atawalk

Ashtabula, Parke, Saxony... I met some amazing folks on and off bridges. I also met some boneheads who call themselves experts and who have no clue what covered bridge is. But as it seems now, it is quite possible that covered bridges everywhere are related to the structures in China. We know suspension chain bridges existed in 600 AD in China, we know now that much of the so called western-technology, including iron, actually originated from China... not to take away the merit of the development of western knowledge... but really folks, 114 thousand tons of Iron where produced in China in 1076, England produces 68 thousand tons in 1766...

Arab/Muslim traders had been in contact with the far east for hundreds of years and covered bridges were probably drafted and sold as well for there was a need for such structure in the west... but nut much before 1000 or so, there was just not enough population yet to warrant such expenditure it would seems. But then, probably following the silk route somehow... the bridges covered of the far-east once were brought over and, built. There was already much bridge construction about the Roman and Greek empires... for wood was starting to become scarce on the immediate Mediterranean coastal areas, bridges where made of stones.

North of the Alps... in the realm of the tribes and forest people of the north, there was wood. So when cities started to develop, commerce followed and so did goods from all over. Don't kid yourself folks... the world was already discovered... Christian World History is one thing... world history is another!!!

For sure, we don't know if or when covered bridges arrived in Europe... all we have is circumstantial evidence that when trade from the far-east became routine, covered bridges started popping in Europe... you draw your own conclusions.

There are possibly as many as 5000 covered bridges in China today, from the 15 feet (4m) long pond-hoppers to some formidable 800+ feet long (260+m) mega bridge... as you will see in the pages of ATAWALK.net, the craftsmanship and style of these structures are indeed very telling of the civilization that produced them. Historical perspective must be respected in order to understand the role played by all. Europe took a concept and adapted it to the land and its resources. America did the same and moved the technology further. This is a small planet.

Can we enjoy the fruit of thousands of year of evolution in peace and marvel at what we once created?

May be if we do enuff of that, we will stop trying to discredit the next guy for his achievements.

http://www.atawalk.net/china.html

Fujian, Jiangxi and Hong-Kong are now showing bridges...