Among the most important inventions of humanity infull possible include war chariots, representing a wagon, designed for two people, which were set in motion by race animals. The warriors on them got tired much less than those who walked; they did not need to carry heavy weapons on themselves, which is why they were much more willing to engage and win. But who controlled this ancient transport? We suggest to find out.
Battle chariot
A battle chariot of more than 2.5 millennia appearedback and actively used in military affairs. Its purpose was to ensure the mobility of the soldiers, their faster movement. That is why armies that possess such a vehicle often won victories.
What is a driver in the ancient world?This is one of the soldiers who was in the chariot. His duties included the management of horses, and often he played the role of a shield guard, giving the soldiers who came into hand-to-hand combat, a new weapon to replace the injured in battle. It was the driver who was following the horse during the battle and was always at the very center of the bloodshed, so his fate can not be called easy.
About the role of the drivers
Understanding the value of war chariot allowsto determine what warriors are. These are people whose functions included the management of these vehicles. So, with the invention of bow and arrow, the methods of conducting combat changed, now the enemy could be hit at a distance, but maneuverability and speed were required. And the manager of the cart did his best to ensure that his "companion" -that was convenient to hit the target.
Gradually, the construction of chariots is complicated, itacquires two axes and a special constructive element - a large shield that provides protection to the soldiers on it. The team becomes a strike force, ready to make confusion in the ranks of enemy troops. What is the driver in this case? It is not just the horse's manager, but also a strategist whose task was to direct the animal into the heat of battle so that it could crush or maim as many opponents as possible with its powerful hoofs.
In the country of the pyramids
Consider what a driver in ancient Egypt.In the country of the pharaohs, active chariots were actively used, constantly improving and becoming more effective from dynasty to dynasty. They were the main fighting force of the Egyptian army, and the drivers played an important role in this. On their shoulders lay the management of horses and the carriage itself.
To this day, mention has been made of the charioteering battles of ancient eras:
- So, Thutmose III of, went down in history as a gifted military leader and a brilliant strategist, managed to defeat the Israeli-Syrian army using cleverly placed fighting carts.
- In the bloody battle of Kadesh, about 7,000 chariots took part.
All this suggests that the role of such atransport was in the ancient world is very large. So, having considered what a driver in Ancient Egypt, we found out, this is a warrior, whose duties included the control of a chariot.
End of the Chariot Age
With the development of the ability to ride a horsehumanity gradually lost interest in war chariots. It was much easier and cheaper to keep the mounted riders, who, although they did not have such fighting power, as powerful heavy wagons, but were faster. Their maintenance was not so ruinous for the state treasury. Therefore, the chariots left the historical path.
But the question of what a driver is, stillremained relevant. Now this word has acquired a slightly different meaning and has become synonymous with the modern coachman. The driver, as before, ruled the horse harness, but no longer led them into battle, but transported high-ranking officials or priests.
Sports chariots
We examined what a driver in the AncientEgypt and the definition of the term. However, do not think that these people have found their use exclusively in the military industry. No, the chariots and their stewards were very popular in sports. The wagon itself was a lightweight structure with an open upper and protected front. This could harness several horses, so there were several types of harnesses:
- Two horses harnessed to bigu.
- Triga is a chariot with three horses.
- Quadriga - with four.
Managed this harness is the driver, whoI had to show my skills in sports competitions and come to the finish line first. In ancient Rome, such jumps have reached unprecedented heyday. There are often cases when, wanting to show their skills, the charioteer harnessed ten horses to the harness.
Censors in later times
After the last page has closedthe history of the ancient world, the driver did not disappear, but more often they became known as cabmen. What is a driver in a more modern sense? It is also a person who manages a horse cart and carries passengers or cargo. This type of transport was the most common in the XIX century and was preserved in the beginning of the 20th century, before the appearance of cars. The word "driver" gradually disappeared from everyday life, replaced by synonyms "coachman" or "cabman", the meaning of this did not change.
There were private drivers, natives ofpeasant environment engaged in the export of goods. In St. Petersburg, these people lived in the suburbs and had a difficult fate. They could be beaten with a whip, sent to penal servitude for the slightest fault. The following categories of cab drivers were distinguished:
- Lomoviki - transported goods.
- Likhachi - happy owners of comfortable crews, carrying exceptionally rich passengers.
- Vanka - the cheapest type of cart, drawn by one horse.
- Golubchiki - harnessed by a pair, more comfortable and more expensive.
All the activities of the drivers were strictly regulated by the rules, which established even speed limits.
We examined what a driver is.According to the history of the ancient world and more modern sources, it can be concluded that these people were very important both in the army and in peacetime for the transport of goods and passengers.
