What Was Carpentry Like In The Past?

Carpentry is one of the oldest trades in human history. The woodworking skill has been used by every civilisation in the world, so let’s take a step back in time and see what it was like to be a carpenter 7000 years ago.

When did carpentry start?

Unfortunately, there is little information about carpentry and when it was first used. The knowledge and skills from carpenters were passed from generation to generation without anything written down. However, the latest evidence of carpentry was found in Germany 6 years ago.

Fact: The word carpentry comes from the word 'Charpentier', which means carriage maker.

5200 BC

The first recordings of carpentry date back to the early Neolithic period where German water wells were discovered by archaeologists in 2012. The casings of the wells were built using split oak timbers, bound together with mortise and tenon joints.

Although it sounds easy to make wells in the 21st century, Neolithic farmers only had stone adzes (wood cutting tools) to chop down large oak trees and cut them into boards. There were no carpenters during this time because skilled farmers did the woodworking tasks.

3100 BC

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During this time, one of the most powerful civilisations in the world started a new age of carpentry. The Ancient Egyptians built some of the most iconic structures in the world by using tools that are still used in carpentry today.

Chisels, saws, and picks were used on native trees such as tamarisk and acacia to build different types of furniture. Archaeologists also discovered many Egyptian drawings of wooden beds, tables, chests, and chairs, which demonstrated the skills the Egyptians had during this time. Being a carpenter during this time would be busy but incredibly tiring because most of the civilians were forced to work as slaves.

Fact: The Egyptians were the first civilisation to varnish (or “finish”) woodwork by placing a sealant to preserve the wood.

720 BC

As the epic journey of the Ancient Egyptians slowly ends, carpentry starts to expand across the world with the Early Chinese civilisations enhancing these skills to create measurements used for building furniture and large alters.

The Japanese also introduced woodworking techniques, which are used today in modern construction. If you were a carpenter working in Japan, you would be working with high-carbon steel tools and learned how to become an expert in joinery.

800 BC

As woodworking skills continue to spread far and wide, the Middle East enhances carpentry even further. Common woodworking tools such as the mallet, wedge and the lathe were introduced and used for decorating various types of furniture. Carpenters would be very popular during this time because they would have the skills of an artist and a woodworker.

27 BC

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During 27 B.C. carpentry and construction entered a golden age. The mighty Roman Empire built cities, amphitheatres, military forts and cathedrals by using many woodworking techniques.

Cement and concrete were introduced into construction and helped increase the development of roads, bridges, and reservoirs. Arch, vault and dome designs were also used in famous Roman buildings, which still stand today.

The Colosseum, for example, is one of the most popular buildings in Rome with over 50,000 spectators watching gladiatorial contests in the arena.

Fact: Did you know that the Colosseum is still the largest amphitheatre in the world?

A roman carpenter would have been working on many building projects that involved a lot of work. Unfortunately, builders and carpenters would have a short life expectancy, because there was no such thing as health and safety.

1500 AD

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the medieval period began. Carpenters of the Middle Ages were highly skilled in making statues, wooden figurines, palaces, ships, and houses. The architecture during this time was also unique with Gothic, Byzantine and Georgian styles used in a variety of buildings.

Woodworkers were known as the most skilled craftsmen during this time and were paid handsomely for their hard work. Health and safety was also slowly improving with scaffolding being used during construction.

21st Century

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With the advancement of technology, carpentry tools are now safer and more efficient. Most construction projects in the 21st century involve building houses due to a dramatic increase in the population of the world. There are over 7 billion people living on Earth, which means that the demand for housing, schools, hospitals, and shops is dramatically rising.

Carpenters of today should have a variety of skills from craftsmanship to construction. Typical tasks would include installing structures and fixtures, building frameworks such as walls, floors and door frames and following blueprints to meet the requirements of the client.

Most carpenters are also independent contractors, which gives them more working opportunities on various projects.

What’s next for carpentry?

The world of carpentry is stronger than ever and will continue to grow due to the advancement of technology.

•Construction projects will take less time to build.

•New durable and hardwearing materials will be used in buildings.

•The number of injuries in the workplace will reduce because of health and safety and research.

Whatever happens in the future, carpentry will continue to flourish. Carpenters have worked on many projects throughout many civilisations and will always be part of the future generations to come.