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Historye ----------Q�

Harness Chariot horses
Body The harness was made of Some horses were bred for
The body of the chariot could be leather and metal -the the sole purpose of creating
made of gold, silver or wood. In driver controlled the a superb chariot team. The
Egypt, the body of the vehicle horses through the bridle horses bore military names
was decorated with the images and reins. such as 'Victory in Thebes'.
of conquered enemies.
Yoke saddle
Wheels A yoke saddle was
placed over the
Egyptian chariots Chariot floor backs of the horses.
were designed with Often made of plant The driver controlled
four or six-spoked fibres, the platform was the animals by
wheels made of strengthened by the axle means of a harness
wood and leather. that was lashed to
pole. The platform was
tough, and could bear the the yoke handles.
weight of three men.

The rocky terrain

A single length of of Greece meant
wood that was
bound m leather - 1! I
was attached to the that the chariot was
car by vert1cal tenons
and passed through I
the rear floor bar. ineffective in battle

What were ancient In the Andent Near East, the
chariot was as revolutionary
chariots used for? as the modem fighter plane

he word chariot comes from the Latin plains. They had semi-circular barriers that were made of wood and leather, others were
'carrus', which means wheeled vehicle. lt protected the driver while he controlled the cast in gold.
T had various uses, but in the Near East the vehicle, and were drawn by two horses attached The rocky terrain of Greece meant that the
chariot dominated the battlefield. These to a central pole. The basket, which rested on a chariot was ineffective in battle. Therefore, the
vehicles first appeared in Mesopotamia around beam connected to the wheels, carried the ancient Greeks employed the chariot mainly as a
J,ooo-2,500 BCE.At first they were heavy and driver, a shield bearer and a warrior, and was ceremonial vehicle. Chariots were also used in
cumbersome, but as time passed they were equipped with archery equipment, swords and racing tournaments, and in Rome they were
designed with agility in mind, being made of auxiliary weapons. drawn by magnificent horses. The Circus
light timber, plant fibres and leather. Design From this elevated position, the bow became Maximus was an arena that held chariot races;
improvements were most noticeable during the the soldier's principal weapon. From this this enormous track was so wide, it could
Egyptian New Kingdom period, when the platform, the warrior could easily decapitate support 12 competing chariots. Essentially, the
spoked wheel offered better control and turning. enemy soldiers with his sword. The Egyptians chariot played a significant role in the
The chariots of the Egyptians and Assyrians included many magnificent chariots in their development of these ancient empires in a
were designed to engage the enemy on wide, flat burials. While more simple military vehicles number of social spheres. 0

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