A Prehistoric Tool Takes On An Important Role In Civilization

December 1st, 2009 Posted in Tools and Equipment

Ladders have existed longer then recorded history. Paintings of ladders can be found from cave drawings 10,000 years ago. They were made from grass and used to collect honey from hives. Ladders have been an important device in the creation of civilization. They have been used in construction, warfare, agriculture, and exploration. While it is a humble simple tool, it has helped mold 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. They 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 holds carved into the rock for access. Of note is the fact that there will be sections without steps. These places 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 weapon used for scaling castle walls, both inside and out. Armies would march to castle walls and construct as many ladders as they could to launch an assault.

Breeching a castle wall was nearly impossible and required an all out assault with a high casualty rate. Breeching the castle wall with a ladder had a high failure rate. If a charge set 30 ladders against the castle wall, 29 of the ladders would be repelled. But the attacking army rarely required 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 war, fighting fires, ladders have been an important resource. Ladder trucks are one of the primary weapons against fighting fires in multiple story buildings. There are many people walking this earth today because they have been plucked from the flames by a fireman on a ladder. Many more have been saved 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 exist without the help of the ladder. Michelangelo may not have worked his magic on the ceiling without the use of ladders. Simple and ordinary as they are ladders have helped change the face of civilization.