History of transport

The history of transport is largely one of technological innovation. Advances in technology have allowed people to travel farther, explore more territory, and expand their influence over larger and larger areas. Even in ancient times, new tools such as foot coverings, skis, and snowshoes lengthened the distances that could be travelled. As new inventions and discoveries were applied to transport problems, travel time decreased while the ability to move more and larger loads increased. Innovation continues today, and transport researchers are working to find new ways to reduce costs and increase transport efficiency. This has made all forms of transport available to poorer nations, increasing the western worlds impact on these nations.

Land transport

The first earth tracks were created by humans carrying goods and often followed game trails. Tracks would be naturally created at points of high traffic density. As animals were domesticated, horses, oxen and donkeys became an element in track-creation. With the growth of trade, tracks were often flattened or widened to accommodate animal traffic. Later, the travois, a frame used to drag loads, was developed. Animal-drawn wheeled vehicles were probably developed in the Ancient Near East in the 4th or 5th millennium BC and spread to Europe and India in the 4th millennium BC and China in about 1200 BC. The Romans had a significant need for good roads to extend and maintain their empire and developed Roman roads.

History of Transport (sculptures)

Coordinates: 53°31′25″N 49°16′38″E / 53.52361°N 49.27722°E / 53.52361; 49.27722 History of Transport (Russian: История транспорта) is a series of three monumental sculptures in the Russian city of Tolyatti. The monument was designed in 1975 when the master plan for the Auto Factory District (Russian: Автозаводский район, Avtozavodsky rajon) of Tolyatti was created. The sculptures were erected in the years 1977–1979 in a strip of parkland between Revolution Street and Anniversary Street.As of 2014 they are endangered.

Description

The sculptures are stylized representations of three modes of transport extant at the turn of the 20th century: a paddle-wheel steamboat, a steam locomotive, and a hot air balloon.

"Hot Air Balloon" is a fantastic representation that combines a balloon, gondola, and sails with figures of balloonists. The 10-metre (33 ft) sculpture seems to be striving upwards, but held by anchor ropes and streamers; a light, delicate design mounted on a heavy prism-shaped foundation, somewhat reminiscent of the balloon in Jules Verne's novel Five Weeks in a Balloon. The dimensions are 10 metres (33 ft) by 6 metres (20 ft) by 6 metres (20 ft).