who invented the first shoe

 

The first pervasively used shoe was actually a horseshoe, not the modern design shown here. It was likely invented by a civilization in Central Asia, 

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and it wasn't until around 3000 BC that we see the first evidence of human footwear - two moccasins found at an archaeological site in Armenia. The Egyptians wrote about shoes as early as 3200 BC, but actual evidence from that era is scarce.

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The earliest clear evidence for footwear comes from Mesopotamia - specifically, Tepe Hasanlu IV — where archaeologists have found two cuneiform inscriptions to honor inventors of new types of shoes for sale (Sargon I and Naram-Sin). 

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The oldest shoe styles in the world date to 4000 BC in Ancient Egypt, and yet other civilizations have used shoes for thousands of years preceding that time.

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Shoes were probably first created for the sole purpose of protection from rain. In addition to keeping moisture out, 

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shoes were likely used as a sort of raincoat or shield on the feet to prevent bites or stings from insects. Shoes are protective because they are a barrier between the foot and nature, 

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but shoes also give us some clues about what we might be wearing underneath them (or around our ankles).

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The earliest known examples of footwear were utilitarian items: leather sandals or pads worn by soldiers, miners and herdsmen. These shoes were made of leather, wood or the first fur-lined shoes, crafted in animal skins.

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Early examples of footwear were either designed to protect the foot, like modern hiking boots — which wouldn't have looked much different than they do today — or made more for style and comfort.

In fact, the earliest designs that could be called "shoes" were probably not meant to be worn all day: a study of rock carvings and pottery has found evidence that "native Birhor tribesmen wore sandals made of soft leather slippers with a toe cap (chappen), while women often wore anklets with a clove-studded heel (chappen)".

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These early styles of footwear didn't last long, as the designs weren't meant to be durable. These sandals were typically made in one piece, so there was little opportunity for them to last long. Not only did these shoes have little use in protection, 

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but they also weren't ideal for keeping the feet protected from debris. This means that ancient leather shoes would most likely have been worn more for their fashionable utility than their practicality.

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The first example of a shoe we could call a shoe — that is, a protective covering made in more than one piece and designed to be worn on a regular basis — is here shown. 

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They are a celtic shoe, which entered the British Isles in the late Bronze Age. Celtic shoes often featured a studded sole like these ones, which suggests they were worn for protection more than style.

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Around 1000 BC, the first evidence of pervasively used shoes comes from Mesopotamia. Archaeologist Julius Jordan, who worked at Nineveh, began to excavate a large portion of it (along with other digs). He created the world's first shoe excavation, and he discovered two clay models of shoes on two tablets from Sargon I and Naram-Sin.

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