Ancient Chinese Invented The Umbrella

Question:  When was the umbrella invented?

Answer: The history of the umbrella stretches far back in time. The umbrella is by no means a new invention. The first recorded use of sun protecting parasol comes from ancient Egypt, over 3,500 years ago. The custom spread to neighboring kingdoms such as Assyria, but only kings had the right of being protected with elaborate made parasols. Due to lack of rain, the ancient Egyptians never needed to create what we nowadays call an umbrella.

The umbrella was invented in China in 11th century B.C., where first silk and waterproof umbrellas started being used by nobility and royalty. As a sign of power influential people carried multi-tiered umbrellas, with Chinese Emperor himself being protected with four tiers of very elaborate parasol. Similar tradition spread across the region, and rulers of Siam and Burma used parasols with eight to 24 layers.

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During 1st millennia B.C. umbrellas came to ancient Greece and Rome where they were viewed as a luxurious female accessory. It was recorded that both Greek and Roman women had umbrellas that could open and close, and were often carried not by noble women but by slaves and servants, sometimes mounted on horses or carriages. Men however, viewed umbrellas as female only item and only effeminate Roman men openly joined women under the protective shade of umbrella.

After the fall of Roman Empire in 5th century AD, use of umbrella almost totally disappeared from Europe. It was only with the arrival of Renaissance that umbrella returned into popularity, most commonly by the nobility and royalty in late 16th and 17th century France, Italy and England.

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Source:

Umbrella History