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If you're a historical wheel enthusiast, this is another good read: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/12/the-chinese-wheelbarrow.html http://www.lowtechmagazi

If you're a historical wheel enthusiast, this is another good read: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/12/the-chinese-wheelbarrow.html http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/12/the-chinese-wheelbarr... Essentially, traditional Chinese wheelbarrows were so efficient that they resulted in massive deterioration of Chinese road infrastructure.

eesmith 9y ago
"so efficient that they resulted in massive deterioration of Chinese road infrastructure." I think you inverted the cause/effect relationship described in that article. It says: > Prior to the third century AD, China had an extensive and well-maintained road network suited for animal powered carts and wagons. It was only surpassed in length by the Ancient Roman road network. ... The Chinese and Roman road systems were built (independently) over the course of five centuries during the same period in history. Curiously, due to (unrelated) political reasons, both systems also started to disintegrate side by side from the third century AD onwards, and herein lies the explanation for the success of the Chinese wheelbarrow. As we have seen, the one-wheeled vehicle appeared during this period, and this is no coincidence. Increasingly, it was the only vehicle that could be operated on the deteriorating road network. The centuries of extensive roads in China was during the Han dynasty. "By the 2nd century, the empire declined amidst land acquisitions, invasions, and feuding between consort clans and eunuchs. The Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out in AD 184, ushering in an era of warlords." (Quoting Wikipedia.) The decline of the Han Dynasty and the fragmentation of the country into independent kingdoms lead to the decline in the road system. Not the Chinese wheelbarrow.