Timeline of the History of Transportation

From horses, to the earliest invention of the wheel, to the first flight of the space shuttle, transport has
over a 5,000-year history:

 4000 BC - Horses and camels are domesticated and used for transport.

 3500 BC - Fixed wheels on carts are invented.

 3500 BC - River boats are invented.

 2000 BC - First chariots are built.

 312 BC - Paved roads are built by the Romans.

 1044 AD - Compass invented in China.

 1662 - First horse-drawn public bus invented.

 1783 - First hot air balloon launched.

 1801 - First Steam 'road locomotive' is run.

 1814 - First steam-powered railway train is built by George Stephenson.

 1816 - The earliest bicycle is made.

 1900 - First successful airship built by Ferdinand von Zeppelin.

 1904 - Wright Brothers fly the first motor-driven aeroplane.

 1908 - First Ford Cars manufactured.

 1942 - V2 rocket travels 200 km.

 1947 - First supersonic flight takes place.

 1957 - First man-made satellite, Sputnik 1, launched into orbit.

 1981 - First flight of the space shuttle lifts off, 20 years after the first manned space flight.

Take a look at these History of Transport Timeline Cards. Once downloaded, you can task your children
with recreating their own history of transport timeline.

What are the 3 Modes of Transport?

The three modes of transport are:

 Land
  Air

 Water

The majority of modes of transport fit within these three categories, and all have experienced significant
change throughout the history of transportation.

What was the First Form of Transport?

The first form of transport was walking! Before humans learnt how to domesticate animals like horses
and donkeys, people's only mode of travel was to walk.

The History of Land Transport

4000 BC: The Domestication of Horses, Camels and Donkeys

Around 4000 BC, humans learnt to domesticate animals and, using them for transport and trade.
Capable of travelling longer distances and carrying heavier loads, the use of animals made travel
and trade easier and more efficient, leading to trails and tracks in the land. This was the first significant
development in the history of transport.

3500 BC: The Invention of the Wheel

First made from wood, the wheel was a simple but extremely important invention in the history of
transport. Invented in Iraq, the wheel was used to create animal-drawn vehicles like the horse and
carriage. The invention of the wheel allowed for the first ever vehicles of transport to be invented, like
the chariot in 2000 BC, allowing for longer travel and more developed trade.

Who Created the First Roads?

In Britain, it was the Romans who created the very first road network over 2,000 years ago! The Romans
required roads to develop their empire in Britain, and these same roads are still used today.
However, the Romans were not the first to invent roads. Roads in Mesopotamia (now known as Iraq)
have been discovered that date back to around 4000 BC.

Teaching your children about Roman roads? Take a look at this handy PowerPoint.

The Industrial Revolution: Cars, Trains and Trams

During the 18th and 19th centuries, there were significant developments in transportation due to
the Industrial Revolution. Beginning in Britain, the Industrial Revolution saw the development of
advanced machinery and manufacturing that changed the way the world produced and traded goods.
Alongside these industrial developments, more advanced modes of transport were also created to cater
to the developing world.

During the Industrial Revolution, the first bicycle was made, the first motorways were invented, and the
first car was built.

When was the Car Invented?

The first car with a gas engine was made in 1886 by Carl Benz.

Cars continued to develop around the world, and in 1908, the first Ford cars were manufactured in
America.

Now, there are over 70 million cars produced across the globe that run on petrol, battery and hydrogen.

When was the Train Invented?

Early forms of trains date back thousands of years. But, the first train with a steam engine was invented
in 1814. Initially, trains were used to transport coal from mines. In the 1820s, the first modern trains
were built using steam locomotives, and trains became a common mode of transport for many.
Developed railway networks allowed people and goods to travel and be transported greater distances at
a quicker speed.

The History of Water Transport

The use of water to travel and trade dates back to 4000 BC, with the world's ancient civilisations using
their access to rivers and seas to develop the world's first trading networks; they became essential to
survival and the development of civilisations.

4000 BC - 3500 BC: The First River Boats

Who invented the first boat? Archaeological discoveries lead us to believe the first river boats were
invented in Ancient Egypt in 3500 BC. Ancient Egypt, Ancient Sumer, the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia
used began using river boats, which they made out of wood, around 4000 - 3000 BC to trade.

These early river boats continued to change and develop, with later civilisations creating stronger boats
that could tackle the rougher seas and allow them to travel greater distances.

The Industrial Revolution: Steamboats and Ships

Large sailing ships and boats allowed people to travel the seas, but it was during the Industrial
Revolution that the first steamboats and motor motor-powered ships were invented. The first
steamboat was built in 1807 in America.

The invention of large steam-powered boats was a significant development in the history of

transportation as it allowed people to travel and trade longer distances with greater ease. The first
motor-powered ship was invented in the early 1900s, these ships became essential to trading around
the globe.
The History of Air Travel

As people began to understand more about the Earth's atmosphere in the 17th and 18th centuries, they
discovered the possibility of using the air for transport and travel. This initially came in the form of the
hot air balloon.

1783: The First Hot Air Balloon

Using heated air, a large balloon and a large basket, the first hot air balloon was invented in 1783 in
Paris, France, and was the world's first human flight technology.

Who Invented the Aeroplane?

In 1902, the Wright Brothers invented the world's first controlled, powered aircraft, named the Wright
Flyer. The Wright Brothers invention is known as one of the most significant events in the history of
transportation.
Aircraft continued to develop, with World War II advancing the speed of aircraft production. An essential
part of military operations, bomber aircraft, such as the Lancaster, were invented.

After the war ended, people began developing commercial flight. The first commercial flight and
aeroplane was flown by De Havilland Comet in 1952.

This PowerPoint provides you with the perfect introduction to the Wright Brothers and the first aircraft.

The History of Space Travel

In the mid-late 20th century, rockets were developed that could overcome the force of gravity and
travel out of the Earth's atmosphere. In 1942, the V2 rocket travelled 200 km. The invention of the
rocket was the significant first step in the history of space travel.

In 1956, the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space. The first
human spaceflight took place in 1961 and was engineered by the Soviet Union, with Yuri Gagarin
becoming the first human to orbit Earth.

When was the First Moon Landing?

The first successful spaceflight to the Moon was made in 1969, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
being the first astronauts on the Moon.

Several spaceflights to the Moon took place from 1969 and 1972. In the 1970s, satellites were used
every day and international space stations were established.

Spacecrafts continued to develop, and in 1981, the first Space Shuttle was launched.