Around 500 BC the first abacus appeared in Egypt.  This abacus was the first to take on the modern shape of beads and wires.  An earlier abacus had been in use since 3000 BC.  This was the first calculator.

The abacus works by different beads representing numbers.  This keeps track of large numbers and allows the user to perform calculations to that number.  When in the hands of an experienced user, the abacus can be faster than using a calculator.

Using calculations and complex mathematics,  the Egyptian were the greatest builders of the ancient world.  Their civilization lasted more than 3000 years and still is the bench mark for societies to this day, proving that the power of calculation is the key to immortality.