The Ladder: Modest Helper Of Civilization
Ladders have existed longer then sliced bread. Images of ladders can be seen in cave drawings 10,000 years ago. They were made from twine and used to collect honey from hives. Ladders have been an essential tool in the creation of civilization. They have been used in construction, battles, farming, and exploration. While it is a basic device, it has helped shape our culture in significant ways. Today nearly every home has an industrial ladder. An aluminum ladder is a device that is impressive in its design. They have developed 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 use ladders. Cliff dwellings are during the winter months. A lot of cliff dwellings have steps carved into the rock for access. One interesting feature is that there will be sections without steps. These places had ladders that could be easily removed 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. Opposing forces would march to castle walls and build 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 almost always met with failure. If a charge set 30 ladders against the castle wall, 29 of the ladders would be defeated. But the attacking army rarely required more then one ladder to be successful to turn the tide of a battle. Ladders were also are used as bridges to get across a moat or connect buildings.
In a different kind of battle, fighting fires, ladders have been an essential tool. Ladder trucks have become one of the primary weapons against fighting fires in apartments and large buildings. A lot of people are alive because they have been pulled from the flames by a fireman on a ladder. Many more have been self rescued by fire escapes built onto the structure. Residential homes can be equipped with rope ladders that can be used to provide fire safety 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 use of the ladder. Michelangelo may not have worked his magic on the ceiling without the aid of ladders. Simple and ordinary as they are ladders have helped change the face of civilization.