As far as I can tell, chariots originated in Mesopotamia and the design was refined in Egypt. But they were used across Europe by the Celts and the Greeks. They were found as far east as China in the Shang dynasty. Is there a reason why cultures across the globe developed and used chariots? Are they a product of a specific time frame (i.e. stirrups hadn't been invented yet)? Do certain geographic locations mean that chariots are preferred over calvary?
Finally, for something that was used so universally, it seems like their use just peters out after some point. What changed?
Are they a product of a specific time frame (i.e. stirrups hadn't been invented yet)?
I can definitively state that stirrups have absolutely nothing to do with effective horse riding - there have been competent cavalry without any need for stirrups or saddles. (One, angry cataphract noises, two, angry Companion Cavalry noises.) Stirrup Theory is one of those things that's been dead for literally half a century in academia-land, but remains common in popular understanding, despite both its historical claims and its mechanical components being proven false. As regards the chariot itself, here's some previous threads for your perusal:
Of course, if anyone else would like to take on the question, please don't let this linkdrop stop you! More can always be said, and if it's good, you might end up being part of later linkdrops!