Historical Chariot Speed Limiter...

I came across something I had not heard before, and thought it might prove of interest to the rest of you. I've been reading through pieces of Arthur Cotterell's Chariot and I came across a key distinction that would limit the speed of all chariots depicted in the game: the method of harnessing. While the Chinese improved on harness by going to a breast-strap arrangement, western chariots (including India and Persia) used throat-and-girth arrangements until the 10th century A.D.

The throat-and-girth harnessing constricted the breathing of the team despite some improvements to it over time. The only real counter for the problem (other than another style entirely) was use of lighter chariots to minimize the effect. That wouldn't eliminate the problem, but it would make it manageable. (Imagine yourself trying to run pulling a load with a similar restriction to your breathing.)

By contrast the Chinese were able to use heavier chariots, because of a more efficient harnessing system. Their teams had more tractive power because of this.

How did the improved Chinese harnessing method work? *curious*

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Originally Posted by lilljonas

How did the improved Chinese harnessing method work? *curious*

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Take a look at the images down the page in the following link: http://www.imh.org/imh/kyhpl1b.html#xtocid2243620 Combined with the text they do an excellent job of explaining it. It is surprising that the rest of the world used such an inefficient system for so long, especially with as important as horses were.

Just read that link:

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The degree of this inefficiency was measured in 1910 by Lefebvre des Noattes. He determined that two horses using throat-and-girth harness could pull about 1,100 pounds, or roughly one-half ton. On the other hand, des Noattes' experiments showed that a single horse utilizing a modern collar-harness can easily pull a load of a ton and a half.

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So using the Chinese system a horse could pull 6 times the weight!

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Originally Posted by Papewaio

Just read that link:

So using the Chinese system a horse could pull 6 times the weight!

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Yeah, pretty amazing isn't it? I suppose there are different variations that would let the horses pull more, but it isn't hard to imagine.

For example, I can carry my kids and wife on my back and shoulders (carried all 3 of them that way once.) However, if my 3 year old decides to hang from by back with his hands wrapped around my throat...it's all I can do to keep moving and I can't go far.