Wheel

Technology Timeline (The Wheel)

By CosmicLauren
  • 4500 BCE

    Potter's Wheel

    Potter's Wheel
    The earliest recorded version of the wheel was simply just a whole piece of wood with a hole for the axel.
  • 4000 BCE

    Water Wheels

    Water Wheels
    Water wheels provided energy and powered machines in many homes and factories.
  • 3500 BCE

    Wheeled Carts

    Wheeled Carts
    Estimated time that the wheeled cart was commonly used
  • 3150 BCE

    Ljubljana Marshes Wheel

    Ljubljana Marshes Wheel
    An old wooden wheel discovered in Ljubljana in 2002.
  • 3100 BCE

    Clay Wheels

    Clay Wheels
    The oldest being found in Iran, clay wheels were used commonly in middle eastern countries.
  • 2200 BCE

    Spoked Wheel

    Spoked Wheel
    The spoked wheel was invented during the Middle Bronze Age, being used for chariots and carts. It had many spokes that expanded from the center of the wheel, thus its name.
  • 2000 BCE

    Horse Drawn Wagons

    Horse Drawn Wagons
    The horse was tamed and taught to draw wagons, which made the transportation of goods much easier.
  • 1500 BCE

    First Wheeled Toy

    First Wheeled Toy
    Found in Mexico, this is the oldest known wheeled Toy.1500
  • 1200 BCE

    Chinese Chariot

    Chinese Chariot
    China invented the first known fast-moving vehicle, the chariot.
  • 1000 BCE

    Spoked Bronze Wheel

    Spoked Bronze Wheel
    Spoked wheel with bronze sheeting from Árokalja.
  • 1000 BCE

    Iron Rimmed Wheel

    Iron Rimmed Wheel
    The Celtics put the first iron-rimmed wheels on their chariots. Increased appeal and durability were the intention.
  • 800 BCE

    Large British Wheel

    Large British Wheel
    An ancient large British wheel was recently discovered in Cambridgeshire. A horse spine was located nearby, which might suggest it being part of a horse drawn carraige.
  • 400

    Wheelbarrow

    Wheelbarrow
    Although people argue when it was exactly first invented, most scholars say around 100-400 AD

  • Self Propelled Military Vehicle

    Self Propelled Military Vehicle
    French Army Captain Cugnot was one of the first to successfully employ a device for converting the reciprocating motion of a steam piston into a rotary motion by means of a ratchet arrangement.

  • The Steam Locomotive

    The Steam Locomotive
    The locomotive was invented because horses could not travel through rough terrain. It was faster and more comfortable, though it was expensive.

  • Wire Tension Spokes

    Wire Tension Spokes
    The first wire tension spokes were patented by G.F. Bauer to put on bikes because the previous ones weren't strong enough to lift them.

  • First Bicycle

    First Bicycle
    The first verifiable claim for a practically used bicycle belongs to German Baron Karl von Drais, a civil servant to the Grand Duke of Baden in Germany.

  • Pneumatic Tires

    Pneumatic Tires
    The first air-pumped tires were invented because previous wheels were very uncomfortable on bumps and jumps otherwise.

  • The end of the Wire Spoked Wheel

    The end of the Wire Spoked Wheel
    Connected to their hubs by wire spokes

  • First Rollercoaster

    First Rollercoaster
    The first roller coaster in America opened at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York.

  • Carbon Rubber Tires

    Carbon Rubber Tires
    The B.F. Goodrich Company invented and patented carbon rubber tires to make them last longer.

  • Welded Steel Spokes

    Welded Steel Spokes
    Welded steel spokes were created to improve durability and revolutionize cars.

  • Diesel Locomotive

    Diesel Locomotive
    After the steam locomotive, the diesel locomotive took its place as it was more efficient.

  • First Steel Roller Coaster

    First Steel Roller Coaster
    The first steel roller coaster was the Matterhorn in Disneyland.

  • Tweel

    Tweel
    A kind of wheel that merges the tire and wheel together without needing air to deflect impacts.