TechnologyCentral Asia

The chariot

2,001 BCE

The Bronze Age's costliest weapon, a status symbol from China to Egypt

In depth

The oldest finds come from the Sintashta graves east of the Urals, with horses buried in harness. The spoked wheel is decisive: it makes the vehicle light enough to be fast. The chariot created an aristocratic warrior class wherever it arrived, because only the wealthiest could keep horses and a vehicle — and it became obsolete just as abruptly when horsemanship and cheaper infantry took over.

For children

A light cart on spoked wheels, drawn by two horses, carrying a driver and an archer. It was fast, costly and demanded years of training. Within four centuries it spread from the steppe to Egypt, India and China.

Connects to

The horse tamed on the steppe3,701 BCE
The wheel3,501 BCE
The battle of Kadesh1,275 BCE
The Shang dynasty1,601 BCE – 1,047 BCE

Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org