1. The History of Transportation (c)(4)(A)
In this lesson we will examine the history of transportation. 1

2. Early Man
Walked
Dragged, rolled, or pushed what he or she needed to transport
Alone or as a group
Early “roads” were worn paths
Early Man. Early man used his feet as his sole mode of transportation. Travel was for necessities of food and water and followed worn trails or animal paths. Early man rarely traveled great distances and had to drag, roll, or push everything he needed to transport.
Walked to transport himself
Dragged, rolled, or pushed what he or she needed to transport
If things needed to be hauled (including himself), it could be done by others under his direction
Early “roads” were worn paths

3. First Vehicle Most likely a travois or a sled / sledge 7000 BC 6000 BC
The first vehicle was likely a travois or a sled/sledge. A travois is 2 poles that are joined by cross ties that form a frame. This allows man to carry heavy loads such as firewood or a downed deer more easily. Early sleds were probably invented and used in northern climates where surfaces were covered with snow and ice. Dogs and horses were used to pull both of these simple devices.
First Vehicle
The first vehicle was most likely the sled or sledge used for hauling
Probably invented around 7000 BC
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4. Man Becomes Mobile
Man Becomes Mobile. The earliest evidence of the wheel appears in the mid-4th millennium BC. The wheel is a circular component that fits on an axle. This invention is a simple machine that allows heavy objects to be moved easily facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor.
The development of the wheel led to the development of wheeled vehicles
The development of the wheel led to the development of wheeled vehicles.

5. First Roads Mesopotamia Hard surfaces for travel purposes
Most likely packed material, soil, etc.
First Roads. After the invention of simple wheeled vehicles, sleds, and pack animals, man found it was easier to transport goods over a smooth surface. Regularly traveled paths were widened and smoothed to facilitate easier travel. The first road was most likely just packed soil and originated in the Mesopotamian region.
Mesopotamia
3500 BC
First hard surfaces for travel purposes
Most likely packed material, soil, etc.
3500 BC
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6. Early Transport Domesticated Animals Sails Wheeled Vehicles 3000 BC
Early Transport. Early forms of transport began in the 3,000 BC era and consisted of domesticated animals, boats propelled by sails and wheeled vehicles.
By 3000 BC
Domesticated animals - made beasts of burden
Sails & wheeled vehicles developed
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7. Road “Upgrade” Crete - Mediterranean
First stone surfaced roads constructed
Road “Upgrade”. The first hard surface roads consisted of street paving using stones. These paved roads appeared in towns and cities.
Crete - Mediterranean
1500 BC
First stone surfaced roads constructed
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8. . . . and in the West . . .
Mayans, Aztecs, Incas are building roads away from the coast
Why?
Move armies to conquer others or defend themselves
Move food and trade goods
. . . and in the West Roads appeared at almost the same time in the west, specifically in what is now South and Central America. Why did road appear? To provide ease of movement to the coast and navigable water. This allowed rulers and civilizations to move armies, food and goods for trade.
The Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas are building roads away from the coast
Why?
To move their armies to either conquer others or to defend themselves
To move food and trade goods
1500 BC
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9. The Silk Road and Connectors
The Silk road wasn’t really a road, it was a network of trade routes that joined China to India, Persia, Africa, the Mediterranean and Europe. The silk road was 4,000 miles long and named for the Chinese silk trade. In addition to silk and trade goods, the advent of the silk road and other trade routes, fostered interaction between cultures.

10. Early Pavement Technology
Roman Empire
Used broken stones in mortar for roadway surfaces
Early Pavement Technology. The earliest pavement technology was employed by the Roman Empire. The Romans used broken stones affixed with mortar to make roadway surfaces of roads. Roman roads were built to join the empire and to facilitate rapid movement of the armies to quell any rebellions.
Roman Empire
300 BC
Using broken stones in mortar for roadway surfaces
An early advancement in pavement technology
300 BC
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11. Vehicle “Upgrade” New Developments Harness & Traces Iron Horseshoes
Vehicle “Upgrade”. Although rough types of harnesses and horseshoes appeared earlier, the use widespread use of harnesses and horseshoes did not appear until around 800. These “upgrades” gave riders more control over horses and pack animals. The iron horseshoes protected the horses hooves from injury.
New Developments
Between AD 800 and 1100
The modern horse harness and traces along with nailed iron horseshoes are developed during this period.
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12. Grand Canal System of China
In addition to the Silk Routes to the west, the Chinese developed a series of canals. This system joined farmlands to major cities. This allowed food and other goods to reach markets.

13. Finding The Way Magnetic compass probably invented in China
Adopted by European mariners
Finding the Way. The magnetic compass invented in China as a device for Divination. Divination described the ancient belief of finding answers or predicting the future. By the mid 1200’s the compass was being used throughout Europe and Asia. This opened the way for what is called the age of exploration.
1200
The magnetic compass is invented, probably in China
Adopted by European mariners for navigation
1200
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14. Notable Voyages 1492: Christopher Columbus 1497-8: Vasco de Gama
discovers the Americas
1497-8: Vasco de Gama
sails around Africa
: Ferdinand Magellan
first voyage around the world
The age of exploration began in the mid 1400’s and resulted in voyages to the Americas and around the world. This time of exploration was spurred by quests for riches, knowledge, lands, power, and national pride.
Notable Voyages
Christopher Columbus
discovers the Americas
Vasco de Gama
sails around Africa
established trade route to the Orient
Ferdinand Magellan
first voyage around the world
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15. Getting Steamed! 1769: First steam road vehicle
1786: First successful steamboat demo
1804: First successful railroad steam locomotive demo
Getting Steamed!
With the invention of the first commercially successful steam engine by Thomas Newcomen around 1712, the advent of steam as a source of locomotion began. Since then the steam engine has become a major source of mechanical power. In transportation this power increased speed and mobility.
1769: First steam road vehicle demonstrated by Nicolas Cugnot in Paris
1786: First successful steamboat demonstrated by John Fitch on Delaware River
1804: First successful railroad steam locomotive demonstrated by Richard Trevithick in Wales
Today steam turbines generate about 90% of the electric power in the United States using a variety of heat sources.
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16. Paving the Way John Loudon MacAdam
Builds macadam hard-surfaced roads in England
Paving the Way
John Loudon MacAdam in 1815 builds hard-surfaced roads in England. He invented a method that simplified what had been considered state of the art at that point. Single-sized aggregate layers of small stones, with a coating of binder as a cementing agent, are mixed in an open-structured roadway. These roads were called macadam roads.
This was the beginning of the modern pavement era.
1815
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17. Riding the Rails 1825: Locomotive power in England
1863: First subway line in London
1869: Transcontinental Railroad in U.S.
1882: First electrified railroads
Riding the Rails As steam engines were applied to rail engines, the age of railroads began.
The Railroad Era:
1825: Stockton and Darlington Railway in England becomes the first common carrier to use locomotive power
1863: First subway line opens in London
1869: Transcontinental railroad completed in the United States
: First electrified railroads open in England and Ireland
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18. Sailing the Seas 1825: Erie Canal opens 1850’s: Age of clipper ships
1869: Suez Canal opens
1914: Panama Canal opens
Sailing the Seas. As stated earlier sea and water travel were one of the earliest forms of transportation. Water transport is a cheap of transportation. Capital goods, heavy machinery and bulk raw and finished goods can easily and cheaply be transported from and out of the country to the foreign countries.
Towns and cities in the original 13 Colonies were all sited along the banks of rivers. Early factories used the rivers to generate power and to move their products to markets. The westward migration of immigrants followed the Ohio, then Mississippi, Rivers to the Midwest.
Areas where navigable rivers did not reach looked to canals to provide access to this mode of transportation,
1825: Erie Canal opens. This canal was the longest canal built in early US. It was 363 miles long and created a domestic route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great lakes.
1850’s: Age of clipper ships. A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area. The boom years of the Clipper Ship Era began in 1843 as a result of the growing demand for a more rapid delivery of tea from China. It continued with the discovery of gold in California and Australia in 1848 and 1851, and ended with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869
1869: Suez Canal opens. The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows ship transport between Europe and Asia without navigation around Africa.
1914: Panama Canal opens. The Panama Canal is approximately 40 miles long. It traverses Panama and connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
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19. The Auto Debuts
1880’s
Daimler & Benz build first successful autos with gasoline engines
1916
Federal Aid Road Act
The Auto Debuts
1880’s: Daimler and Benz in Germany build the first successful automobiles with gasoline engines. This was quickly followed by Henry Fords “Model-T” which provided affordable access to the automobile for most people.
1916: Congress passes the Federal Aid Road Act which allocates funding for roadway construction
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20. The Modern Highway 1940: Pennsylvania turnpike opens
1956: Interstate Highway Act
The Modern Highway
1940: Pennsylvania Turnpike Opens - one of the first expressways in the United States
1956: Interstate Highway Act passed by Congress. The building of the Interstate System was the largest public works project in history. Just over 40,000 miles of interstate highways were built.
1956
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21. Taking Flight Wright Jumbo Brothers Jets 1903 1970 Commercial Service
1903: The Wright Brothers make first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
1952: First commercial jet service, using British DeHavilland Comet
1970: First jumbo jet (Boeing 747) air service
Commercial
Service
1952
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22. Beyond the Earth 1969 - Man lands on Moon 1981 - Space Shuttle
Now: International Space Station
Beyond the Earth
1969: Man Lands on the Moon
1981: Space Shuttle - reusable vehicle for space exploration
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23. What’s Next?
What Next?
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