WHEELS OF PROGRESS

10 Stops In The History Of Transportation

Credit: Antoine Beauvillain

Devising ways to move beyond our feet is part of what makes us human. Without transportation, we wouldn’t have been able to explore and conquer every corner of planet Earth. From horses to supersonic jets, humans are always on the move.

And while we have gone a long way since the invention of the wheel, we still rely on most of these transportation methods to move about our world. Embark on a thrilling journey through time as we trace back the milestones that propelled us forward.

Credit: Jad Limcaco

Bipedal walking, or walking on two feet, is a defining characteristic of humans that has shaped our evolutionary path . While other primates primarily move on all fours, our ability to walk upright freed our hands for tool use and helped us to cover long distances efficiently. This adaptation allowed early humans to explore new territories, hunt for food, and eventually settle in communities.

Credit: Tim Mossholder

Horse riding has been an essential mode of transportation for millennia, dating back to the domestication of horses around 4000 BCE. From the Eurasian steppes to the Arabian deserts, horses enabled humans to cover vast distances , enabling both trade and warfare, and shaping the course of history as we know it. This revolutionary skill not only facilitated transportation but also fostered cultural exchange and communication between civilizations, bringing the ancient world a bit closer together.

Credit: Bruce Warrington

Where would we be without boats? Dominating the waterways was crucial to enable exploration and trade between faraway lands. Without boats, there would have been no maritime empires, and no cultural exchange between continents. Although simple rafts and canoes had existed for many thousands of years, the invention of the sail in ancient Mesopotamia around 5000 BCE is what truly revolutionized maritime travel, allowing boats to harness the power of wind for propulsion, reaching further than ever before.

Credit: Igor Sporynin

Around 3500 BCE, the invention of the wheel revolutionized transportation. Initially a device used only for pottery-making, the wheel soon found its way onto carts and chariots, significantly improving the efficiency of land travel. This innovation laid the groundwork for all future advancements in wheeled transportation, like horse-drawn chariots, bicycles, and eventually cars.

Credit: Adriano Pucciarelli

The earliest paved roads date back to ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, where stone-paved streets connected cities like Babylon and Ur. In ancient Rome, the construction of a vast network of roads , the famous Roman roads, facilitated the rapid expansion of the empire and enabled efficient military conquests. During the 19th century, advancements in road construction techniques, such as macadam and asphalt, revolutionized transportation, leading to the development of modern highways and urban infrastructure. Today, paved roads are the backbone of modern civilization, connecting cities and crisscrossing entire continents.

Credit: Denis Chick

The advent of the steam locomotive in the early 19th century completely transformed land transportation. Steam-powered trains enabled faster and more efficient travel , facilitating the movement of goods and people on a scale previously unimaginable, and fueling the advance of the industrial revolution. In the United States only, the construction of the transcontinental railroad connected the vast territories of the West to the East Coast, allowing more settlers to move into these lands, and revolutionizing the entire country’s economy in the process.

Credit: Jacek Dylag

The humble bicycle is more than deserving of a place in the history of human transportation. After its invention in the early 19th century, it soon revolutionized personal transportation, offering an affordable and efficient means of travel for millions worldwide. The introduction of the safety bicycle with equal-sized wheels and pneumatic tires in the late 19th century further popularized cycling, making it accessible to people of all ages and genders.

Credit: Clem Onojeghuo

Although the concept existed since at least a century earlier, 1886 is considered the year modern cars were invented, when German engineer Carl Benz patented his Benz Patent-Motorwagen - a practical vehicle that completely transformed personal transportation. With the mass production of cars and the expansion of roads, individuals gained unprecedented freedom to travel , leading to the reshaping of cities and paving the way for suburbanization.

Credit: Lacie Slezak

The Wright brothers' first successful powered flight in 1903 marked the dawn of aviation. Airplanes changed long-distance travel forever, effectively shrinking the world and connecting distant continents in record times. Modern phenomena such as globalization and global tourism would not be possible without airplanes, and it is still one of the fastest and most popular modes of transportation.

Credit: Simon Hurry

In 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first pilot to break the sound barrier in the experimental Bell X-1 aircraft, ushering in a new era of high-speed aviation. The development of supersonic passenger jets like the Concorde in the 1960s promised faster-than-sound travel for commercial passengers, drastically reducing transatlantic flight times. While the Concorde was retired in 2003, supersonic flight technologies continue to evolve, with many companies working on next-generation supersonic aircraft.

FUNNY WORDS WITH REAL MEANINGS

Bang! Let's Make Some Noise With These 12 Onomatopoeias

Credit: Ryan Wallace

A language as elastic and adaptive as English allows for words that describe anything you can think of. And, in that regard, onomatopoeias stand out as vibrant threads that weave together the sound and vision of our daily communication.

These words echo the sounds they represent, adding a symphony of sensory richness to our spoken and written expressions. From the resounding "crash" of a breaking wave to the gentle "whisper" of the wind, onomatopoeias bridge the gap between language and experience. How many of the following twelve words do you use every day?

Credit: Amadeo Tauses

The dynamic energy of liquid meeting resistance is perfectly encapsulated in the word "splash". Whether it's the rhythmic splashes of raindrops against a window pane or the exuberant splash of a diver entering a pool, this onomatopoeia captures the very spirit of fluidity and movement.

As a linguistic artifact, "splash" beautifully illustrates how onomatopoeias serve as a way of snapshots, freezing a moment in time and sound, allowing us to recreate the sensory image in our minds.

Credit: Moritz Mentges

A word that is royalty amongst onomatopoeias, "bang" emerges as a linguistic explosion, encapsulating the abrupt release of energy and the resounding aftermath. Tracing its roots back to the mid-16th century, the word finds its origin in the Old Norse banga and the Middle Low German bangen , both conveying the sense of striking or hammering.

As language evolved, "bang" assumed a versatile role, capturing the sharp sound of gunfire, an unexpected collision, or the slamming of a door. Its short, impactful nature reflects the very essence of its meaning—an auditory representation of force and suddenness.

Credit: Isabel Vitrup-Pallier

"Bark" carries us into the heart of the natural world, echoing the distinctive sound produced by dogs and other canines. Originating from the Old English word berken , meaning "to bark," this term not only mirrors the vocalization of our loyal companions but also describes the universal form of canine communication.

The onomatopoeia "bark" defines the sharp, often rhythmic vocalization of dogs, ranging from a friendly greeting to an alert warning. It stands as a testament to the onomatopoeic magic that allows us to hear a sound when we read it.

Credit: Joshua J. Cotten

The onomatopoeia "hiss" draws us into the realm of serpent-like sounds and angry cats, echoing the distinct noise produced by the expulsion of air through a narrow opening. Originating from the Danish term hysse , and with ties to imitative words across various languages, "hiss" expresses the sharp sound associated with a snake or a pressurized release.

This term goes beyond the reptilian realm, being used in expressing disapproval, anger, or even the audible escape of steam. As an onomatopoeia, "hiss" is a great example of the power of language to capture the essence of sound.

Credit: Edrin Spahiu

"Clang" resounds with the unmistakable reverberation of metal striking metal, capturing the sharp, metallic noise that accompanies collisions or impacts. The word is rooted in the Latin clangere meaning "resound or ring".

Whether echoing in the clang of swords in battle or the industrial noise of machinery, this onomatopoeia defines the essence of sharp, metallic sounds. "Clang" allows us to hear and mentally recreate the striking collision of metal objects.

Credit: Michael Jin

An expressive word to describe a collision or a sudden and impactful meeting of forces that resounds through the air, "crash" is derived from the Middle English word crasshen , meaning to break in pieces.

With roots echoing across languages, it has become a universal term, capturing the cacophony of breaking glass, colliding vehicles, or the collapse of structures. Beyond its etymological origins, "crash" works as a linguistic snapshot, freezing in time the noisy and often unsettling nature of collisions.

Credit: Bianca Ackerman

The onomatopoeia "buzz" puts us into the vibrant realm of incessant, humming vibrations, echoing the sound of bees or other insects in constant motion.

"Buzz" is a word that not only defines the collective hum of a swarm but also extends its resonance to the background noise of modern life, from the gentle whirring of electronic devices to the bustling ambiance of a crowded space.

Credit: Gauravdeep Singh Bansal

The onomatopoeia "chirp" captures the cheerful and rhythmic sounds produced by small birds. Coming from the Middle English term chirken which means "to make a sharp sound", "chirp" expresses the delightful twittering often associated with feathered companions.

While many birdsongs don´t sound like a "chirp", the word is mostly used to describe the singing of small birds and, as such, it is a widely applied verb.

Credit: Elyas Pasban

A "clattering" sound is the noise produced by chaos. It is a mixture of discordant sounds, encapsulating the collision and commotion of objects striking one another. Rooted in the Middle English word clatrian , meaning "to make a loud noise", "clatter" evokes a universal auditory experience, even if it's not a very pleasant one for most people.

This term captures the cacophony of falling utensils, the rattle of machinery, or the general noise of a lively environment. As an onomatopoeia, "clatter" allows us to audibly sense the disorder inherent in the collision of elements.

Credit: Sigmund

A far more discrete sound than the previous one, the onomatopoeia "click" invites us into the realm of precision, describing the sharp, short sound of two objects coming together.

Emerging from the Dutch word klikken , meaning "to make a weak, sharp sound", "click" imitates the sound of an object being gently tapped. Besides this, the term transcends its initial mechanical connotations, now serving as a descriptor for a multitude of actions, from the deliberate press of a keyboard key to the subtle closure of a door latch.

Credit: Alison Bogart

"Gulp" immerses us in the visceral and audible act of swallowing, capturing the unmistakable sound associated with the rapid intake of breath or a substantial drink. Rooted in the Dutch word gulpen , meaning to swallow greedily, "gulp" is an apt descriptor of the abrupt and resonant noise produced when one consumes a large quantity of liquid or food.

This term's evocative nature is a universal expression for both the physical act of swallowing and, also, the associated sense of surprise, anxiety, or anticipation.

Credit: Samuel Regan-Asante

We close this list with a word that does a great job phonetically describing the action that it implies. "Clap" resonates with the percussive sound of hands coming together, capturing the rhythmic and celebratory act of applause.

Originating from the Old English clæppan, which means "to throb or beat" this term embodies a universal expression of approval, joy, or appreciation. So, give yourself a round of applause for making it to the end of the list, and think about what other onomatopoeias you use in your daily life.