Until 3500 BC mankind did not realize the need and utility of something as ingenious as wheels. By the time the idea was finally conceived it was already the Bronze Age, that is, mankind had already began casting metal alloys and creating more complex equipment than wheels.
The wheel have a long and interesting history behind it. Although it has gone through several stages of evolution, it is one of those ancient discoveries of mankind that continues to play a major role in our daily lives even today.
This post discusses briefly the evolution process of the wheels, from its invention till the present day;
#1. The Ancient Wheels
Wheels originated in Mesopotamia in the year 3,500 BC, although it is still not known who exactly invented it. However, it was not used for transportation purposes back then. In 3,200 BC wheels were first used to move chariots in Mesopotamia. However, the major means of transport was limited to camels. In the Middle East, wheels were used for pottery, milling and irrigation.
#2. The Upgrades to the Ancient Wheels
In 1000 BC there was a small upgrade on how wheels were being perceived for so long with the invention of iron rims around them. After this there were no table improvement on them until the beginning of the 19th century.
In 1802 round wire tension spokes, which can be seen bicycles today, were invented. In 1845, R.W. Thompson invented the very first pneumatic tyres and in 1888 John Dunlop reinvented the pneumatic tyres by replacing the hard rubber that was used in all bicycles during that time.
#3. The Dawn of Automobile Era
The automobile era began in the late 19th century with Karl Benz inventing automobile wheels. From 1910 to 1927 wheels went through developments like the invention of longer life tires and steel welded-spoke wheels.
#4. The Wheels Of the Present Day
The two major types of automotive wheels today are steel wheels and alloy wheels. These two types of wheels differ from one another on various grounds like price, weight, design, maintenance etc.
For more information on the history of wheels please refer to the following Infographic titled ‘The Untold History Of The Wheel And Its Evolution.’
Guest post by David Waters
Author bio
David Waters have been involved with automobiles at a young age. He has since grown a passion for rims and wheels; specifically aftermarket styles. Learn more at 2crave.com
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