The Secret History of Ordinary Objects You Use Without Thinking

The Secret History of Ordinary Objects You Use Without Thinking

The Secret History of Ordinary Objects You Use Without Thinking explores the unknown origins of ordinary items we come into contact with on a day-to-day basis. From forks to smartphones, we will show how objects have influenced human history in surprising ways.

Introduction: The Unseen Past Behind the Mundane

We live amongst so many items that have become a part of our everyday lives, that we do not even bother to ask where they came from. The spoon you used at breakfast, to the shoes you wore on your morning walk have each had storied histories with often unexpected inventions, societal change and even controversies, dating back centuries. The hidden histories of ordinary objects show the creative process of humankind, but also how necessity, force, trade and innovation enabled us to live our day to day lives.

This article is a brief survey of the secret histories of common things, things that probably exist in your everyday life that you will not think about. In exploring the hidden histories of happy

accidents, artifacts, modifications, euphemisms, fakes and minor innovations that came to dominate the modern world, we are at the same time forcing ourselves to reflect on how dynamic human progress is, and how so many changes could trigger significant changes in our everyday lives and regular items few of us would consciously consider.

1. The Spoon: Not Just For Soup

The spoon has existed for thousands of years. Archaeologists have unearthed spoons made of bone, wood, and stone that date to prehistoric times. The ancient Egyptians used spoons as symbols of status and embellished them with hieroglyphics, commonly made of ivory and precious metals.

The spoon evolved to what we know today in medieval Europe, where spoons were becoming readily available to common people. A luxury item became a commonplace object, something most of us take for granted like stirring our morning coffee.

2. Forks: Once Viewed as Scandalous

It is hard to believe, but forks were once thought to be unnecessary and even "unholy" by Europeans. The fork had been used for centuries in the Middle East and Byzantine Empire, however it came to Italy as late as the 11th century.

When a Byzantine princess used a golden fork at her wedding feast in Venice, the church deemed this decadence "excess" and "arrogance." For centuries, many Europeans continued to use knives and/or their hands. By the 17th century, forks became a symbol of refinement—and a ubiquitous eating utensil around the world.

3. Eyeglasses: Changing the Course of History Through Vision

Now many don’t know what you would do without eyeglasses. The first eyeglasses emerged in Italy in the 13th century. The lenses that monks, priests, and scholars wore were primarily made of quartz; the glasses weren't often lost as they were worn made to wrap around a person's head.

As literacy expanded toward the 15th century thanks, in part, to the printing press, people began to demand eyeglasses. This little creation changed the course of history by allowing everyone to work, read, and learn until the very end of their lives - expanding human capability.

4. Shoes: From Animal Hides to Fashions

Shoes have been made for at least 40,000 years, with early humans having worn animal hide to protect their feet. In ancient Rome, the type of footwear someone wore indicated their social status. For example, the color of the footwear indicated whether they were a senator, a soldier, or a laborer.

In modern times, shoes are not only functional, but also in the chain of command to complete one's outfit and today's global fashion supply chain, valued in the billions of dollars. Sneakers especially are become transcultural, impacting and inspiring youth culture and not just how they consume footwear, but even how a world manufacturer markets each youth's first shoe. The history of shoes tells a tale of survival, status, and expression.

5. Paper: The Soft Power of Civilization

What would life look like without paper? Hard to imagine! Cai Lun invented paper in China around 105 AD. Ever since paper that we could write on was invented, history was changed. People used clay tablets, bamboo, and parchment or papyrus before paper.

When paper became widely accessible around Asia, the Middle East, and eventually Europe, civilization advanced due to the alternative option for writing and furthering books, education, science, and many of the political systems we have today; in addition to being a large part of our day to day lives in materials you may not even consider to be 'paper'. Note pads, accounting receipts, books of all kinds, letterhead, documents, legal pads—since 105 AD, paper is integral to the human experience, and it continues to extend influence in our digital space.

6. Umbrellas: Changing from the Sign of Power to Rain Protection

What we use as umbrellas today only protect us from rain and storms. Originally, an umbrella was symbolic of power. Ancient Egyptians, Assyrians and Chinese used umbrellas and similar forms (called parasols) to protect the sun's rays from the head of a noble, making it clear that even the powerful can be brought down by the sun's rays. In Europe, they didn't adopt umbrellas until the 18th century, when Jonas Hanway adopted one in his rain-soaked city of London.

Men ridiculed umbrellas calling them "effeminate," and they initially became renowned as raincoats for women; however, by the 19th century they became popular in all urban pockets of society as essential accessories. Today you probably just throw them into your bag or backpack without even thinking about it on a stormy day.

7. Toothbrushes: From Ancient Bristles to Modern Hygiene.

Oral hygiene is something we take for granted today, but the history of the toothbrush is quite ancient. The toothbrush dates back to the ancient Egyptians who used frayed twigs to brush their teeth and around the fifteenth century, the Chinese invented the first-bristled, a brush with a variety of hog hairs. These brushes were then a precursor to what we know today as a toothbrush.

The first nylon-bristled modern toothbrush was patented in 1938. Since then, dental hygiene has transformed the health of the world—demonstrating how invention, even minor ones, can impact our everyday lives in ways we’re not aware of.

8. The Clock: Mastering the Passage of Time.

Can you imagine a world without a clock?Early civilizations utilized sundials or water clocks to tell time. Mechanical clocks were becoming more common in Europe starting in the 14th Century, mostly in church towers to help communities with prayer time or any other community needs.

Pocket watches started to be popular in the 16th Century, and wristwatches became more common during World War I, used primarily so that soldiers could manage their time and schedules. Now we have clocks in our smart phones that help us manage time; illustrating the role clocks have played in our modern history.

The Importance of Learning the History of Everyday Items

Learning the stashed history of everyday things serves a purpose beyond curiosity. Not only does it create a tie to the past, but it also makes clear that change is slow, cultural, and quite often surprising.Suddenly discovering that a spoon, cup, or smartphone was once innovative tells us even more about human creativity, as an endless seeking of movement. History is All Around

The next time you pick up a dinner fork, glance at the wall clock, or scroll through your smartphone, pause for a moment. They're certainly not just tools; they are a living history forged through centuries of invention, resistance and change.

The hidden history of artifacts tells us many things. One thing that should be automatic is that the most taken-for-granted objects have the deepest histories.