redcomet
2002-10-23, 06:19 PM
The horse collar brought an efficient way of harnessing horsepower for transport. We believe it had the biggest effect on the course of world history. In the earliest times, horses wore the throat and girth harness. As soon as the horse used its strength to pull a load, it would choke. Thats because the harness was around the horses throat.
Around 480-221 CE, the horse replaced the ox with the invention of the horse collar. The ox had a horizontal spine with a hump above the shoulders while the horse had a sloped neck with no hump. The horse was transformed into an ox-like animal with the collar. The collar created an artificial hump. It was a band across chest and collarbone, which supported the weight of the load. With only a single horse, a ton and a ½ could be pulled whereas the throat and girth harness was strapped onto two horses, and only pulled ½ a ton. This invention allowed horses to pull plows through the moist, fertile river valley soils that otherwise, was too heavy for the oxen. The horses were stronger, and faster than oxen. This created an agricultural surplus allowing the cost of food to go down. The horse collar was affordable and suitable for commoners and citizens. It also permitted horses to pull 6 adults, 300 percent more than the throat and girth harness could support. The horse collar enhanced trade and communication throughout the world. A cart could be attached to the harness and goods could be traded. For example: Even though Italy was so much closer to Rome, Rome needed grain from Egypt or else itd starve. The reason why was Egypt could ship its grain to Rome while Italian grain couldnt be transported by land because there wasnt a horse harness. Imagine all the money and time that couldve been saved at that time! The horse collar also led to military improvements and a stronger military for the Chinese Empires. War chariots could be attached to the collar and easily pulled into battle by the horses. The harnessing decreased the confusion and slaughter of cavalry battles too!
The horse collar was too cool to be kept to one group. It was simple and easy to learn. It spread to Europe in the 6th century and all of Europe by the 8th century.
The horse collar was the best invention in history. The horses werent ½ choked to death and people could work less and eat more. Wasnt life sweet!
Don't ask me why I posted this LOL
Around 480-221 CE, the horse replaced the ox with the invention of the horse collar. The ox had a horizontal spine with a hump above the shoulders while the horse had a sloped neck with no hump. The horse was transformed into an ox-like animal with the collar. The collar created an artificial hump. It was a band across chest and collarbone, which supported the weight of the load. With only a single horse, a ton and a ½ could be pulled whereas the throat and girth harness was strapped onto two horses, and only pulled ½ a ton. This invention allowed horses to pull plows through the moist, fertile river valley soils that otherwise, was too heavy for the oxen. The horses were stronger, and faster than oxen. This created an agricultural surplus allowing the cost of food to go down. The horse collar was affordable and suitable for commoners and citizens. It also permitted horses to pull 6 adults, 300 percent more than the throat and girth harness could support. The horse collar enhanced trade and communication throughout the world. A cart could be attached to the harness and goods could be traded. For example: Even though Italy was so much closer to Rome, Rome needed grain from Egypt or else itd starve. The reason why was Egypt could ship its grain to Rome while Italian grain couldnt be transported by land because there wasnt a horse harness. Imagine all the money and time that couldve been saved at that time! The horse collar also led to military improvements and a stronger military for the Chinese Empires. War chariots could be attached to the collar and easily pulled into battle by the horses. The harnessing decreased the confusion and slaughter of cavalry battles too!
The horse collar was too cool to be kept to one group. It was simple and easy to learn. It spread to Europe in the 6th century and all of Europe by the 8th century.
The horse collar was the best invention in history. The horses werent ½ choked to death and people could work less and eat more. Wasnt life sweet!
Don't ask me why I posted this LOL