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Surprisingly, the devilishly simple contraption called the wheelbarrow has not been around since the dawn of time. A closer study into the history of the wheelbarrow sheds some curious light on a common gardening tool. |
A Tale of Two Cultures
The history of the wheelbarrow has two beginnings separated by distance and time. Careful analysis of the history of the wheelbarrow also reveals Chinese and Europeans used this invention in very different ways.
Big Leap in China
China in the first century B.C. gives the first record in the history of wheelbarrows. A closely guarded military secret, wheelbarrows gave Chinese armies a decisive advantage in moving goods and wounded soldiers. This "wooden ox" eliminated the need of pack animals, letting emperors devote resources to more expensive projects.
Second Coming in Europe
The history of the wheelbarrow picks up about 1,000 years later. Although carts were used for centuries in Europe, wheelbarrows did not appear until 1220 A.D. Exactly how the history of wheelbarrows continues in Europe is not sure. Wheelbarrows might have rolled down the Silk Road, but most likely Europeans invented them independently.
Stained in Time
History shows wheelbarrow evidence in an unlikely place: a Medieval church. Along with gorgeous celestial symbols, stained glass shows accurate depictions of everyday life. One pane from the Chartres Cathedral in France shows the earliest proof of a wheelbarrow in Europe.
Though relatively new on the technological scene, wheelbarrows have earned an indispensable place in our lives. The history of the wheelbarrow continues today much like it has for 2,000 years. Easy to use and practical, wheelbarrows are here to stay.
