{"id":759,"date":"2019-09-11T03:34:27","date_gmt":"2019-09-11T10:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/?p=759"},"modified":"2023-12-27T14:32:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-27T22:32:07","slug":"why-were-shoe-invented","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/why-were-shoe-invented\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Were Shoes Invented?"},"content":{"rendered":"
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always worn shoes. I was excited to learn how to tie my own shoes. Wearing shoes seemed normal and I felt strange if I went outside without them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shoes were invented because people needed a means to protect their feet and for use in ceremonial activities. Because of the cost of making them, most people in the past either wore no shoes or very simple shoes. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m always putting my shoes or sandals on, even to walk outside for a minute. Some people go barefoot quite often and develop calloused feet and stronger muscles in their feet and legs. I wonder how shoes have become so mainstream and how they have developed over time, all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Shoes from the Past<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Once people started needing protection for their feet, they probably started wearing shoes of different kinds and types of materials. Archaeological findings seem to indicate that humans needed shoes more as their feet evolved thinner skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shoes were traditionally made from wood, leather, and other materials available to people of different regions. When conditions were harsh, such as in sharp terrain or cold weather, people would create shoes to protect their feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shoes have been around for at least 9000 years. The first leather shoes were found 5,500 years ago. Leather for shoes could be from many animals available in the environment that had thick enough skin. If a hunter could capture an animal for food, its skin might be used to make something, including shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
The Inuit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If we use the example of the Inuit people of North America<\/strong>, they\u2019ve been able to hunt seals and other animals, in the areas they live in, to use for food and clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have been able to create clothing<\/strong> from seal and caribou skins sewn together with a bone needle. They use animal bones, skins, sinew, and other animal parts to help make clothing and shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mukluk<\/strong> was used by the Inuit as boots and shoes. They are made from the seal, caribou, and reindeer skins for their protective properties against the harsh weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Materials Used<\/h3>\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
People in different areas of the world have designed shoes with the materials available<\/strong> in their area. Some cultures have preferred to go shoeless,<\/strong> most likely because it wasn\u2019t necessary for these areas, such as the ancient Egyptians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Archeological records don’t have all the information we need, so we need to fill in the blanks with our best guess of the reasons for the use or non-use of shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
About 2000 years ago people started using wood shoes to help keep their feet protected and dry<\/strong>. It was a period around 300 BC – 300 AD when the people of Japan started using wooden shoes<\/strong> called the Geta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was made using two stilt-like<\/strong> wood pieces that held up a wood platform that was used like a sandal. But wood sandals were time-intensive to make and may have cost more than people could pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s why grass sandals<\/strong> seem to have been worn much more. They were easier to make and less expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It seems that people started using grass sandals more, possibly because of the availability of the materials or the difficulty of labor, or the availability of wood when making wood sandals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Rice straw<\/strong> was widely used to create sandals in Japan and China. If you are in mountainous or rainy areas, shoes could help prevent cuts and keep your feet out of the mud and water a bit better. (Amazon Link<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/wood-3172865_1920-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/arapaho-883808_1920-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"SSJ](\"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/41smR6CkuwL._SL500_.webp\")
\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBuy Now\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t![\"Lasso](\"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/lasso\/admin\/assets\/images\/lasso-icon-brag.png\"){kind=icon}
\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/indian-traditional-2659292_1920-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/1grande_1085-1024x568.jpg\")
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/1grande_8397-1024x568.jpg\")
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/1grande_3131-1024x568.jpg\")
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/1grande_4508-1024x568.jpg\")
![\"Allbeststuff](\"https:\/\/helpshoe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/41UUDTe6EL._SL500_.webp\")