Who Invented Walking?
Many have asked this particular question, while some have assumed that there is nothing like invention, we just evolved and started walking. Leaving us with the big question, how did this walking come about?
This question comes to mind when we sit and watch as a child makes his first step after being propelled to or taught by someone to do so. The question remains if this can happen to a child, how did the big picture “walking” happen, and who invented it?
Curiosity as the wise would say is likened to a wick in the candle of knowledge acquisition. Curiosity is the basic reason for our existence, a knowledgeable person without a curious mind is likened to a vehicle without an engine.
As Annick would say, “Let curiosity lead the way.” It is important we first understand what walking is all about. Leaving us with the core question
What Does Walking Imply?
Just as a layman may say, walking is gradual step-by-step advancement involving movement of the lower limb or legs.
There are lots of ways to distinguish running from walking. Walking involves moving one foot at a time with less speed, but during running, this is done in a rather faster way most times the two feet are involved.
Walking wasn’t invented as many will say, it has been something done subconsciously. Some have already blamed the whole thing on evolution, that humans started walking due to their quest to reach out for higher fruits and increase their survival rate.
Who Invented Walking?
A lot of controversies have been made, concerning who invented walking and how the incident happened.
Many said it happened in the early 1970s when a man who goes by the name John Walking, got tired of sliding and decided to run but to no avail considering the fact he wasn’t used to it, and he was a bit slower. Afterwards, words were spread that was how walking came about.
According to legend in the 1426s, Albert Ignatius Oselwalker was the originator of the act of walking. This incident happened when he stumbled and fell while riding on a horse.
He stood up but found out he would fall if he didn’t balance his weight with the other leg.
Recorded in history, was the first time man stood with his two legs on the ground.
Back then when people crawled, they were astounded by this, that the development called “walking” could be done without being aided.
Most said the gods invented walking, and that they created it themselves. But as fossils may have it, it was stated that “walking” was a characteristic feature of Hominin( also Hominidae). Through bipedalism, hominins could see their predators while standing tall and increasing their chance of survival.
Then a million years back when jumping was the only means of movement for humans, it transcended from jumping to walking. Years back human beings found usefulness in walking and improved drastically on it.
Where Did The Act Of Walking Start And When?
All these were proven, thanks to fossil records and with the aid of anthropologists. The fossil records obtained from Ethiopia and Tanzania regions found in Africa, which is believed to be the oldest fossil and also showed a high tendency for bipedalism.
Judging from the age of these fossils it was discovered 4.4million years ago. Reminiscing on the age, you will discover it took humans quite a long time to develop walking, even before inventions started.
When Did The Current Version Of Walking Develop?
Evolution and environmental changes were believed to have caused the development of walking enhancing bipedal movement which was underdeveloped 4.2-4.4 million years back.
This species showed full bipedal movement, this is due to the advantages of longer legs and shorter arms that came with the traits they were imbibed with. This trait also caused the full development of their hips, spine, and ankle to fully support walking movement. And all of these were said to have happened 1.8million years ago.
What Was The Result Of Human Walking?
In the evolution of modern humans (Erectus) with a bipedal state, energy was conserved due to the acquired better traits.
This gave modern humans more advantage to use their upper limbs (hands) more efficiently for other things, including grasping or gripping things and also in forming tools and other complex materials.
Because of this advantage, the ancient species of human beings (Erectus) was considered to be the first of its kind to use tools, and its believed all these are attributed to the transition from crawling to walking.
Is Walking Good For Your Health?
Yes! It is. Walking requires less energy compared to running, as running burns more calories and expels energy in the form of heat.
When one engages in walking, a small number of calories is consumed leading to considerable conservation of energy, and it’s preferred to be one of the easiest exercises required by the body to keep it active and healthy.
Walking has been there millions of years ago by history and has been learned and developed by modern humans. And all of these credits are given to early man, our ancestors who invented walking as a method of movement.
How Did The Word “Walking” Come about?
To date, the origin or who came about the word “walking” has not been answered because the word was attributed to old English which was used in the 1200s.
Historians explained that the word originated from the merging of two or two words. Bearing the keyword “Wealcian” -an English for moving around, to roll tossing toss someone around.
Also, some English experts believed that the word originated and was further enhanced by Icelandic and Norse word as history may have it, such as “Vadka” – meaning ‘drag about’.
Who Will Take The Credit, And Who Is The Inventor?
In conclusion, as we have evolved considerably, no human nor fossil record has been attested to be the first to use walking as the basic way of movement.
Neither has the credit for the formation of the word “Walking” been given to anyone as history made us realize. It is believed that walking is a bipedal movement exhibited by humans, and was discovered in Africa.
