A Short History Of The Umbrella

By:


No one wants to be caught outside in the rain without an umbrella. These handy devices come in an array of shapes and sizes, many that will conveniently tuck into a purse or glove compartment in case of a sudden downpour. Just about everyone owns an umbrella, but not many of us give them a second thought. What follows is a brief tribute to an item most of us take for granted.

Historians are unsure of when exactly umbrellas came into play. Some say Egypt while others say China. What is for sure is that theyve been around a very long time. They werent intended to protect us from the rain, however. The ancient Greeks and Romans used them as shade from the sun. It was the Roman women who began to oil the cloth of the umbrella to protect it from moisture.

It wasnt until the 1600s that European women began to carry umbrellas, mostly as shade from the sun. Sometime in the 1700s it became popular to carry wood and oilcloth models as protection from the rain. In 1750, an Englishman named Jonah Hanway decided to carry an umbrella everywhere he went. This was unheard of. Only women carried umbrellas. Because of this, he became the subject of much ridicule, but at least he was dry. Ignoring the snickers of those around him, Hanway carried his umbrella for 30 years. By the late 1700s however, it became more acceptable for men to carry hanways.

Because they were made of wood, umbrellas were not only expensive, but they were difficult to operate. In 1852, Samuel Fox invented the steel ribbed kind that we see today. Since then, theyve evolved. We now have umbrellas for the rain and sun. We use them on the beach, while playing golf, and on our patios and decks. What would we do without our umbrellas?

About the Author:
James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest.
Read more at www.umbrellas-central.info



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , , , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Reference-and-Education Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.