Module 2
History of Transportation
Lesson Objectives:
a. Relate the dates, personalities, & significant events, involving the history of transportation;
b. Compare the peculiarities between early and modern transportation.
MAIN LESSON
Early Modes of Transportation
A. Man Power: Every man , who had no domesticated animals, carried his own burdens. More so today,
manpower is important in transportation in many parts of the world.
1. Walking (traveling by foot) – first mode of transportation the power of his feet) used by man
2. Carrying Pole- balancing on one shoulder that has started in China.
3. Backload and tumpline - utilized to carry loads on the back with strap passing over the chest
4. Sledge on rollers - moving of heavy burdens was to place them on sledge which rested on a series of
of roller
5. Sledge on runners – a simple sledge, probably man drawn, was used at the end of Stone Age in
Northern Europe.
6. Travois – serves as a platform on which the burdens are paced
B. Animal Power
1. Ox – cattle, which were first domesticated in Mesopotamia. Used as draft animals to draw war
chariots. In some parts of Africa they are used as pack animals and for riding.
2. Reindeer – these were first domesticated in Siberia in the beginning of christian era. They were ridden
with saddles and they drew sledges somewhat like the dog sledges of the Far North.
3. Dog – the first animal domesticated , is too slight to carry heavy loads. In Europe, the dogs are used to
draw small carts.
4. Donkey- First domesticated in the Middle East. Today, it is still the chief beast burden among the
farmers of the Near East, Mediterranean Area and Mexico, where it was introduced from Spain.
5. Llama- Used in high Andes as pack animals by the Incas and their Spanish conquerors.
6. Elephant- Used by Carthaginians (African Elephant) in their war against Rome.
7. Horse – in Europe, horses were used to draw wheeled vehicles and for riding.
8. Camel – used to draw carts
9. Yak – a long haired-type of cattle and used as a pack animal.
C. Wind Power
1. Ancient Chinese Kite – was first used for transport by Koreans. When Korean General employed one in
bridge building. By means of a kite a cord was conveyed across a river where heavier ropes were
fastened and finally the bridge cable. In the late 10th century , European armies experimented with kites
in transporting men.
2. Da Vinci’s Ornithopter- Leonardo da Vinci. It was based on the flight of birds.
3. Montgolfière Balloon- France Joseph Michel and Jacques Etienne. Balloon was used to condemn
prisoners but was protested.
4. Siemens’ Rocket Plane - Ernst Werner Von Siemens. He designed a rocket plane that was propelled by
an explosive force of gunpowder.
5. Santos Dumont’s Airship- Alberto Santos Dumont. He is one of the pioneers of lighter- than- air craft.
He experimented with the steam power balloons in Paris.
6. Wright Brothers Flying Machine . Orville and Wilbur Wright built biplane kite over 200 different wings
types which they tested in a wind tunnel of their own invention, which they conducted their first man-
carrying powered machine.
Early people learned to build a sled by tying beams across two runners with tips of hide. Next, came the
litter may have been the first vehicle designed to carry people. Litters were made by stretching animal
skins across two poles. Later, people domesticated animals and used them to carry packs and pull sleds.
In the Middle East, the ox, donkey, camel, were trained to be beast of burdens. In the cold Arctic region,
dogs and reindeer were used. In India, humped cattle and elephants were the burden bearers. The
horses which became the most common transport animal, was one of the last to be trained. People also
discovered that traveling on water could be faster and easier than travelling on land. They made long,
narrow boats called dugout canoes. These boats were propelled with long poles and later with paddles
and rudders. Then, become acquainted that wind could be harnessed and used as power to drive boats.
Different materials such as mat grass, animal hides, or cloth, served as sails in different countries.
Development of Transportation
Modern Day Transportation:
Man’s technological innovation has allowed people to travel farther, explore more territory, and expand
their influence over larger and larger areas. Even in ancient times, new tools such as foot coverings, skis,
and well-developed engines lengthened the distances that could be traveled. Because of the new
technology applied to transport problems, travel time decreased while the ability to move more and
larger loads increased, those in the business sector can do transactions more easily and earn more
income. Innovation continues, in improving land, sea, and air transportation. But due to an increased
number of vehicles, especially on land transportation, traffic problems also exist. Traffic congestion
nowadays causes delays in man’s daily activities. Traffic accidents were the results of damage to life and
properties, reasons why all of us need to understand traffic laws, rules and regulations.
Skill-building Activities
Differentiate early transportation and modern day transportation