page_title: Tent
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Tent / History
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Feierliches Opfer im Lager (Szene VIII); Barbar vor dem Kaiser (Szene IX) English: Suovetaurilia (scene VIII); princeps and peasant (scene IX)
context_page_description: A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over, attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs. First used as portable homes by nomads, tents are now more often used for recreational camping and as temporary shelters.
  A form of tent called a teepee or tipi, noted for its cone shape and peak smoke-hole, was also used by Native American tribes and Aboriginal Canadians of the Plains Indians since ancient times, variously estimated from 10,000 years BCE to 4,000 BCE.
  Tents range in size from "bivouac" structures, just big enough for one person to sleep in, up to huge circus tents capable of seating thousands of people.
  Tents for recreational camping fall into two categories. Tents intended to be carried by backpackers are the smallest and lightest type. Small tents may be sufficiently light that they can be carried for long distances on a touring bicycle, a boat, or when backpacking.
  The second type are larger, heavier tents which are usually carried in a car or other vehicle.
context_section_description: Tents were used at least as far back as the early Iron Age. They are mentioned in the Bible; for example, in Genesis 4:20 Jabal is described as 'the first to live in tents and raise sheep and goats'. The Roman Army used leather tents, copies of which have been used successfully by modern re-enactors.  Various styles developed over time, some derived from traditional nomadic tents, such as the yurt.
  Most military tents throughout history were of a simple ridge design. The major technological advance was the use of linen or hemp canvas for the canopy versus leather for the Romans. The primary use of tents was still to provide portable shelter for a small number of men in the field.
  By World War I larger designs were being deployed in rear areas to provide shelter for support activities and supplies.
caption: Roman Army leather tents, depicted on Trajan's Column.
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