The Evolution of Transportation

How did we get to where we are today?

How far will we travel tomorrow?

Dr. John Demartini

During the stone age of antiquity, we walked and ran upon the solid earth and swam

and floated in dugout canoes upon the liquid rivers or seas. By 3500 BC, we began

using wheeled carts and river boats. By 3100 BC, we tamed horses to assist our

way. By 2000 BC, we built chariots. By 600 BC, we built wagons. By 332 BC, we built

submersibles. By 312 BC, we built miles of paved roads. By 236 BC, we constructed

our first elevators. By 214 BC, we built canals. By 200 BC, we constructed manned

kites to fly.

During the middle ages in the 800s, we paved streets with tar.

During the 13th century, by the late 1200s, we invented sky-flying rockets.

During the 15th century, by the later 1400s, we built advanced sailing ships to cross

entire oceans.

During the 16th century, we began using horse-powered rails of wood and stone.

During the 17th century, by 1620, we launched the first oar-propelled submarine. By

1662, we invented the horse-drawn bus. By 1672, we built the first steam-powered

car.

During the 18th century, by 1740, we invented the foot-and-hand-powered carriage.

By 1769, we experimented with the steam-driven artillery tractor. By 1760, we used

iron rails. By 1776, we propelled submarines by screws. By 1783, we launched the

first hot air and hydrogen balloons. By 1784, we built a steam carriage.

During the 19th century, by 1801, we ran steam road locomotives. By 1803, we ran

commercial steam carriages and steamboats. By 1804, we built steam-powered

railway locomotives and amphibious vehicles. By 1807, we used hydrogen-powered

internal combustion engines in boats and road vehicles. By 1816, we invented

bicycles. By 1820, we used steam locomotives on rails. By 1821, we used steam-

powered monorails. By 1825, we began using steam-powered passenger carriages.

By 1838, we built the first transatlantic steamship. By 1852, we invented the

Teacher Lesbia Lezcano

elevator. By 1853, we built aircraft gliders. By 1862, we made gasoline engine

automobiles. By 1867, we began using motorcycles. By 1880, we built electric

elevators. By 1896, we built electric escalators. By 1897, we had the steam turbine

and electric bicycle.

During the 20th century, by 1900, we built airships. By 1903, we flew motor-driven

airplanes and sailed in diesel engine canal boats. By 1908, we drove gas engine

automobiles. By 1911, we launched diesel engine driven ships. By 1912, we

launched liquid-fueled rockets. By 1935, we built DC-3 transport aircrafts. By 1939,

we built jet engine-powered aircrafts. By 1942, we launched V2 rockets. By 1947, we

had supersonic manned flights. By 1955, we had nuclear-powered submarines. By

1957, we launched a man made satellite into orbit — Sputnik 1, built container ships

and flew commercial Boeing 707s. By 1961, we launched the first manned space

mission orbiting the Earth. By 1969, we flew Boeing 747 wide body airliners and

made the first manned moon landing — Apollo 11. By 1971, we launched the first

space station. By 1976, we flew the supersonic concord passenger jet. By 1981, we

flew the Space Shuttle. By 1994, the channel tunnel opened.

During the 21st century, by 2001, we launched the first self-balancing personal

transport. By 2004, we operated commercial high-speed Maglev trains and launched

the first suborbital space flight — SpaceShipOne. By 2012, we have now probed and

viewed beyond the edge of our solar system with Voyager 1 spacecraft.

It is our nature to explore, encompass and conquer the world and the many

potential worlds we now appear to know. Our anthropology demonstrates this ever-

expanding quest for awareness and influence. The history of our evolving

transportation and the mystery of its future will be in our hands, hearts and minds.

Teacher Lesbia Lezcano