The History of TransportationCenter for Professional Development

Early ManWalkedDragged, rolled, or pushed what he or she needed to transportAlone or as a groupEarly roads were worn paths

First VehicleMost likely a sled / sledgeThey also domesticated wild animals to pull sledges7000 BC

China or Mesopotamia?The development of the wheel led to the development of wheeled vehicles.

First RoadsMesopotamiaBuilt/ created hard surfaces for travel purposesMost likely packed material, soil, etc.3500 BC

Early TransportDomesticated Animals3000 BCSailsWheeledVehicles

Reasons for TravelTo look for greener pasturesTradeThey also developed harnesses that aid animals in transporting goodsMilitary movement made possible by the horse

Road UpgradeCrete - Mediterranean1500 BCFirst stone surfaced roads constructed

. . . and in the West . . .Mayans, Aztecs, Incas are building roads away from the coastWhy?Move armies to conquer others or defend themselvesMove food and trade goods1500 BC

Early Pavement TechnologyRoman EmpireUsed broken stones in mortar for roadway surfaces300 BC

Vehicle UpgradeNew Developments800 - 1100Harness & TracesIron Horseshoes

Finding The WayMagnetic compass probably invented in chinaAdopted by European mariners1200

Notable Voyages1492: Christopher Columbusdiscovers the Americas1497-8: Vasco de Gamasails around Africa1519-22: Ferdinand Magellanfirst voyage around the world

1492 - 1522

Getting Steamed!1769: First steam road vehicle1786: First successful steamboat demo1804: First successful railroad steam locomotive demo1769 - 1804

Paving the WayJohn Loudon MacAdamBuilds macadam hard-surfaced roads in England1815

Riding the Rails1825: Locomotive power in England1863: First subway line in London1869: Transcontinental Railroad in U.S.1882: First electrified railroads1820 - 1920

Sailing the Seas1825: Erie Canal opens1850s: Age of clipper ships1869: Suez Canal opens1914: Panama Canal opens1825-1914

The Auto Debuts1880sDaimler & Benz build first successful autos with gasoline engines1916Federal Aid Road Act1880-1916

The Modern Highway1940: Pennsylvania turnpike opens1956: Interstate Highway Act1956

Taking FlightWright Brothers19031903-1970CommercialService1952JumboJets1970

Key Events1970s & 1980s: Fuel Crises1970-19981990: ISTEA1998: TEA-21

Beyond the Earth1969 - Man lands on Moon1981 - Space ShuttleNow: International Space Station1969-2001

Whats Next?

1Early Man

Walked to transport himselfDragged, rolled, or pushed what he or she needed to transportIf things needed to be hauled (including himself), it could be done by others under his directionEarly roads were worn pathsFirst Vehicle

The first vehicle was most likely the sled or sledge used for haulingProbably invented around 7000 BCMan Becomes Mobile

The development of the wheel led to the development of wheeled vehiclesFirst Roads

Mesopotamia3500 BCFirst hard surfaces for travel purposesMost likely packed material, soil, etc.Early Transport

By 3000 BCDomesticated animals - made beasts of burdenSails & wheeled vehicles developedRoad Upgrade

Crete - Mediterranean1500 BCFirst stone surfaced roads constructed . . . and in the West . . .

The Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas are building roads away from the coastWhy?To move their armies to either conquer others or to defend themselvesTo move food and trade goodsEarly Pavement Technology

Roman Empire300 BCUsing broken stones in mortar for roadway surfacesAn early advancement in pavement technologyVehicle Upgrade

New DevelopmentsBetween AD 800 and 1100The modern horse harness and traces along with nailed iron horseshoes are developed during this period.Finding the Way

1200The magnetic compass is invented, probably in ChinaAdopted by European mariners for navigationNotable Voyages

1492 - Christopher Columbus discovers the Americas1497-1498 - Vasco de Gamasails around Africaestablished trade route to the Orient1519-1522 - Ferdinand Magellanfirst voyage around the worldGetting Steamed!

1769: First steam road vehicle demonstrated by Nicolas Cugnot in Paris1786: First successful steamboat demonstrated by John Fitch on Delaware River1804: First successful railroad steam locomotive demonstrated by Richard Trevithick in WalesPaving the Way

John Loudon MacAdam1815Builds macadam hard-surfaced roads in EnglandThe beginning of the modern pavement era Riding the Rails

The Railroad Era: 1820-19201825: Stockton and Darlington Railway in England becomes the first common carrier to use locomotive power1863: First subway line opens in London1869: Transcontinental railroad completed in the United States1882-1883: First electrified railroads open in England and IrelandSailing the Seas

1825: Erie Canal opens1850s: Age of clipper ships1869: Suez Canal opens1914: Panama Canal opensThe Auto Debuts

1880s: Daimler and Benz in Germany build the first successful automobiles with gasoline engines1916: Congress passes the Federal Aid Road Act which allocates funding for roadway constructionThe Modern Highway

1940: Pennsylvania Turnpike Opens - one of the first expressways in the United States1956: Interstate Highway Act passed by CongressLargest public works project in history40,000 miles of interstate highwaysTaking Flight

1903: The Wright Brothers make first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina1952: First commercial jet service, using British DeHavilland Comet1970: First jumbo jet (Boeing 747) air serviceKey Events

1970s & 1980s: Fuel Crises / Lines at gas pumps1990: ISTEA - Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act - end of construction era of the Interstate system and a shift toward maintenance and efficiency - ITS1998: TEA-21: Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century Beyond the Earth

1969: Man Lands on the Moon1981: Space Shuttle - reusable vehicle for space exploration What Next?