The stirrup is often described as one of the most important developments in warfare before gunpowder. But why did it take so long to come up with it? Horses were domesticated around 4.500 BC but the stirrup was only invented some time in the first millennium BC. Maybe even as late as around 200-100 BC in the Roman world.
How didn't anyone think of the idea sooner? It seems like a fairly simple piece of technology that wouldn't require a lot of special knowledge or ressources to come up with.
I'm not a horseman so there's probably something I haven't realised about riding in the ancient times so please feel free to enlighten me.
The stirrup is often described as one of the most important developments in warfare before gunpowder.
Stirrup Myth is one of those things that keeps recurring despite having been academically disproved surprisingly quickly. The Macedonians and the Persians simply didn't need them to field their own heavy cavalry forces (angry clibanarii noises), for one quite early example. More can always be said on the matter if anyone still wants to tilt at Lynn White's thesis; for the meantime, here are some previous posts on the matter:
In addition to these, some practical demonstrations, specifically Richard Alvarez's tests and this paper by Alan Williams, David Edge, and Tobias Capwell. The stirrup is certainly helpful, nobody's saying it isn't, but it's overhyped. To put it in gaming terms, stirrups are a veterancy upgrade to cavalry units, they don't unlock any new units.
Thank you so much for your replies. I had no idea there was a controversy on the stirrup. I've learned today. Thanks!