Question

constructed the pyramids without the benefits of modern engineering, and they are credited with a host of essential inventions, from the door lock to the toothbrush. perhaps due to their love of the precious stone lapis lazuli, the egyptians were also the first ancient civilization to produce blue dye, using a recipe they perfected by about 3300 bce. egyptian blue was more affordable than indigo imported from india, and it was traded widely throughout the roman empire. the synthetic blue pigment was made by mixing bronze, lime, silica, and alkali into a flour - like powder that was then rolled into spheres and fired in a kiln kept at approximately 1,000°c. the resulting lump of glassy material could then be ground into a pigment and used to color materials as diverse as stone, wood, canvas, papyrus paper, and plaster. archaeological evidence suggests it was even used as makeup. today, criminal scientists have found another use for this ancient concoction: it makes an excellent fingerprint powder that glows in infrared light. how does the second paragraph contribute to the discussion of blue dye? the second paragraph focuses on the ways that egyptian dye contributed to the development of many different types of textiles in other ancient civilizations. the second paragraph describes how the engineering techniques from ancient egypt are still being applied to the development of modern inventions. the second paragraph expands on the discussion of blue dyes origins by detailing the dyes production method and historical uses. the second paragraph connects the ancient egyptians knowledge of

Explanation:

The second paragraph details the production method (mixing bronze, lime, silica, alkali; rolling into spheres; firing at 1000°C) and historical uses (coloring various materials, used as makeup, modern use as fingerprint powder) of Egyptian blue dye.

Answer:

The second paragraph expands on the discussion of blue dye's origins by detailing the dye's production method and historical uses.