For as long as people have had valuable items, they have found intricate ways of keeping them secure. In India, for example, during the time of the Emperor of Annam, large blocks of wood often held personal treasures away on small islands, out of reach. Sometimes, these wooden blocks would be submerged in pools inside the palace where they could be protected by a number of starved crocodiles.

We certainly have come a long way since then. We have immovable safes to keep our valuables protected, locks on our cars and super sturdy deadbolts on our front doors. But what happens when we get locked out of our own personal items? Luckily, all we have to do is contact one of the many dedicated professionals called locksmiths to help us gain access again.

The first locks were developed independently throughout different civilizations, including Rome, Greece and Egypt. The Egyptians, in particular, used a series of wooden locks and keys sometime around 4,000 years ago. Today, metal is the standard choice for a lock as it is one of the toughest materials known to man.

If you get locked out of your house, you can call a residential locksmith to let you in. This locksmith will have been trained extensively in his or her craft, including time spent as an apprentice to finally become certified. Whether you need rekeying or full-blown new lock installation, any locksmith with a certification can get the job done.

While you observe a locksmith rekeying your front door, consider how much history is going into that process. Louis XIV, the one-time king of France and husband of Marie Antoinette, was himself an amateur locksmith. In addition, the word locksmith originates with the term “smith,” which meant someone who forged a substance.

And that concludes this lesson in Locksmithing 101. The next time you get locked out, call a professional. You can do serious damage trying to do it yourself. Read more.