The world's oldest known industrial-scale manufacturing process is glassmaking. The ancient Mesopotamians, dating back to around 3500 BCE, were among the first to develop glassmaking techniques. They produced glass objects such as beads and vessels by heating sand and other ingredients to high temperatures. This early form of manufacturing laid the foundation for the modern glass industry, which has evolved significantly over thousands of years to produce a wide range of glass products used in various applications, from architecture to electronics.