Transportation Timeline

  • Walking
    40,000 BCE

    Walking

    This is the first form of transportation during early life. Walking has been used since the beginning of time and will continue until the world ends.
  • Canoe
    8200 BCE

    Canoe

    The canoe was first invented in 8200 BCE. Much like the boat it is a water vessel allowing its passengers to glide across rivers and lakes. Canoes were first made out of a carved single piece of wood or a carved tree trunk. The canoe is much smaller than a boat allowing for more maneuverability.
  • Dog Sled
    6000 BCE

    Dog Sled

    Dog sledding has always been a key source of transportation. It first started in 6000 BC in Serbia. This form of transportation usually was found in cold climates with lots of snow. Dogs would mush town to town to usually deliver food or medicine.
  • Donkeys
    5000 BCE

    Donkeys

    The donkey was first domesticated in 5000 BCE. Donkeys were actually used for travel even before horses. Donkeys were used to carry cargo or haul wagons. The reason donkeys were used over horses was due to their steadiness. Donkeys didn't have to stop as often due to their slower pace.
  • Domestication of Horses
    4000 BCE

    Domestication of Horses

    In 4000 BCE horses were used to ride and perform field work to allow quicker transportation. Horses could be used for riding, and farming.
  • Invention of wheels
    3500 BCE

    Invention of wheels

    The invention of the wheel allows for transportation with the use of carts. Wheels allowed for goods to pulled instead of carried. They also allowed for transportation of more material.
  • First wooden boat
    3500 BCE

    First wooden boat

    The invention of the boat allowed merchants to trade by sea. Much like the old wooden canoe, the boat was used for long distance travel. The boat allowed for both trade and travel and was a vital part for explorers to be able to discover new lands.
  • The Chariot
    2000 BCE

    The Chariot

    The chariot became popular by combining the strength of horses and the invention of wheel carts. In Rome chariot racing was a very popular event used for entertainment.
  • Camels
    1800 BCE

    Camels

    The domestication of camels happened around 1800 BC. Just like horses, camels can carry heavy load for a long period of time. Although camels can withstand the booming heat of the desert. Camels use their humps to store water and will actually throw up their stomachs if threatened.
  • Paved roads
    312 BCE

    Paved roads

    With now having the chariot invented it is much easier to get around using a paved road system. Roads allowed for a more organized road system. Roman roads were either small local roads to long-distance highways built to connect cities, major towns and military bases.
  • Compass was invented
    1044

    Compass was invented

    Many traveling merchants used the stars to travel from city to city. China developed by machines that can tell the difference between North, South, East and West. The compass allows merchant traders to travel from one city to another with absolute certainty. The travelers no longer have to worry about storms affecting their passage.
  • Submarine
    1578

    Submarine

    The submarine was first brought to life by British mathematician William Bourne. The submarine is a aquatic vessel known for its stealth. Military leader wanted a way to sink enemy ships without being seen miles away. Today submarines can be completely submerged and with the help of long range missiles can sink enemy ships from hundreds of miles away.
  • Horse-drawn public bus

    Horse-drawn public bus

    Horses were no longer just used for individual transportation. Horses can pull about 1.5 times their body weight. This was the first form of public transportation used to allow pedestrians to get places quicker.
  • Hot air balloons

    Hot air balloons

    Hot air balloons first hit the scene in Paris, France. Pilatre De Rozier, launched the first hot air balloon called "Aerostat Reveillon". This was the first form of flying, allowing people to float over the countryside to get to the next big city or adventure.
  • Steam Powered Locomotive

    Steam Powered Locomotive

    The first full-scale working railway steam locomotive was the Coalbrookdale Locomotive, built by Trevithick in 1802. Although there is no proof of this exact locomotive working. This invention led into a future invention of the steam powered train.
  • Steam powered train

    Steam powered train

    A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fueled by burning combustible material such as coal to heat water in the boiler to the point where it becomes gaseous and its volume increases 1,700 times. This form of transportation allowed for both people and resources to be moved around the country at a rapid pace.
  • Primitive bicycle

    Primitive bicycle

    The primitive bicycle is a machine with two wheels. The bicycle requires very good balance, but does offer quick maneuverability. It uses two petals to rotate a chain around a sprocket to allow the rider to moved forward at quick pace.
  • Busses

    Busses

    In 1830 Goldworthy Gurney of Great Britain invented a stagecoach driven by a steam engine. Busses modified public transportation allowing many passengers to get to work and anywhere else for a small fee. Today we see busses that can hold more then 100 people at a time.
  • The Motorbike

    The Motorbike

    In 1885 the first motorbike was produced in Germany. The inventors Gottlieb Daimler, and Wilhelm Maybach were tired of riding there man powered bicycle. The first motorcycle could only reach speeds of 8 mph, but by the 1900's motorbikes were reaching speeds of up to 30 mph. Allowing the rider to get places way fast then by car or bus.
  • Automobiles

    Automobiles

    Carl Benz created the very first automobile. allowing humans to get place to place in a luxury automobile. This automobile could reach speeds of ten miles per hour allowing for calm travel for short distances.
  • Airships

    Airships

    Airships or blimps were invented in 1900. Airships gain their lift from a lifting gas that is less dense than the surrounding air. Hydrogen gas was the main gas used, many wanted to use helium due to the fact that it is not flammable. People could cross the Atlantic Ocean in as little as 58 hours. The most famous blimp today would be the good year blimp.
  • Motor powered air plane

    Motor powered air plane

    Wilbur and Orville Wright spent four years of research to create the first successful powered airplane, Wright Flyer. It first flew at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. This invention would allow people to across cities, States, Countries and even Oceans.
  • Rocket ships

    Rocket ships

    This first rocket was launched on March 16th, 1926. The rocket has been built to withstand space travel. This invention allows humans to travel to the moon and other areas in space.
  • Snowmobile

    Snowmobile

    The snowmobile is a motorized sled, used for driving through heavy snow. The snowmobile was meant to replace the dog sled by allowing faster travel. Unlike a car the snowmobile is supported by 2 skis in the front a chain driven track in the back.
  • Super Sonic Flight

    Super Sonic Flight

    In 1947 we see the first flight that turned super sonic. Super sonic flight is anything over 768 mph. The first aircraft to reach this mile stone is the Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis. The Glamorous Glennis was reported to go over the speed of mach 1.