Figure 1.--Pants were invented by the steppe people of the Eur-Asian steppe who domesticated horses (about 2,000 BC). This is the rghe earliest pair of pants found by archeologhists found in the Yanghai Tombs and dates to about 1,000 BC. Pants did not, however, become a major garment type because they were complicated to weave. .

The earliest trousers/pants have been discovered in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in Northwest China, on the frinnge of the great grasslands of the vast Eur-Asian Steppe. Here a fascinating archeological site has been found--The Yanghai Tombs. They span narly 1,500 years and many to the delight of archeologists are imresively well preserved. The most modern of these toumbs date to the Han Dynasty (roughly the 2nd century). Toumbs are important because in part they provided a look at what was imprtant to these ancient people. And we see that these people had donesticated and were riding horses. It is the steppe people that domesticated horses with huge socio-economic impacts. It is the reason that Indo-European people and their languages spread out and are so important. We note their trousers (the most sensible garent for riding) and red-leather boots. Pants are belierved to be the invention of steppe tribes (around 2,000 BC). Also found at Yanghai are brightly e colored sheepskin boots, fancy feather hats, decorative fringed skirt, a tiny loincloth, and leather balls. . But it is the oants pants that are of special interest. Pants were a very utilitarian development, a garment that offered protection and comfort when riding horses. The Yanghai trousers are believed to have been woven (about 1,000 BC). This wa niot when trousers first appeared. At this time pants had been wirn by steppe peoole fr some 1,000 yearm, but te earluest actyual examole found to date. They were custom-made by weaving three separate pieces of cloth, two for the legs and one fot the crotch area. They were then sewn together with matching thread. The fabric of these pants is decorated with intricate geometric designs as partb of the weave. According to one source, "... creating a visually appealing and comfortable pair of pants". The reason that the Yanghai trousers survived is the arid desert conditions where the tombs have preserved delicate textiles and fabrics. While oants appeared about 2,000 BC, they were not widely adoptee awau from the steppe where most of the popuilation did biot ride horses. This is because they were a complicated garment to weave and this were expensive. his did not change until the beginniung of the development of modern weaving technologies in Europe (17th century).

Created: 4:27 PM 4/28/2024
Last edited: 4:27 PM 4/28/2024