The history of the chariot spans several cultures, and was used for multiple purposes. Chariots were often used in races, such as with the Greeks and Romans, transportation, and most importantly in war. Homer's Iliad has some of the most vivid descriptions of chariots, chariotry, and tactics that were utilized. The precursors to the chariot came from the plains of Mesopotamia and Anatolia. The first true chariots were probably developed on the Eurasian steppes, as evidenced by burials discovered along the border between Russia and Kazakhstan...although still hotly debated.
Chariot racing could be found on the islands of the Aegean, with teh Minoan and later Mycenean cultures utilizing chariots for such sports. Some pottery that has been found depicts such scenes of racing with chariots...probably from the thirteenth centry BC, though quite possibly even earlier. Some of the earliest chariot warfare seems to have occurred in Asia Minor. The chariot gave the warrior a greater weapon, high speed, strength, durability, and mobility unmatched in the battlefield. Chariots used in warfare have been traced to Troy VI after 1700 BC, the king of Hatti, Umman Manda at Aleppo, and the Hyksos who took over Egypt (Which are also often attributed to bringing the chariot to Egypt). The Egyptian chariot often had decorations of palm branches or animals opposing each other...both Syrian motifs. By 1600 BC, chariot warriors helped take control at Mycenae and other locations in Greece, eventually they would play a role in northwestern India. Often times chariots had archers, which would often focus their attacks on horses and crewman of opposing chariot forces. Thutmose III's account of his victory at the Battle of Megiddo, stated that a great king could deploy at least a thousand chariots. The Great Kingdom of Mitanni, around 1400 BC, is said to have had at his disposal a chariotry numbering several thousand...as the Nuzi tablets indicate that one minor vassal could supply the king with over three hundred chariots. At Kadesh (1275 BC), the Hittite king is said to have deployed thirty-five hundred chariots, twenty-five hundred of which came from vassals. The armies of the Sumer, Egypt, Ur, and the Hittites all relied on charioteers.
The Egyptians used the chariots more as a supporting role to the archers who utilized them.
The chariot was often the transportation of the elite Egyptians...whether for war, religion or state matters. Chariots were often built out of pieces of wood which had been bent into the required shape by possibly immersing them in boiling water for several hours, bending them...and then letting them dry. Various types of wood were often used: elm, ash for the axles and sycamore for the foot board.
Chariots usually consisted of a driver or individual with whip, and archer. Though at times only one individual would utilize a chariot. Depictions of Tutankhamun riding in a chariot utilizing a bow have been found. Chariots would differ in design between various cultures...such as an Egyptian chariot and a Hittite chariot, which was heavier with a central axes...carrying some three people: driver, shield bearer, and archer. Riding on horseback or cavalry type forces eventually helped lead to the decline of chariotry.
As can be seen, the chariot played a vital role in transporting and battle for several ancient cultures that spanned a great period of time. |
