Timeline: History of Kites

475

What were kites made out of in ( BCE 4745-221 ) ?

The earliest kites, which date from the Warring States Period (BCE 475-221) of the Eastern Zhou (BCE 770-221) Dynasty, were made of wood, and were calledmu yuan(wooden kite).

Mar 2, 1000

How long have kites been around ?

Kites have probably been in existence for over twenty-five centuries and it is now thought that the first kite was probably flown in China around 1000 BC

Mar 2, 1282

What tradation exisited in Weihai ?

According to Marco Polo's travel diary, there existed a tradition in Weihai at the time for testing the wind with a kite in order to determine if an imminent voyage would be a good one or not.

Mar 2, 1282

Who was the first person who saw a kite fly ?

The person who saw a kite fly was Marco Polo in 1282.

Mar 2, 1300

Who flew decorated kites ?

In Europe there is evidence that the Romans flew decorated animal shaped windsocks as military banners, but it was the explorer Marco Polo who brought true kites to Europe from his travels to the East in the1300’s.

Mar 2, 1368

When did kites start having designs ?

During the Ming (CE 1368-1644) andQing (CE 1644-1911) Dynasties, kite making and flying had become an art form, being the object of elaborate and colorful decorations in the form of birds, flowers, blossoms, and of course, calligraphic characters.

Mar 2, 1749

How did people check the temperature in 1749 ?

In 1749, a Scottish meteorologist named Alexander Wilson used a kite with a thermometer attached to measure air temperatures at 3000 feet.

Mar 2, 1752

How did people prove that lighting was electricity ?

In 1752, Ben Franklin and his son William conducted their famous experiment designed to prove that lightning was indeed electricity. They used a kite to do this experiment.

Mar 2, 1898

What was the first wireless transporation ?

In 1898 Marconi made the first successful wireless transmission over water from the island of Flatholm in the Bristol Channel using a kite to lift his aerial.