Who invented the stirrups first?

Question: Who invented the stirrups first!?

And why were they one of the best military inventions!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Stirrups were invented in China and started to appear in Europe (I think-better check this date!) around 800 CE (AD)!. They are a great invention because they let the momentum of the horse be carried through to therider and whatever he has in his hands-like a spear or lance! You could tuck a spear under your arms, brace into your stirrups and the combined force of you and your 400kg horse travelling at 30kph would be transferred via your spear point into your enemy's body (ouch!)!.

Before that time, warriors needed to wield their spears overarm, and only the stabbing / thrusting force of their arms would be projected via the point into an enemy!. If you tried to charge like a knight with your spear tucked under your arm without something to brace against you would fall off your horse!

Before stirrups, some cultures used saddles with raised ridges on the rear seat, to give something to brace against!. Late Imperial Roman "equites" for example, used this to provide some bracing-but still, stirrups were a quantum leap in allowing the full force to be transferred!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Huns, Alans, Avars

They are mentioned in early Chinese literature and examples which must be earlier than the 7th century A!.D!. have been found in Japan; the true stirrup was apparently invented in northern China by the nomadic Turkic tribes in the first few centuries AD, although a simple loop through which the rider placed his big toe was already to be seen in India either by 4th century BC (Desmond Morris, Horse Watching 1998), or the 2nd century BC!. FROM: http://www!.horsetackinternational!.com/fi!.!.!.

It was invented at first as a single mounting stirrup only used in getting into the saddle; the first dependable representation of a rider with paired stirrups is in a Jin Dynasty (265-420) tomb of about 322!. FROM: http://www!.chinaculture!.org/gb/en_madein!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i would guess it was the mongols during genghis khan time!. his clavary could ride real fast and far so thats my best guess!. mobility against and slow moving mass of humanity!.Www@QuestionHome@Com