Toys before the birth of Christ

Since the very earliest times children have always played with toys, In fact many of the toys with which we are familiar, had their origins in the toys made by our ancestors. Originally most toys were simple objects such as pebbles to roll and seed pods to rattle. These toys were not manufactured but were gathered from the environment and used to satisfy the learning and development needs of the children.

Eventually toys were made on an individual basis. Rattles were made for babies using woven straw, clay, silver, leather or wood. Balls were made from cane, leather or fabric. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans played with dolls that had jointed limbs, with spinning tops, with balls and with pull along animals on wheels. As early as 1000 b.c. the Phoenicians were trading toys around the Mediterranean. So the ancients had Balls, Rattles, Spinning Tops, Dolls and Pull-along Toys.

Balls are the simplest and most basic of toys. Around the world they varied in size and capability because they were made from whatever local materials were available. In its earliest form a ball was a pebble which was thrown and caught or used to play games. The Egyptians made balls from plaited reeds and rushes, papyrus, flax and leather. In 1000 b.c. the Mayans made large heavy balls from rubber using layers of sap from local trees. Stone marbles were found in a previously inhabited cave in Austria which date from the Stone Age. As early as 4000 b.c. marbles were made in Egypt from stone and glass. Jasper and agate marbles were made in the Indus valley around 2500 b.c. Both Greek and Roman children played with marbles.

Rattles were used to soothe babies. The original rattles were gourds or seedpods but in the Indus valley around 2500 b.c. they were made in the shape of animals. In Africa seedpods were attached to a stick to make a rattle with a handle. Greek babies played with hollow terracotta rattles that were shaped like animals and filled with clay pellets. The Japanese made rattles out of a silk ball, filled with bran, a shell and pebble.

Spinning Tops were originally just pebbles which were spun copying the motion seen when the seedpods of trees such as the Sycamore or Maple spiralled to the ground. Early man made fire by rubbing a stick between his hands, with the tip on a stone, to create a spark. This was copied by watching children and so hoops, buzzers and yo-yos were born. Chinese children played with yo-yos and Japanese children had spinning tops.

Dolls were some think originally just for religious purposes but recent excavations in an island off Sicily have found a terracotta dolls head with curly hair, eyes, nose and mouth carved into it. This was found in the children's area of the house being excavated. The house itself dated from between 1700 b.c. to 1500 b.c. The Egyptians made toy dolls around 200 b.c and children in Thebes played with wooden paddle dolls around 1750 b.c.

Pull-along Toys have been found in societies where the wheel had been discovered. In the early Dynastic period in Egypt children played with toy carts and pull-along asses and oxen. Greek toddlers would push a clay or wooden animal on wheels. In Pakistan children played with Birds on wheels. Mexican children had clay animals and Roman children had clay and wicker pull-along chariots.

About the Author
Mike Knight is a grandfather and father of four. His hobbies include family history and conservation. More details of can be found at http://www.instructivetoys.com.