A Simple Tool Plays An Important Role In Civilization
December 6, 2009
Ladders have existed longer then recorded history. Paintings of ladders can be found from cave drawings 10,000 years ago. Prehistoric ladders were made from twine and used to collect honey from hives. Ladders have been an important device in the creation of civilization. Ladders have been used in construction, warfare, agriculture, and exploration. While it is a basic device, it has helped shape our culture in significant ways. Today nearly every home has an industrial ladder. An aluminum ladder is a piece of equipment that is impressive in its design. Ladders have evolved and adapted to be use in many functions.
Ladders have been a standard weapon in warfare, used in assaults and for protection. In the canyon country of the United States there are many cliff dwellings that are accessed by using ladders to be shaded during the heat of summer and warmed by the sun in the cold of winter. Many dwellings have steps carved into the rock for access. Of note is the fact that these will often lack carved holds in certain places. These sections had ladders that could be easily pulled up making access to the dwelling difficult and providing another layer of protection.
In medieval times ladders were a standard tool for scaling castle walls, both inside and out. Armies would march to castle walls and build as many ladders as they could to launch an assault.
Climbing over a castle wall was very difficult and required an all out assault with a high casualty rate. Breeching the castle wall with a ladder almost always met with failure. If a charge set 30 ladders against the castle wall, 29 of the ladders would be repelled. But the attacking force rarely needed more then one ladder to be successful to turn the tide of a battle. Ladders could also are used as bridges to get across a moat or connect buildings.
In a different kind of battle, fighting fires, ladders have been an important resource. Ladder trucks are one of the primary weapons against fighting fires in multiple story buildings. A lot of people are alive because they have been pulled from the flames by a fireman on a ladder. Many more have been self rescued by fire escapes with the exterior ladder attached to the buildings outside structure. Residential homes can be outfitted with rope ladders that can be used to provide a second story exit and peace of mind to homeowners.
The simple ladder has been used through out history and has lifted many and carried many people to safety, victory or great accomplishments. The Sistine chapel would not have been built without the help of the ladder. Michelangelo may not have worked his magic on the ceiling without the use of ladders. Humble and common as they are ladders have helped advance civilization.
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