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The Wheel The Wagon The Steam Engine Railroad History Steam Car History Locomotive History Steamships Combustion Engine The Automobile The Balloon Part 1 The Balloon Part 2 Flight Part 1 Flight Part 2 
Our transportation story began with our own two feet, which took us over vast distances. From our beginnings in Africa our wanderlust took us to the far corners of Europe and Asia. Not content, we built boats, rafts and later ships to cross the vast oceans in search of better places to live, or perhaps to escape more powerful enemies. Horses were domesticated and certainly made transportation easier, as the horse could travel faster than we humans are capable of. Thus, the history of transportation is the story of our quest for more and better food, more open space, or just plain curiosity. 
 After the domestication of the horse, other innovations came along. The wheel and then the wagon made transportation of people and things easier, allowing heavier loads to be carried further and faster than ever before. Then, mechanical power had its beginnings with the invention of the steam engine and later the locomotive and mechanized rail roads. 
 With the invention of the steam engine, and then the internal combustion engine, land transportation entered modern historical era. Automobiles were built, bigger and faster ships and boats became possible. Motorized trucks and trains could haul larger loads, further and faster than ever before. 
But advances in land transportation is only part of this history, as air travel
was born and advanced rapidly from balloons and dirigibles to gas powered airplanes which
could become airborn and carry people and freight over longer distances faster than even the larger
trucks could.But the history of transportation is not yet complete. We have constructed trains, cars, planes and spaceships. And now we stand on the firm ground of our native planet, our eyes gazing wistfully at the stars above. Our science tells us that these are faraway suns, and there will be planets there. Some may even be like our own! So now we stand at the brink of a new era of travel. But first let us look back at where we have been, so we can appreciate where we are and where we are going. The articles the links lead to outline the history of transportation from walking to man's first flight at Kitty Hawk. |