10 Muslim Inventions That Changed the World Including Coffee

You’ve heard of coffee, shampoo, cheques, and torpedoes—but do you know who actually invented them? Many everyday items and systems we take for granted today have roots in the Muslim world, often centuries before they reached the West. From the first cup of coffee to early surgical tools, these inventions transformed daily life, trade, and warfare across the globe.

In fact, Russian newspaper The Truth reported that Muslims created 10 major inventions still vital today—including the world’s first coffee, the game of chess as we know it, and the concept of the payment cheque. Here’s the full list, with historical context and key details preserved.

1. Coffee: The Original Bean Buzz

The world’s first cup of coffee was brewed after an Arab shepherd in Ethiopia noticed his sheep became unusually energetic after eating red berries. Intrigued, he tried the fruit himself—and thus, coffee was born. Though the exact details vary, this Ethiopian origin story is widely recognised as the starting point of global coffee culture.

2. Chess: Strategy from Persia

The version of chess familiar today evolved in Persia, where it was refined and spread. The Persian word for “chariot,” or “rook,” remains part of chess terminology. This strategic board game travelled through the Muslim world before reaching Europe, where it developed into the modern game played worldwide.

3. The Parachute: A Thousand Years Before Flight

Long before the Wright brothers, a Muslim inventor crafted a flying device using wood and a cloak—believed to be the earliest form of a parachute. This early design demonstrated the principles of controlled descent, predating powered flight by over a millennium.

4. Shampoo: Cleansing with Botanicals

Muslim innovators combined plant oils containing sodium hydroxide with aromatic oils to create an early form of shampoo. This hair-cleansing formula was introduced to Britain by 1795, laying the groundwork for modern hair care routines.

5. Metal Armour: Layered Protection

While it’s unclear whether the technique of layering padding between two cotton fabrics originated in the Islamic world or was imported from India or China, it was through the Crusades that Europeans adopted this method of metal armour construction.

6. Surgical Tools & Circulation: Ahead of Their Time

A 10th-century Muslim surgeon named Al-Zahrawi designed surgical instruments nearly identical to those still used today. Additionally, another Muslim physician described the concept of blood circulation in the 13th century—three centuries before William Harvey’s widely credited discovery.

7. The Three-Course Meal: Soup to Fruit

An Iraqi introduced the idea of a structured, three-part meal to 9th-century Córdoba: soup first, followed by fish or meat, and finishing with fruit. This dining sequence became a precursor to the modern multi-course meal.

8. Payment Cheques: Early Banking Across Borders

In the 9th century, Muslim merchants could cash cheques issued by banks in Baghdad while conducting business in China. This early form of international banking facilitated long-distance trade and payments across continents.

9. The Torpedo: Underwater Weaponry

In the 15th century, Muslims developed what was called a “self-propelled pear-shaped bomb”—effectively an early torpedo. This weapon shocked European armies with its underwater capabilities and destructive potential.

10. Windmills: Harnessing the Breeze

In 634 AD, a Persian caliph invented windmills to irrigate farmland. This technology predated the first recorded windmills in Europe by 500 years, showcasing early innovation in renewable energy and agriculture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who first invented coffee and where?

Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia by an Arab shepherd who noticed his sheep became energetic after eating red berries. He then brewed the world’s first cup of coffee from the fruit, marking the origin of coffee consumption.

Where did modern chess originate?

Modern chess developed in Persia, where the game was refined. Key terms like “rook” come from Persian, and the game spread through the Muslim world before reaching Europe in its current form.

What was the first parachute like?

The first parachute-like device was made by a Muslim inventor using wood and a cloak more than 1,000 years before the airplane, demonstrating early principles of controlled descent.

How did Muslim doctors influence surgery?

Muslim surgeons in the 10th and 13th centuries designed tools still used today and described blood circulation centuries before Western scientists like William Harvey acknowledged it.

When were payment cheques first used across countries?

Muslim merchants used cheques issued by Baghdad banks to pay for goods in China as early as the 9th century, enabling international trade payments.

What was the Muslim invention that scared European armies?

In the 15th century, Muslims invented an underwater explosive device called a “self-propelled pear-shaped bomb,” known today as an early form of the torpedo, which intimidated European forces.

How old are windmills as an irrigation tool?

Windmills were invented in 634 AD by a Persian caliph to irrigate fields, 500 years before they appeared in Europe, representing an early renewable energy application.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee History Fans

Explore the origins of coffee with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, known for its bright citrus, floral jasmine, and sweet blueberry notes. For a heavier body and deeper sweetness, try their Ethiopia Guji Humbera, offering ripe strawberry, tropical peach, and chocolate. Both single origins highlight the diverse flavours rooted in coffee’s birthplace. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.