When Were Kites First Discovered?

Invention

• China is believed to be where kites were invented. The Chinese could weave silkworm thread into material and had unlimited access to bamboo, from which the first known kites were made. The first kite is believed to have been flown in China in 1000 B.C. Buddhist missionaries spread the kite-flying fascination to Korea and Japan. Both of those countries developed their own kite styles. Kites' popularity spread to other countries and eventually reached Europe.

History in Europe

• The Romans may have made Europe's first kites. They flew decorated, animal-shaped windsocks as military banners. Many theories concern how later kite styles reached Europe. Some of the theories indicate that in the 1300s explorer Marco Polo brought them back from his travels, and others suggest that they were taken to Europe by Portuguese traders. It also been suggested that Genghis Khan brought them when he and his Mongolian warriors invaded Europe and Asia.

Experiments

• Kites are best known as children's toys, but they have been used in many scientific experiments. The first recorded use of a kite in a meteorological experiment was in 1749, when several kites were used to measure the temperature of different altitudes. In the 1820s, a schoolteacher named George Pocock used two kites caught by wind to pull a carriage, and Guglielmo Marconi used a kite to lift an aerial to make a wireless transmission over water in 1898. Kites also were used in experiments involving thunderstorms and aviation.

Modern Designs

• Modern kites can be credited to American scientists Francis Rogallo and Domina Jalbert. Rogallo patented the design used in hang gliders and sports kites, and Jalbert invented parafoil, which is used in paragliders and traction kites. Today's kites range from simple children's toys to huge powerful kites that reach high speeds and have the power and ability to be used in water sports.