One of the most important inventions of mankind is to fully include war chariots, which are carts designed for two people, which were driven by race animals. The warriors who were on them were much less tired than those who moved on foot; they did not need to carry heavy weapons on themselves, which is why they were much more willing to fight and win. But who was driving this ancient transport? We invite you to find out.
War Chariot
The war chariot appeared more than 2.5 millennia ago and was actively used in military affairs. Its purpose was to ensure the mobility of soldiers, their faster movement. That is why armies with such a vehicle often won victories.
What is a charioteer in the ancient world? This is one of the warriors who was on the chariot. His duties included driving horses, and he also often played the role of a shield-bearer, giving soldiers who entered into hand-to-hand combat a newweapons to replace those damaged in battle. It was the driver who watched the horse during the battle and was in the very center of the bloodshed all the time, so his fate cannot be called easy.
About the role of drivers
Understanding the meaning of war chariots allows you to determine what a war charioteer is. These are the people whose functions included managing these carts. So, with the invention of the bow and arrows, the methods of warfare also changed, now the enemy could be hit at a distance, but maneuverability and speed were required. And the driver of the wagon made every effort to make it convenient for his "partner" archer to hit the target.
Gradually the design of the chariots becomes more complicated, it acquires two axles and a special structural element - a large shield that provides protection for the warriors on it. The team becomes a striking force, ready to bring confusion into the ranks of enemy troops. What is a driver in this case? This is not just a horse driver, but also a strategist, whose task was to send the animal into the heat of battle so that it would trample or cripple as many opponents as possible with its powerful hooves.
In the land of the pyramids
Let's consider what a driver is in ancient Egypt. In the country of the pharaohs, war chariots were actively used, constantly improving and becoming more effective from dynasty to dynasty. It was they who made up the main fighting force of the Egyptian army, and the drivers played an important role in this. On their shoulders lay the management of the horses and the cart itself.
To this day, references to chariot battles of ancient eras have survived:
- So, Thutmose III, who went down in history as a gifted commander and brilliant strategist, managed to defeat the Palestinian-Syrian army with the help of skillfully placed war carts.
- About 7 thousand chariots took part in the bloody battle of Kadesh.
All this suggests that the role of such transport was very great in the ancient world. So, having considered what a charioteer is in Ancient Egypt, we found out that this is a warrior whose duties included driving a war chariot.
The End of the Age of Chariots
With the development of the ability to stay on horseback, mankind gradually lost interest in war chariots. It was much easier and cheaper to maintain mounted riders, who, although they did not have such fighting strength as powerful heavy wagons, were faster. Their content was not so ruinous for the state treasury. Therefore, the chariots have left the historical path.
But the question of what a driver is still remained relevant. Now this word has acquired a slightly different meaning and has become synonymous with the modern coachman. Teamsters, as before, drove horse teams, but no longer led them into battle, but transported high-ranking officials or priests.
Sport chariots
We looked at what a driver is in Ancient Egypt and the definition of the term. However, one should not think that these people have found a use for themselves exclusively in the military industry. No, the chariots and their drivers were verypopular in sports. The wagon itself was a lightweight structure with an open top and a protected front. Several horses could be harnessed to this, so there were several types of teams:
- Two horses harnessed to biga.
- Triga - a chariot with three horses.
- Quadriga - with four.
It was the team driver who was to show his skills at sports competitions and come to the finish line first. In ancient Rome, such leaps reached an unprecedented flowering. It is not uncommon for a charioteer to harness a dozen horses to show off his skills.
Drivers in later times
After the last page of the history of the ancient world closed, drivers did not disappear, but most often they became known as cabmen. What is a charioteer in a more modern sense? This is still a person who drives a horse-drawn carriage and transports passengers or goods. It was this type of transport that was most common in the 19th century and persisted at the beginning of the 20th century, before the advent of cars. The word "driver" gradually disappeared from everyday life, being replaced by the synonyms "coachman" or "cabman", but the meaning did not change.
Private drivers appeared, people from the peasant environment, engaged in carting. In St. Petersburg, these people lived in settlements and had a difficult fate. They could be beaten with a whip, sent to hard labor for the slightest offense. stood outthe following categories of cabbies:
- Lotmoviki - transported goods.
- Reckless drivers are happy owners of comfortable carriages, carrying only we althy passengers.
- Vanki is the cheapest type of carriage drawn by one horse.
- Darlings are pair-drawn, more comfortable and more expensive.
All the activities of the drivers were strictly regulated by rules that even set speed limits.
We looked at 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.
