Chariots

Question 1

What were chariots used for?

Answer 1

• transport
• sport (racing)
• military use (e.g. battles)

Question 2

How were chariots built?

Answer 2

• light in construction
• made from wood and leather - accessible materials, wood from trees, leather from cows
• always pulled by two horses

Question 3

Box chariot

Answer 3

• oldest form of chariot
• bulky design

Question 4

Quadrant chariot

Answer 4

• quarter of boxed shaped
• new shape may have been developed to improve speed

Question 5

Dual chariot

Answer 5

• similar to quadrant chariot but with curved extension from the back
• roughly 1450-1200 BC

Question 6

Rail chariot

Answer 6

• open walled with no extension
• shape likely developed to lighten the chariot structure and improve speed

Question 7

Description of a chariot

Answer 7

• light body - made with wickerwork to make it lighter
• fixed axle on which are mounted two four-spoked wheels
• pulled by two horses
• inventories at Knossos shows the existence of bridles, blinkers etc.

Question 8

Difficulties of using chariots

Answer 8

• road networks were undeveloped - roads and bridges existed but not of a standard that would be comfortable to use, particularly at speed
• the terrain is inhospitable (need to be prepared)
• the cost, owning and maintaining of a chariot and horse would have been high - reserved for the elite

Question 9

Answer 9

• grave stone —> grave circle A, shaft grave V, Mycenae, 1500 BC
• box chariot depicted
• man steering chariot + one on the floor holding a sword (that man can’t afford a chariot, shows difference in wealth)
• horse
• geometric patterns to fill in gaps
• hunting —> shows domestication of horses for hunting

Question 10

PRESCRIBED SOURCE

Answer 10

• gold signet ring —> shaft grave IV, Grave circle A, Mycenae 1500 BC
• chariot hunting scene
• box chariot
• charioteer
• warrior with bow and arrow
• 2 horses pulling chariot —> domestication of animals
• hunting a stag

Question 11

Answer 11

• Tiryns fresco, 1300 BC - Red Hides
• dual chariot - red leather chariot
• evidence of bright colours
• 2 people (no weapons - not a hunting scene) possibly a religious festival
• one charioteer, one person standing (highly important person, maybe a priest)

Question 12

Why is the use of chariots controversial?

Answer 12

• would have been difficult to accurately use weapons on a bumpy chariot ride due to lack of flat land
• if they did use them then it would have been used as a platform for throwing javelins or as a mean of transport to and from battles