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8000 BCE
The First Boat
The Pesse Canoe is a hollowed-out tree believed to be from the Mesolithic Period. These boats were built by the Homo Eretus species, who are the predecessors of Modern day humans. -
5800 BCE
The Invention of the Rowboat
The first representation of a rowing boat was discovered in Finland and dates back to 5,800 BC. This boat allowed for faster travel due to a new method called a single-bladed paddle. Rowboats utilize two oars that are connected to the boat. -
4000 BCE
First Domesticated Camels
The Dromedary or camel was domesticated on the Arabian peninsula. The one-humped camel was primarily used for transport and riding purposes. -
3600 BCE
First Domesticated Horse
According to a team of archaeologists, found in Northern Kazakhstan, the earliest known domesticated horses were both ridden and milked. Leading to the conclusion that people consumed horse milk at the beginning of the Copper Age around 5,500 years ago. -
3500 BCE
The Invention of the Wheel
Between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what's now present-day Iran and Syria, the Sumerian people invented the wheel by inserting rotating axles into solid discs of wood. -
3200 BCE
The Invention of the Sailboat
Throughout history, sailing has helped civilizations develop as people sailed across oceans to settle in new areas or trade with others. The earliest record of a ship under sail appears on an Egyptian vase from about 3500 BC. The sailboat used wind and ocean currents instead of humans to get the boat to move. -
3000 BCE
The Invention of Chariots
The chariot apparently originated in Mesopotamia in about 3000 BC; monuments from Ur and Tutub depict battle parades that include heavy vehicles with solid wheels, their bodywork framed with wood, and covered with skins. The chariot provides more protection than just riding on the horse. -
2800 BCE
The Invention of the Carriage
The first carriages date back to ancient times. Two-wheeled animal-drawn cart models or toys from 3000 to 2500 B.C. have been discovered in the ancient Indus Valley civilizations of Harappa, Mohenjo Daro, and Chanhu.
It allowed for easier travel and had storage. -
1000 BCE
The Invention of the Kite
The kite was developed in China in about 1000 BCE, where large kites were used to lift people. This about 1618 is the earliest known illustration of a conventional-tailed kite. The kite is also the first aerial way of travel. -
The Invention of the Hot Air Balloon
The hot air balloon was invented in 1783 by Joeseph and Stephen Montgolfier. They built a hot air balloon out of paper which Pilatre De Rozier flew over Paris. Modern-day hot air ballooning using a controlled propane burner and nylon fabric was invented in 1961 by Ed Yost at Raven Industries. The hot air ballon was safer and more effective than the kite. -
The Invention of the Train
British mining engineer, inventor, and explorer Richard Trevithick debuted the first full-scale working railway steam locomotive in the Welsh mining town of Merthyr Tydfil. The train became the main way to transport large groups of people or resources. -
The Invention of the Steamboat
The first successful steamboat was the Clermont, which was built by American inventor Robert Fulton in 1807. The steamboat allowed for travel up rivers which before required land transport. -
The invention of the Bicycle
German Inventor Karl von Drais is credited with developing the first bicycle. His machine, known as the "swift walker," hit the road in 1817. This early bicycle had no pedals, and its frame was a wooden beam. The device had two wooden wheels with iron rims and leather-covered tires. It put less stress on the legs and was a better alternative to walking. -
Invention of the Motorboat
Historians date the very first motorboat as far back as 1886, crediting engineer Gottlieb Daimler and shipbuilder Friedrich Lürssen, both German, as its commissioner and creator. The motorboat was faster and more effective than the steamboat. -
Invention of the Car
Karl Benz invented the three-wheeled Motor Car, known as the “Motorwagen”, in 1866. It was the first true, modern automobile, and that's why many named him the actual inventor. Benz also patented his throttle system, spark plugs, gear shifter, water radiator, carburetor, and other fundamental vehicle elements. It became and still is the best way to travel short and semi-long distances on land. -
Invention of the Plane
Wilbur and Orville Wright spent four years of research and development to create the first successful powered airplane, the 1903 Wright Flyer. It eventually will be used far more than any other way of aerial travel. -
The Invention of the Bullet Train
The train — frequently referred to as the “dream super-express” by the Japanese press — was completed in 1964. It ran from Tokyo to Osaka, shortening the travel time between the two biggest cities in Japan from seven hours to three. The fastest way to travel on land far better than any other method.