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4200 BCE
The Wooden Wheel was Invented
The first wheels were made for pottery, then later for transportation. -
3500 BCE
First Known Evidence of Horse-Drawn Vehicles
These were used for transportation and were pulled by horses. -
2500 BCE
The Chariot Was Founded
The chariot originated from Mesopotamia and was used for Egyptian warfare. The chariot had two wheels and was pulled by horses. -
Period: 1400 to 1499
The Body Changed from Wooden Poles Supporting the Carriage Body.
Evidence shows that the coach bodies were hung with leather straps or braces to reduce their weight. -
1571
Queen Elizabeth Rode in One of the Early Carriages
She suffered too much pain from riding one of the first horses and buggy, so she never rode that again. -
Carriages with Glass Windows Emerged in Paris
There they made a scandal at the court of Louis XIII. The glass was used first in the upper panels of the door but then covered the front of the carriage and the upper half of the sides. The glass needed to survive the rigidities of the carriage travel. -
The First Hankey Coaches Became Popular
They had 4 wheels with two horses drawn to them. They were used to transport people from one place to another. -
Edward Knapp Hung Carriages from Steel Springs and was Given a Patent
The steel springs were hard to make, and Edward's design failed. Then 40 years later, other people took up the role and found success. -
Hackney Stands Had Started to Appear in London
The drivers in uniforms called livery would wait for customers to pay their fees. -
Hackney Coaches Were on the Streets
So many Hackney coaches were on the streets, causing inconvenience, that Charles I announced a proclamation forbidding journeys under three miles, with Hackney. -
The Stagecoach Came into Vogue
In England, the stagecoach came into vogue. The stagecoach was built like a Hackney coach but was larger. They intended to take people between London and towns that were between 20 and 40 miles away. The stagecoach could carry eight passengers inside and had a large basket behind, over the axel. -
The Gig was Invented
It was a two-wheeled carriage that was light. The gig was invented in France. There was then a later style called the cabriolet. This became popular in England and France. There was a curved seat on two bending planks, placed in front of two wheels.