The history of different rope uses from ancient times to the modern day

Rope as a material has been used by humans for a variety of purposes for as long as we can remember, and has played an important role in our history as a developing race.

The Prehistoric Uses of Rope

You can date the earliest evidence of rope-making back to over 25,000 years ago, to the Paleolithic period. Archeologists have uncovered pieces of rope made from plant fibres such as hemp and flax at ancient sites around the world. These early versions of rope would have been used for basic survival tasks, such as hunting, fishing and climbing.

Ancient Civilisations

However, rope use would become particularly popular with the Egyptians, who needed an effective means of moving and lifting heavy materials during the construction of their pyramids and other monuments. Traditional Egyptian ropes were generally made from papyrus or water reed fibres, and as well as in construction would have also been used for boat building and military purposes.

Later, starting in approximately 2800 BC, rope made from hemp fibres came into significant use in China, and it was from there that the craft of rope-making began to spread across the world to other parts of Asia and Europe. Within Europe, ropewalks came into fruition. A ropewalk is a long building where full strands of fibres were spread out and twisted, braided or plaited together to form rope. The maximum length of the rope was therefore defined by the size of the ropewalk. These ropes were made from a variety of different materials, including hemp, flax and wool, and used for ship rigging, construction and even as tools for torture and execution.

The Industrial Revolution

By the time of an increase in sea trading, there was a growing desire for stronger, thicker ropes. The same natural materials that were initially used in the rope-making process were no longer suitable, as they would shrink when wet. Since then, synthetic fibres such as nylon and polypropylene have become increasingly popular, especially when flexibility and durability are important.

The Industrial Revolution saw significant advances in rope-making technology and machinery in order to meet the new increase in demand, and in modern times, rope has become an invaluable tool within a number of industries and applications.

Rope Use Today

These days, you can find rope being used everywhere from play centres and factories to art galleries and agriculture. Rope’s versatility and durability ensures that it will likely remain a valuable tool to humanity for many more years to come, and if you find yourself needing any types of rope for any reason, we aim to supply only the highest quality product, specially selected to meet your needs.

Browse our full selection today, and please get in touch on +44(0)1469 575 804 if you have any questions.