 Ancient man, living in colder climates, is credited
with making the first shoes, by adding material to the top of
the crude "sandals" his neighbors in warmer climates had
invented. He did so out of necessity, to give his feet
additional protection from the cold.
Early man, in warmer climates, invented the sandal to
protect his feet from sharp rocks, and did so by strapping a
mat of woven grass, a strip of animal hide, or a slab of flat
wood to his feet with "thongs" he cut out of animal hide. Some
even pulled the thongs between the toes and tied them around
the ankles to tighten the fit of these crude sandals.
Wealthy ancient Egyptians wore sandals as long as 5,000
years ago, eventually everyone began wearing them, and the
Egyptians designed different shoes for different purposes. For
example, some of the sandals were make with upturned toes to
give the wearer additional protection. These improvements upon
the sandal created a need for shoemakers, and the ancient
Egyptians became the first shoemakers in the world.
 Ancient Greeks invented the boot, by replacing the
sandal's thongs with solid leather. Many of these crude shoes
have endured and are still worn today. Common examples include
the sandals the ancient Greeks and Romans wore, the
moccasins American Indians wore, and the clogs
people in Holland still wear.
In the Middle Ages, around the time the Crusades began,
modern shoes appeared on the scene. The Crusaders, who went on
long treks, needed durable, comfortable shoes that
people then began making for this purpose.
Eventually, the styles and types of shoes made became a
fashion statement, at the cost of comfort, instead of
protective footwear. Fashion trends rapidly changed, and the
fashionable, uncomfortable shoes with pointed, six-inch toes,
gave way to another uncomfortable shoe known as the high
heel.
In 1629, a shoemaker by the name of Thomas Beard, arrived
in America on the second voyage of the Mayflower, opened a
shop in which he could practice his trade, and sparked of our
modern shoe industry. |
moccasins:软皮平底鞋
clogs:木屐
long treks:长途跋涉
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