A History of Shoes by Mrs. Majka’s Class

Joycelyn Nguyen The history of shoes began more than 40,000 years ago with man's need to protect his feet from harm. Our ancestors required sturdy shoes to shield their feet from rocks, sand and harsh weather conditions.

History The first shoe worn by man was a sandal. Famously crafted by ancient Egyptians out of papyrus leaves and made from soft leather by Persians, sandals also were worn in Greece, Rome and Mesopotamia. During the Middle Ages, sandals were abandoned for moccasins and boots. An early form of moccasin was used by the American Indians as well as the Eskimos. Thomas Beard brought shoemaking from London to the United States in the mid-1500s.

Significance Shoemaking evolved from producing protective footwear to symbols of status and prestige. Shoe artisans created ornate and decorative shoes for aristocrats in ancient Egypt, Japan and Europe. These shoes indicated social rank in society and were symbols of status and wealth for the wearer. For example, famous monarchs Louis XIV and Henry VII both introduced fashionable shoes in England and France to hide their physical deformities and enhance their wealthy status.

Geography In the 16th century, wealthy French women and aristocrats in Venice wore the first high-heeled, platform wooden shoes. Similar to modern times in which special shoes are worn for weddings, athletics and dance performances, early shoe history reveals that footwear was created for special events and ceremonies. According to National Geographic.com, in the 15th century, wealthy Italian and French women wore elaborately decorative shoes called chompines. These high heels were precursors to the infamous Italian-named stilettos of the 1950s

Ravi Tung Although traditional Native American clothing is different, depending on the tribe and location where the clothing was worn, one common element was moccasin shoes. Moccasins are simple footwear made from tanned leather, stitched together with animal sinew. Although decorative patterns on moccasins differed, the overall shape and method of shoe making was remarkably similar.

Tribal Differences in Moccasins There are tribal differences in design, decoration and functional design of moccasins. Differences are mainly in bead-work and ornamentation, but can also include unusual decorative cuts and patterns. Often, moccasin patterns are a fundamental indicator of tribal affiliation.

Functional Differences A number of functional differences in moccasins developed depending on where they were worn and the conditions in which they were used. For example, some tribes added hardened rawhide on the soles for durability. Tribes in cold climates made higher, more insulated moccasins whereas tribes in warmer climates made lighter weight footwear.

Adoption by Europeans As Europeans penetrated Native American land, some people who came in to contact began to wear moccasins because of their functionality and comfort. Modern Use of Moccasins In spite of their durability and beauty, the fickleness of modern fashion has relegated moccasin style footwear primarily to a role of house slippers.

Sam Bigham Archeological finds, ancient texts and art works reveal how the Chinese people historically responded to geological and natural changes, which influenced the evolution of their shoes.

Stone Age China Seven thousand years ago, people in China's northern provinces made leather shoes by binding sections of skins to their feet using leather strips and bone needles, while at the same time, the people in the eastern regions made shoes using flax thread and bamboo needles. The oldest pair of boots unearthed in China, made from sheep skin, belonged to a woman buried four thousand years ago. Straw Sandals Straw sandals are one of the earliest styles of shoes worn by Chinese people. Today, millions of Chinese wear the same straw shoe their ancestors wore thousands of years ago.

Yin and Shang Dynasties Nomadic people of the Yin and Shang dynasties of China (14th-12th centuries B.C.E.) produced the earliest record of glazed pottery and industrialized bronze pottery. Soldiers wrapped pieces of rattan in hide and secured them over their shins for protection in battle. During the Shang dynasty in particular, the discovery of the silkworm brought silk weaving into the Chinese culture. Eventually the colorful dyes of natural plants of China changed woven silk material into colorful cloth shoes worn by the royal court.

Zhou Dynasty Clothing on unearthed terra-cotta military figures from this period shows the same style of stitched soles on handmade cloth shoes still worn in China today. Stitch-soled cloth shoes developed over two thousand years ago specifically for the Chinese military. Qinq Dynasty During the Qing Dynasty ( C.E.), the pointed toe boot adorned feet for everyday wear. Attending court functions required wearing the square-toed boot. Chinese history saw the last of this style shoe with the downfall of the last ruling emperor of China--Emperor Xuantong--in 1911.

The term "clog" can refer to any shoe that is made of wood and is often associated with the popular Dutch variety; however, there are many types of wooden shoes that have developed out of various ancient traditions across the world. Wood has been a popular material for shoe production in many civilizations, such as ancient China, Japan and Europe. Aaryan Booter

Dutch Clog The clog is Holland's traditional wooden shoe that dates to Clogs are made from balsa-white poplar trees and fashioned from square blocks of wet wood that is shaped and smoothed to fit the foot. Traditionally, the Dutch clogs are painted yellow with red patterns. In the past, each village would have its own unique pattern for painting clogs.

Geta Geta are Japanese sandals made of straw and wood. The shoes resemble thong sandals that have a sole and platform fashioned from wooden blocks. Geta are often made with a flat, wooden sole and two supports, which are perpendicular to the sole. The straps can be made from straw or cloth. The geta were originally designed for workers in rice fields and helped elevate the feet above water and mud. These traditional sandals are still worn in contemporary Japanese culture and are frequently paired with kimonos.

Patten The medieval patten was a slipper or overshoe made from wood. A patten could be made with different materials such as leather, cork or wood. Most pattens had a high platform and were worn over another pair of shoes to protect them from wear. Wooden pattens were made by carving a thick, tall sole from a solid block of wood and attaching a leather strip to the top. The leather was usually dyed to match the shoes to the pattens that would typically be worn with them.