The History of Transport
Timeline of the History of Transportation
From horses to the earliest invention of the wheel, to the first flight of the space shuttle, transport has over a 5,000-year history:
4000 BC - Horses and camels are domesticated and used for transport.
3500 BC - Fixed wheels on carts are invented.
3500 BC - River boats are invented.
2000 BC - First chariots are built.
312 BC - Paved roads are built by the Romans.
1044 AD - The compass was invented in China.
1662 - First horse-drawn public bus was invented.
1783 - First hot air balloon launched.
1801 - First Steam 'road locomotive' is run.
1801 - First Steam 'road locomotive' is run.
1814 - First steam-powered railway train is built by George Stephenson.
1816 - The earliest bicycle is made.
1900 - First successful airship was built by Ferdinand von Zeppelin.
1904 - Wright Brothers fly the first motor-driven aeroplane.
1908 - First Ford Cars manufactured.
1942 - V2 rocket travels 200 km.
1947 - First supersonic flight takes place.
1957 - First man-made satellite, Sputnik 1, launched into orbit.
1981 - First flight of the space shuttle lifts off, 20 years after the first manned space flight.
The first form of transport was walking! Before humans learnt how to domesticate animals like horses and donkeys, people's only mode of travel was to walk.
The first form of transport was walking! Before humans learnt how to domesticate animals like horses and donkeys, people's only mode of travel was to walk.
4000 BC: The Domestication of Horses, Camels and Donkeys
Around 4000 BC, humans learnt to domesticate animals and, use them for transport and trade. Capable of travelling long distances and carrying heavier loads, the use of animals made travel and trade easier.
3500 BC: The Invention of the Wheel
First made from wood, the wheel was a simple but extremely important invention in the history of transport. Invented in Iraq, the wheel was used to create animal-drawn vehicles like horses and carriages.
Who Created the First Roads?
In Britain, it was the Romans who created the very first road network over 2,000 years ago! The Romans required roads to develop their empire in Britain, and these same roads are still used today.
However, the Romans were not the first to invent roads. Roads in Mesopotamia (now known as Iraq) have been discovered that date back to around 4000 BC.
The Industrial Revolution: Cars, Trains and Trams
During the 18th and 19th centuries, there were significant developments in transportation due to the Industrial Revolution.
During the Industrial Revolution, the first bicycle was made, the first motorways were invented, and the first car was built.
When was the Car Invented?
The first car with a gas engine was made in 1886 by Carl Benz.
Cars continued to develop around the world, and in 1908, the first Ford cars were manufactured in America.
When was the Train Invented?
Early forms of trains date back thousands of years. But, the first train with a steam engine was invented in 1814. Initially, trains were used to transport coal from mines. In the 1820s, the first modern trains were built using steam locomotives, and trains became a common mode of transport for many.
The History of Water Transport
The use of water to travel and trade dates back to 4000 BC, with the world's ancient civilizations using their access to rivers and seas.
Archaeological discoveries lead us to believe the first riverboats were invented in Ancient Egypt in 3500 BC.
The Industrial Revolution: Steamboats and Ships
Large sailing ships and boats allowed people to travel the seas, but it was during the Industrial Revolution that the first steamboats and motor motor-powered ships were invented. The first steamboat was built in 1807 in America.
The History of Air Travel
As people began to understand more about the Earth's atmosphere in the 17th and 18th centuries, they discovered the possibility of using the air for transport and travel.
1783: The First Hot Air Balloon
Using heated air, a large balloon and a large basket, the first hot air balloon was invented in 1783 in Paris, France, by brothers Montgolfier and was the world's first human flight technology.
Who Invented the Airplane?
In 1902, the Wright Brothers invented the world's first controlled, powered aircraft, named the Wright Flyer. The Wright Brothers' invention is known as one of the most significant events in the history of transportation.
The History of Space Travel
In the mid-late 20th century, rockets were developed that could overcome the force of gravity and travel out of the Earth's atmosphere. In 1942, the V2 rocket travelled 200 km. The invention of the rocket was the significant first step in the history of space travel.
Sputnik 1
In 1956, the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space. The first human spaceflight took place in 1961 and was engineered by the Soviet Union, with Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human to orbit Earth.
