Why the Late Introduction of Stirrups?
I have been researching inventions and when they appeared. One that has always bothered me is the invention of the stirrup for horses. History generally places it as appearing somewhere between 200 BCE and 200 CE, perhaps first used by the Sarmatians.
The stirrup seems like such a simple concept, especially for mounting a horse. What took everybody so long to come with the idea?
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Re: Why the Late Introduction of Stirrups?
Many people were use to the old way of controlling with the legs and this new method, like many new methods wasn't deemed popular. The north africans were using stirrups about a 50 years before poiters but the franks didn't( not in any real number any way)
Many hated guns when they appeared in the 14th century but within few centuries they were dominating the battle field and had to be respected.
The irish light horse were riding without stirrups till the late 16th century but coming against an opponent with stirrups, it comes as a disadvantage. The man lacking stirrups will have a better chance of going to ground when the clash of battle commences as the enemy can have better balance and stability in the saddle.
Re: Why the Late Introduction of Stirrups?
The full stirrup was introduced by the Avars. The toe stirrup was used in India...Imagine falling off and losing your big toes??
......Orda
Re: Why the Late Introduction of Stirrups?
I don't have anything to back this up but I've always just assumed it get harder to get on horse as the armor became heavier. Light Cavalry didn't need stirups to mount a horse while a heavy knight did.
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Re: Why the Late Introduction of Stirrups?
I've wondered, too. It's like the wheel, How do you NOT invent it? I suspect that what happens is that such ideas are tried but fail to catch on for a variety of good reasons.Originally Posted by Tachikaze
Perhaps the increasing size of domestic horses finally made them difficult to mount. Or maybe a switch in control technique made stirrups more agreeable. If the reins are used to steer instead of the rider's legs and knees, the ability to stand in the saddle may have become more apparent. I should add that I do not ride so I am speculating without personal experience.
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Re: Why the Late Introduction of Stirrups?
Striup is consider by modern historians to be an invention of the Perisans, or greeks in Asia minor, ~ between 200 BC to 200 AD, However David Nicolle, A fore most leading historian in these areas claims it is acutally ~ 400 AD and Perisan.
Years ago, they actually taught it was the mongols, but that is certianly not Correct as the Late Romans had Stirups, as we can see them painted on old mosics, and on statutes of the time.
fenir
Time is but a basis for measuring Susscess. Fenir Nov 2002.
Mr R.T.Smith > So you going to Charge in the Brisbane Office with your knights?.....then what?
fenir > hmmmm .....Kill them, kill them all.......let sega sort them out.
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Re: Why the Late Introduction of Stirrups?
I'm too fat to mount a horse (besides for never having gone horse riding and loving the taste of horse in White Castle Burgers) so there.
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Re: Why the Late Introduction of Stirrups?
I suppose inventing the wheel and stirrup was kind of like inventing the computer, who would have ever thought that thousands of switches, working in conjuction through electrical signals, could eventually be compiled into simple binary numbers, which could eventually create more complex "normal" calculations, then be able to create text on a screen which allows it to create massive and stunning visual graphics, when even still all it is are thousands of tiny jolts of electricity making colors dance around on your screen. Often times thinking out of the box is difficult, especially 5000 years ago when the box still wasn't invented...
Re: Why the Late Introduction of Stirrups?
Well, Stirrups first show up in CHINA
(you Eurocentric fools)
Re: Why the Late Introduction of Stirrups?
Actually, I would think that ease of mounting would be reason enough to develop them. The other benefits would be discovered as they experimented.I suppose inventing the wheel and stirrup was kind of like inventing the computer, who would have ever thought that thousands of switches, working in conjuction through electrical signals, could eventually be compiled into simple binary numbers, which could eventually create more complex "normal" calculations, then be able to create text on a screen which allows it to create massive and stunning visual graphics, when even still all it is are thousands of tiny jolts of electricity making colors dance around on your screen. Often times thinking out of the box is difficult, especially 5000 years ago when the box still wasn't invented...
There is a lot of dispute to the Sarmatian vs. Chinese origin of stirrups. Early Chinese examples often have only one, presumably for mounting.
The advantage of stirrups for archery is very significant. In the days before stirrups, lances were often used for overhand thrusting, not cradled across the lap. This technique minimizes the benefits of stirrups.
Screw luxury; resist convenience.
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