A History of Shoes
by
Mrs. Majka’s Class
Joycelyn Nguyen
The history of shoes began more than 40,000 years ago with
man's need to protect his feet from harm. Our ancestors
required sturdy shoes to shield their feet from rocks, sand and
harsh weather conditions.
History
The first shoe worn by man was a sandal. Famously crafted by ancient
Egyptians out of papyrus leaves and made from soft leather by Persians,
sandals also were worn in Greece, Rome and Mesopotamia. During the
Middle Ages, sandals were abandoned for moccasins and boots. An early form
of moccasin was used by the American Indians as well as the Eskimos.
Thomas Beard brought shoemaking from London to the United States in the
mid-1500s.
Significance
Shoemaking evolved from producing protective footwear to symbols of status
and prestige. Shoe artisans created ornate and decorative shoes for
aristocrats in ancient Egypt, Japan and Europe. These shoes indicated social
rank in society and were symbols of status and wealth for the wearer. For
example, famous monarchs Louis XIV and Henry VII both introduced
fashionable shoes in England and France to hide their physical deformities
and enhance their wealthy status.
Geography
In the 16th century, wealthy French women and aristocrats in Venice wore the
first high-heeled, platform wooden shoes. Similar to modern times in which
special shoes are worn for weddings, athletics and dance performances, early
shoe history reveals that footwear was created for special events and
ceremonies. According to National Geographic.com, in the 15th century,
wealthy Italian and French women wore elaborately decorative shoes called
chompines. These high heels were precursors to the infamous Italian-named
stilettos of the 1950s
Ravi Tung
Although traditional Native American clothing is different, depending on the
tribe and location where the clothing was worn, one common element was
moccasin shoes. Moccasins are simple footwear made from tanned leather,
stitched together with animal sinew. Although decorative patterns on
moccasins differed, the overall shape and method of shoe making was
remarkably similar.
Tribal Differences in Moccasins
There are tribal differences in design, decoration and functional design of
moccasins. Differences are mainly in bead-work and ornamentation, but can also
include unusual decorative cuts and patterns. Often, moccasin patterns are a
fundamental indicator of tribal affiliation.
Functional Differences
A number of functional differences in moccasins developed depending on where
they were worn and the conditions in which they were used. For example, some
tribes added hardened rawhide on the soles for durability. Tribes in cold climates
made higher, more insulated moccasins whereas tribes in warmer climates made
lighter weight footwear.
Adoption by Europeans
As Europeans penetrated Native American land, some people who came in to
contact began to wear moccasins because of their functionality and comfort.
Modern Use of Moccasins
In spite of their durability and beauty, the fickleness of modern fashion has
relegated moccasin style footwear primarily to a role of house slippers.
Sam Bigham
Archeological finds, ancient texts and art works reveal how the Chinese
people historically responded to geological and natural changes, which
influenced the evolution of their shoes.
Stone Age China
Seven thousand years ago, people in China's northern provinces made leather
shoes by binding sections of skins to their feet using leather strips and bone
needles, while at the same time, the people in the eastern regions made shoes
using flax thread and bamboo needles. The oldest pair of boots unearthed in
China, made from sheep skin, belonged to a woman buried four thousand years
ago.
Straw Sandals
Straw sandals are one of the earliest styles of shoes worn by Chinese people.
Today, millions of Chinese wear the same straw shoe their ancestors wore
thousands of years ago.
Yin and Shang Dynasties
Nomadic people of the Yin and Shang dynasties of China (14th-12th centuries
B.C.E.) produced the earliest record of glazed pottery and industrialized bronze
pottery. Soldiers wrapped pieces of rattan in hide and secured them over their
shins for protection in battle. During the Shang dynasty in particular, the discovery
of the silkworm brought silk weaving into the Chinese culture. Eventually the
colorful dyes of natural plants of China changed woven silk material into colorful
cloth shoes worn by the royal court.
Zhou Dynasty
Clothing on unearthed terra-cotta military figures from this period shows the
same style of stitched soles on handmade cloth shoes still worn in China today.
Stitch-soled cloth shoes developed over two thousand years ago specifically for
the Chinese military.
Qinq Dynasty
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 C.E.), the pointed toe boot adorned feet for
everyday wear. Attending court functions required wearing the square-toed boot.
Chinese history saw the last of this style shoe with the downfall of the last ruling
emperor of China--Emperor Xuantong--in 1911.
Aaryan Booter
The term "clog" can refer to any shoe that is made of wood and is often
associated with the popular Dutch variety; however, there are many
types of wooden shoes that have developed out of various ancient
traditions across the world. Wood has been a popular material for shoe
production in many civilizations, such as ancient China, Japan and
Europe.
Dutch Clog
The clog is Holland's traditional wooden shoe that dates to 1367. Clogs are
made from balsa-white poplar trees and fashioned from square blocks of wet
wood that is shaped and smoothed to fit the foot. Traditionally, the Dutch clogs
are painted yellow with red patterns. In the past, each village would have its
own unique pattern for painting clogs.
Geta
Geta are Japanese sandals made of straw and wood. The shoes resemble
thong sandals that have a sole and platform fashioned from wooden blocks.
Geta are often made with a flat, wooden sole and two supports, which are
perpendicular to the sole. The straps can be made from straw or cloth. The
geta were originally designed for workers in rice fields and helped elevate the
feet above water and mud. These traditional sandals are still worn in
contemporary Japanese culture and are frequently paired with kimonos.
Patten
The medieval patten was a slipper or overshoe made from wood. A patten
could be made with different materials such as leather, cork or wood. Most
pattens had a high platform and were worn over another pair of shoes to
protect them from wear. Wooden pattens were made by carving a thick, tall
sole from a solid block of wood and attaching a leather strip to the top. The
leather was usually dyed to match the shoes to the pattens that would typically
be worn with them.