HISTORY IN TOOLS 77 



round links as far back as the second dynasty, 5,200 B.C. ; 

 and links doubled up, and looped through each other, appear 

 in the sixth dynasty, 4,200 b.c. Yet chains were not commonly 

 used till much later. The Gauls excelled in such work, as they 

 used chain cables and rigging in place of rope, to resist the 

 Atlantic gales. The screw was a Greek invention, and greatly 

 used by the Romans as a means of motion. Then centuries 

 passed before the nut and screw, for fastening, was invented ; 

 and again centuries before the screw used to fasten wood, 

 which first appears less than two hundred years ago. 



The light that the distribution of tools throws on the status 

 of ancient civilisation is most valuable historically. Not only 

 does the using of certain tools show a level of work and ability, 

 but the resistance to the adoption of forms known elsewhere 

 shows that there was a sufficient ability already in a country. 

 In the present day the forms of common tools differ in various 

 parts of Europe, because each country has a civilisation strong 

 enough to carry on without copying another country. A large 

 improvement in one country is the only condition on which 

 other countries will borrow from it, and only then if the changes 

 will suit other conditions. When we find that countries, known 

 to have been anciently in connection, each steadily resisted 

 various forms of tools used by the other, we have good evidence 

 that each civilisation was on such a level that it could supply 

 all its wants without great benefit by imitating another. This 

 form of evidence gives some insight into dark ages, of which 

 but little detailed knowledge is preserved ; it suffices to show 

 whether countries were far below one another, or on such an 

 equality of work that each was independent. 



In Egypt there were many forms of tools and weapons, 

 which were then the standard types, and yet these are never 

 found in other lands. The earliest axe (fig. 20) is a plain 

 square form, from about 6,000-5,000 B.C. Then a round axe 

 (fig. 21) was adopted till nearly 3,000 b.c. After that wider 

 lugs were developed to enable it to be firmly bound on to a 

 handle (fig. 22) ; and this was made in a lighter and longer form 

 as a battle-axe (fig. 23) used mainly about 1,500 B.C. None of 

 these forms are found in other countries, yet had the lands 

 around Egypt been much behind in their axe forms, they would 

 naturally have been influenced by Egyptian types, as there was 

 trade intercourse during all these periods. The only adoption 



