The History of Pottery
The History Of Pottery
Pottery first came about when people used clay to make pottery around 6000 B.C. at the beginning of the Neolithic period. Before people were nomadic and moved too much to carry around heavy pots and bowls. The first pots were just clay balls with a hole put in the middle. They would normally use the bowl once and then throw it away. It looked as though someone had just punched his or her fist into the ball to make a bowl. Bowls were lightly fired in a pile of dry weeds. Around 3000 B.C. potters began to use the slow wheel. The slow wheel was a lot faster at making bowls because instead of having to move around the bowl you could sit still and the platform would spin. If you were good at using it, pottery was a lot faster. 2000 B.C. the fast wheel was invented and completely replaced the slow wheel in Europe and Asia. The fast wheel spun on an axel and a good potter could make a pot every minute or so. Being able to make pots faster also helped cheapen the price of pottery. The beginning of the Roman Empire brought big changes in the Western pottery industry. Pottery was beginning to be painted different colors other then black and glass blowing also became a big competitor for potters. In 700 A.D Chinese potters began to make porcelain bowls and the shining white bowls attracted many buyers. European and Chinese potters began to use lead glazes on their pots. The glaze could be colorful and also added a shine to the pots. Pottery has drastically changed and developed but it continues to stand the test of
Pottery first came about when people used clay to make pottery around 6000 B.C. at the beginning of the Neolithic period. Before people were nomadic and moved too much to carry around heavy pots and bowls. The first pots were just clay balls with a hole put in the middle. They would normally use the bowl once and then throw it away. It looked as though someone had just punched his or her fist into the ball to make a bowl. Bowls were lightly fired in a pile of dry weeds. Around 3000 B.C. potters began to use the slow wheel. The slow wheel was a lot faster at making bowls because instead of having to move around the bowl you could sit still and the platform would spin. If you were good at using it, pottery was a lot faster. 2000 B.C. the fast wheel was invented and completely replaced the slow wheel in Europe and Asia. The fast wheel spun on an axel and a good potter could make a pot every minute or so. Being able to make pots faster also helped cheapen the price of pottery. The beginning of the Roman Empire brought big changes in the Western pottery industry. Pottery was beginning to be painted different colors other then black and glass blowing also became a big competitor for potters. In 700 A.D Chinese potters began to make porcelain bowls and the shining white bowls attracted many buyers. European and Chinese potters began to use lead glazes on their pots. The glaze could be colorful and also added a shine to the pots. Pottery has drastically changed and developed but it continues to stand the test of