspirin) as an antiseptic.

Although they didn’t have anaesthetic, they even performed simple surgery, such as removing tumours and cysts, using a wide range of instruments. They also had a reasonable understanding of circulation and the organs (although some confused the roles of the heart and brain). However, magic and superstition always played an important part in medicine.