History of Tents  

In the time of the Nomads, people constantly moved around, never having a permanent place to call home. Since everything was temporary, all possessions, including shelter, had to be packed quickly and easily.  This is when tents were invented.  However, the use of these collapsible homes did not remain exclusive to nomadic tribes for long.  In time, other cultures began to make use of this ingenious creation.

 

The Roman Empire made extensive use of tents in its massive military conquests.  Since soldiers lived a large portion of their lives on these journeys, steps were taken to improve the level of comfort inside these tents. Some even had bathrooms and stables.  With the rise in rank, so did the size and level of sophistication increase.  This innovation would later spread to other parts of Europe.  The Ottoman Turks also included every luxury with their own tents, baths included.

The early Jews led by Moses also used tents; but in their case, these shelters were used as homes and even shrines.  It is said that Christ was first worshipped inside one of these makeshift temples.  This practice was eventually adopted by Arabs and the Bedouin.  Yurtas were the Mongols’ answer to the tents of the rest of the world.  Originally referring to the land itself, the yurta had simple furnishings like hide beddings and baskets to put their possessions.  Another group of people in the Americas came up with their own tents, called teepees, or tipis.  Native Americans used animal hides in cold weather and cotton in warmer climates.

Whatever or whenever the case, tents were dependent on the area that they were going to be erected.  They also took time to put up, and were not too sturdy against the weather.  It was only when people started going on expeditions to the Himalayas in the 60’s that stand-alone tents were manufactured.  Still, these tents were too heavy.  In the 70’s when camping as a recreation was at an all-time high, lighter aluminum poles replaced their heavier counterparts.  These are able to snap on together and are highly portable.  Now, instead of hours, it only takes a few minutes to pitch a tent.  Heavier natural materials were also replaced with synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester.  These proved to be much more durable and eventually even rain proof.

Tent innovations continue to improve and impress to this day.  There are tents so light that they weigh only a couple of pounds, or tents that take only a few seconds to pitch.  The Romans and Turks may have had bathrooms, but tents today can house portable air conditioners and every electrical device you can think of, so long as you add one generator to your equipment list.  There are tents so big they can cover any event under the sun or moon.  These shelters have really come a long way since their nomadic inception.  Tents used to be a cumbersome necessity, but now due to ease of use, they’re used for relaxation and recreation everywhere. From ethnic tribes to modern society, tents are still a large part of our civilization.

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