{"id":20167,"date":"2024-02-19T00:45:12","date_gmt":"2024-02-19T00:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shoestechnologies.exum.eu\/?p=20167"},"modified":"2024-04-10T14:45:16","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T14:45:16","slug":"history-of-shoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shoestechnologies.exum.eu\/?p=20167","title":{"rendered":"Let’s take a look at the History of Shoes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every day at Shoestechnologies we talk about shoes. We have seen the different components that make them up. We discovered many contexts of use and what features they require. We have found pills and curiosities for the most enthusiasts. But…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you know when the first footwear was born<\/strong>? Today we want to take you back in time, digging into our history, to find the first shoes ever created. We want to go back to the sands of time, retracing the evolution of footwear from the most ancient civilizations to the modern era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you ready for this exciting journey?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of Shoes: Prehistory<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our journey begins a long, long time ago. Long before any written findings. It is estimated, in fact, that the first shoe was born no less than 40 thousand years ago, as a simple cover from the cold and the dangers that could be encountered in contact with the ground, such as sharp stones and thorny shrubs. A protection for the feet, used occasionally by Neanderthals first and permanently by early modern humans in the Paleolithic period<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If, on the other hand, we want to talk about footwear that is more similar to our modern shoes, we have to jump several millennia. We then arrive in present-day Oregon in 7500 B.C. where sandals not unlike the Fort Rock<\/strong> style have been found. Or in California, where fragments of rope and sandals similar to Chevelon Canyon<\/strong> dating back more than 8000 years have been found. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"History
Egyptian sandals 1580-1479 BC
Photo credit: metmuseum <\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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And then in Ancient Egypt<\/strong>, already mentioned for their in-depth knowledge of beekeeping<\/u><\/a>. Such an advanced civilization, in fact, could not fail to wear special footwear: sandals made of papyrus, leather and palm leaves. These, however, could only be worn by the most important social classes, while “ordinary” people were forced to walk barefoot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Shoes in Antiquity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If in the previous paragraph we talked about the footwear used in the first civilizations of history, with the term “Antiquity<\/strong>” we mostly want to talk about shoes that were built around the first millennium before the birth of Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so our journey then takes us to Ancient Greece<\/strong> where, around the year 1000 BC, leather shoes appeared that covered the foot up to the ankle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They were made with materials from other lands that connected to the Greek peninsula<\/strong> by sea such as Cyrenaica<\/strong>, the Black Sea<\/strong> and Sicily<\/strong>. They already featured an ancient sole made from a complex structure of woven materials. These shoes also reflected the social position of the wearer. An example of this are the nobles of Sparta who wore shoes with brass decorations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"History
Sandals ancient greece
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Let’s stay in the Mediterranean <\/strong>basin to talk about the Ancient Romans who conquered many territories throughout modern Europe. Compared to other civilizations, they have kept the particular Greek footwear<\/strong>, but allowed all walks of life to wear them. But not without aesthetic distinctions that would hint at the more or less affluent origins of the person. Senators, in fact, were distinguished by their black soles, while people belonging to the “lower<\/strong>” classes wore shoes without heels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But the Romans also became famous for the sandals of the same name, which rode the streets of the old continent. Roman sandals, in fact, are the very first footwear in history to be designed for the foot, to which they adapt. Sole, leather strap and lacing system. Everything was designed for the comfort of the foot, without ruining its aesthetics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"History
Women’s sandal inspired by the sandals of the ancient Romans
Photo credit: zausandals <\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we cannot fail to mention the “Paduka<\/strong>“, traditional high-soled Indian sandals that were mainly worn during religious ceremonies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shoes in the Middle Ages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let’s take another important leap forward in time, to the Middle Ages.<\/strong> As you well know, it is a well-defined historical period, which begins with the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD)<\/strong> and ends approximately with the discovery of America (1492 AD)<\/strong>. In this period of time, the world of footwear has undergone several changes. Shoes go from being a simple practical object to an aesthetic accessory. Colour, material and sometimes even design details are becoming increasingly important so that the footwear can match the clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In these years, the heel <\/strong>as we know it today was also introduced. But contrary to what we might think, it was an exclusive feature of men’s shoes<\/strong> at the time. The way of flaunting one’s social class also changes: it is now shown with pointed-toe shoe models. The longer the front end, the more important the family was. Some of the shoes found were so long and uncomfortable that they had to be fitted with ribbons to tie them around the leg, thus allowing the person to walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Un post condiviso da Bata Shoe Museum (@batashoemuseum)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>