Ancient trade and Travel
Ancient Trade and travel
Trade and travel across the world
About 2500 years ago, the world as known to Europeans included Europe, North Africa, and today's Pakistan in the east till the Indus river. The Europeans had no idea of the world outside Europe. When the European kings heard about the treasures of the East from the traders, they sent sailors on expeditions to find out more about the unknown world. America was discovered, Africa was researched, and new trading routes were found to bring back the spices of South-East Asia. As technology advanced, the trading goods were transported across different parts of the world not just by ships, but also by trains or aircrafts.
 |
| How did one travel earlier ? |
How did one travel earlier?
In the Stone Ages man shifted from one place to another only when the food at the first location became scarce. Families carried their possessions with them with the help of dogs or other animals. In regions with abundant water simple boats were made for transportation. After the invention of the wheel, new possibilities of transportation came up. Invention of carriages, wagons and later cars made travelling easier and faster. The only requirement was a network of roads.
How did the North American Indians carry their possessions?
 |
| The Indians often transported their possessions with Such horse driven travois. |
The original inhabitants of America frequently lived in the prairies. Since there were no roads on the prairie, vehicles with wheels could not be used easily in ddition, the wheel came to the American continent only with the vehicles of the European settlers. The native Indians used a travois for transportation: a triangle made of two long rods tied at one end and with a crossbar at the other end. Over this a piece of leather or fabric was stretched to carry load. For centuries, Indian women or dogs pulled these vehicles. Later, the horses introduced by the Europeans took over this job.
What did boats look like in the beginning?
|
The first boats were simple logs, which people carried over rivers and seas. These log boats were made from a hollowed-out tree trunk for a safer journey. A long rod was used initially, and later a paddle was used, for controlling the boat. In regions without trees boats were made from other materials. The Indians made their boats from birch bark and the Eskimos made them from animal hides and
leather. In southern Pacific, the coastal inhabitants used outrigger canoes about 5000 years ago. They had laterally placed floats, which made the boats more stable and faster.
Who built the first network of roads?
 |
| Who built the first network of roads? |
The first network of roads was built by the Romans who were experts in road building. More than 2000 years ago they planned and built a network of roads, which covered the entire Roman empire and made every corner of it accessible. Messengers, traders, and government officials-mainly soldiers-travelled on these roads between the capital city of Rome and the provinces. At the end of 4 BC, the Roman roads were fortified so that the heavy war chariots of the generals could also travel on them. But gradually deep furrows started appearing on the pavement, and the chariots used to move as if on rails.
For query/complaint contact us on
Care.haveprasad@gmail.com
For doubts refer to the comment section.
