What is the "charioteer" and what is its role in the life of ancient peoples?

Now, few know what the "charioteer" is. Strictly speaking, this is not surprising, because the chariots themselves are almost gone. However, in the old days things were quite different. Then the charioteer was an indispensable part of both the peaceful and military life of many states.

So, what is a "chariot"? When did they first appear and what is the specificity of this ancient military profession?

The meaning of the word "charioteer"

It begins with the fact that in the 3rd millennium BC the Sumerians invented the first wheel. It was this discovery that allowed them to create the world's first vehicle for the transport of goods and people. With the growing popularity of this invention, a need has arisen for specialists able to build and manage them. They were called cartwheels.

Soon military tactics realized that the chariot can be used not only for peaceful purposes, but also on the battlefield. Therefore, soon after the wheel was opened, the Sumerians also had their first military vehicles. They were ruled by two charioteers: one watched the horses, and the second threw spears or darts at the opponents.

The Power of Ancient Egypt

What is the "charioteer" and what is his role in the battles, the Egyptians well understood. According to historical chronicles, it was their troops that contained the largest number of wagons. So 2,5 thousand years ago there was a battle of Kadesh, in which about 7 thousand chariots participated.

Despite the full force of such weapons, they were soon removed from the regular forces. The reason for this was the high costs of building wagons. Where it was easier to use ordinary cavalry, not burdened with excess weight.

What is the "charioteer" in ancient Rome

Roman troops also tried to use these machines in their military campaigns. However, they were greatly disappointed, forcing them to abandon this venture. Unlike the Sumerian and Egyptian lands, where the battles took place on a flat surface, the Romans fought for the most part in a mixed relief. And this interfered with the maneuverability of the wagon and negated all the combat advantage.

However, despite this chariots were often used in the walls of Rome itself. In addition to the main transport for movement, they were often used at games in the Colosseum. In this regard, the Roman charioteer could be either a simple cabman or a mater of gladiators.