The Role that Horses Played in the Development of Technology in China
China’s history has been affect very strongly by the horse and its uses. Horses were so important that some emperors were buried with their horses, just as slaves and attendants were. As empires increased in size, horses became a rulers main way of keeping in contact with his land. Also, the power of an army was measured by the number of war chariots, pulled by horses, that a region had. During the Han Dynasty, the Chinese spend extreme amount of money on importing horses from the west. Then, in the Tang Dynasty, horses began to be bred and the types imported were Arab or Turkish.
Since China was always under the threat of dangerous nomadic neighbours, they needed to abandon the war chariot and turn to cavalry. It was a much more effective method to protect themselves and, because of this, was used for a long time after. Even though it required much more manpower, it helped link the east to the west through the Silk Road. A very monumental trade route and a very large accomplishment by the Chinese.
On the Silk Road, horses supplied local needs and were important for the developments of international relations.
China had different uses for different horses depending on what they were going to be used for in the military or for leisure. Horses used for war were various sizes. Large ones were used for pulling, small for speed, and the rest depended on how much they needed to carry.
Horses used for military were trained to have a rider that did not rely on the reins. The horse only responded to pressure applied by feet. They were also trained to ignore the loud noises when in battle and be comfortable with the armour and special tack that was used to conduct it during warfare. Some horses were trained to work together in order to pull a chariot. Some horses that would be used on the front lines were taught and even encouraged to fight, kick, and bite in order to protect themselves and their rider. Some horses that were used for raids were taught to remain absolutely silent which is quite impressive for a large animal such as a horse. The Chinese have exploited the use of the horse to exhaustion but have also, at the same time, demonstrated how smart the animals are and how they can be used.
The Chinese also invented the stirrup. A stirrup is a place to hold the riders foot. It gives the rider control of the horses movements (a run, trot etc.) and also gives the rider a stable place to stand while still on the horse. The Chinese invented it because they realized that the cavalry needed a place to stand when in battle. With the stirrup they could stand, lean forward and shoot while still feeling secure and in control of the horse.
The horse collar was invented in order to evenly spread the weight of a load around the horse, putting less stress in areas and making it easier for the horse to carry heavy loads long distances.
http://www.ket.org/artofthehorse/ed/history.htm
http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Horses-in-warfare
http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/exhibit/trade/horcamae.html
