How were shoes invented?
When the ancient man had to make his way over rocks, he felt the need for covering his feet to protect them. In this way the first shoes were probably invented. Egyptians were the first civilized people to make shoes. They used pads of leather or papyrus which were bound to the foot by two straps. The Romans developed a kind of shoe called “the calceus”. This had slits at the side and straps knotted in front. As far as our modern shoes are concerned, their beginnings can be traced to the Crusaders. The Crusaders went on long pilgrimages so they needed protection for their feet. So it became necessary to create shoes that would last a long time. In time, leather shoes of great beauty began to appear in Italy, France and England. Shoes had always been subject to whims of fashion. At the time of King James I of England, high heels and very soft leathers were fashionable in society. Shoemaking was brought into the United States in 1629, when Thomas Beard arrived under contract to make shoe
