Shoes

Introduction

Shoes have always held a special status for humans. Whether as symbols of wealth and status or as simple protection from jagged rocks, freezing snow, or other rugged terrain - or would that be foot in shoe. According to scientific research, our ancestors, the first modern humans, walked out of Africa between 100,000 to 200,000 years ago and as they moved north into colder, more inclement climates of Europe and Asia, a need arose for foot coverings to protect the feet from the environment. Scientists believe that the first shoes were made during the Ice Age, although insulating foot coverings may have been in use as early as 500,000 years ago in the northern climates by other early hominids, such as Neanderthals and homo erectus. The idea of protective footwear or shoes came much later and shoes were not in widespread use until approximately 26,000 to 40,000 years ago. Science can't say for certain why humans stopped going barefoot, but the use of shoes does show in the skeletons from the time period. Prior to shoes, humans had large, strong, flexible toes used for gripping and balance. When hard-soled, protective footwear began to provide greater grip and balance, those regularly shod people lost the muscles and heavy bone structure in their feet, resulting in weaker, smaller toes.

Primitive Shoes

The oldest shoes in the world, still in existence, are about 9,000 years old and were found in California, however, the largest discovery of primitive shoes was uncovered in Missouri and show evidence of being distinct right and left foot shoes - an innovation later lost to Western civilization. Because of the plant and animal used to make them, prehistoric shoes were highly perishable and little evidence exists of their design. Those shoes that scientists have been able to study consist of an oval piece of leather with the edges turned up and bound with strong leather thongs. Soles were made of cowhide and the shoes were filled with grass to keep the feet warm. Lengths of fur were attached sometimes to the leather soles and worn to protect the legs from the weather.

Ancient Shoes

Sandals are believed to be the first rigid shoes crafted. A stiff sole was attached to the foot by cords, straps, or braided things. Sandals are still generally the most worn type of footwear in warm climates.

Egyptian

Egyptians are believed to be the first civilization to create a sandal. Most ancient Egyptian sandals were crafted from intricately woven and braided papyrus leaves. The sandals were initially made from a footprint in wet sand. Braided papyrus was then molded into soles. The instep of the sandal was sometimes decorated. Slate tables from the reign of Pharaoh Narmer (3000 BC) depict the Pharaoh followed by a slave bearing his sandals. Both figures wear sandals, however a peaked toe on the Pharaoh's sandals marks the difference between master and slave. This non-functional decoration denoted a person of high status. Egyptians often dyed the soles of their sandals and crafted right and left foot models. Wealthy Egyptian women often adorned their sandals with jewels.

Greek & Roman

Greek culture is often considered the beginning of Western civilization and the Greeks were wild about their shoes, adapting their footwear from almost any kind of activity. Shoes were used to identify the social status and class of the wearer with the height of the sole and colors used. Greeks emphasized design and elegant beauty in their art and in their footwear. Shoes were symbols of wealth, refinement, ornamentation, and extravagance. Greek prostitutes were known for wearing elevated sandals, a forerunner to modern high heels or platform shoes, that created a distinctive movement when walking as well as an audible clacking sound to announce their presence and advertise their charms. Romans, in true Roman style, adopted and adapted Greek style sandals right along with Greek religion and culture. The heavy leather, military-style thongs and thick leather soles of Roman sandals allowed the Roman legions to march freely through Europe conquering and creating the Roman empire. Roman sandals, called caligae, were constructed of thick leather soles and an upper that reached the instep held together with bronze nails. When victorious soldiers returns from war, they would often replace the nails with silver and gold tacks. Women's feet, however, were kept under wraps and worshipped as a symbol of chastity and purity. It is said that Roman Senator Lucius Vitellus kept one of his mistress' shoes under his tunic and often kissed it in public. Roman poet, Ovid, tells us that this tradition led Roman women to confine their feet in too-small shoes not unlike modern women who sometimes face a stigma for having large feet.