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[[File:Skythian_archer_plate_BM_E135_by_Epiktetos.jpg|thumbnail|300px200px|left|Scythian archer drawing an arrow from his quiver as he turns to shoot at the enemy. Shown wearing pants. Inscriptions in small and neat letters: to the left of the figure: Επικτετος; on his right: εγρασφεν (sic). Interior from an Attic red-figured plate. From Vulci. Between 520 and 500 BCE]]Why did humans start wearing pants? To answer this question , it’s important to understand two things - first, what were the earliest forms of clothing and how did they evolve evolved into pants , and secondly, why did a need for pants develop? It is also helpful to define what is meant by pants - specifically a bifurcated garment for the bottom half of the body which covers covering from waist to the lower leg. This definition helps to differentiate from the earlier leggings which that were often pieces of cloth or skins which were wrapped around the legs and then tied on with straps. Leggings were comprised of two separate garments. Ötzil the Ice Man, perhaps the most famous archaeological find of prehistoric human remains from the northern regions, was found wearing leggings.

==What are the Earliest Originsof Pants?==From archaeological evidence, it is known that the earliest types of clothing were wrap wrapped skirts or aprons for both genders. The oldest known woven example is a fragment made from woven reeds found in Armenia and dating from approximately 2900 BCE. While this is just a fragment the construction hints to at what the complete style would have looked like with a waistband woven in the opposite direction from the skirt. This is likely stylistically based off of on earlier versions made from hides which that do not survive to the modern daytimes. Even earlier examples were of so-called string skirts which were comprised of a waistband with strings or pieces of grass hanging down - these skirts often tied like an apron and depictions can be found in art dating back nearly 20,000 years. In the present day this style is still seen in southeast Asian and other countries, for example, the sarong, a traditionally unisex garment. In colder climates, these could be paired with the previously mentioned leggings and a T-shaped tunic. These are all very simple garment that requires limited construction and materials. <ref>Douglas A. Russell, <i>Costume history and style</i> (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1983), 2</ref>

The development Even earlier examples were of pants came alongside the domestication so-called string skirts comprised of horses and served as an indicator of class and profession. People who rode horses needed to have a way of protecting their legs and remaining clothed as a simple wrap garment would not remain on the body. Some early variants involved using the same single waistband with strings or pieces of cloth grass hanging down - these skirts often tied like an apron and tying it through the legs to create trousers. Horses were. initially domesticated depictions can be found in Central Asia sometime between 3500 and 3000 BCEart dating back nearly 20,000 years. Horses were a signifier of prestigeIn the present day, and this style is still seen in many cultures horses Southeast Asian and other countries, for example, the equipment used in riding them or in using them to drive chariots were included in the tombs of the elitesarong, a traditionally unisex garment. In colder climates, these earliest horse riding cultures then trousers, as could be paired with the previously mentioned leggings and a form of clothing connected to horses, also served as a sign of prestigeT-shaped tunic. These are all effortless garment that requires limited construction and materials. <ref>"What We Theorize - When and Where Domestication OccurredDouglas A. Russell," What We Theorize - When  <i>Costume history and Where Domestication Occurred | International Museum of the Horsestyle</i> (Englewood Cliffs, httpNJ://www.imh.org/exhibits/online/whatPrentice-we-theorize-when-and-where-domestication-occurred.Hall, 1983), 2</ref>

== Did the Domestication of horses led to Pants? ==The earliest existing pair development of pants was found in China came alongside horses' domestication and served as an indicator of class and dates profession. People who rode horses needed to around 1000 BCE - within 1000 years protect their legs and remaining clothed as a simple wrap garment would not remain on the body. Some early variants involved using the same single pieces of cloth and tying it through the time when it is believed horses legs to create trousers. Horses were initially . Initially domesticatedin Central Asia sometime between 3500 and 3000 BCE. These pants are constructed Horses were a signifier of wool with legs made of multiple panels. Experts believe due to prestige, and in many cultures horses and the construction style of these garments that they were designed specifically for horseback equipment used in riding rather than for warmth them or protection from in using them to drive chariots were included in the underbrushelites' tombs. These garments show a more complex pieced construction than those tunics and skirtsIn these earliest horse riding cultures, trousers, with far more small parts stitched together instead of being as a simple wrap or comprised form of two simple shapes sewn clothing connected to one another. These were garments which were specifically designed for horses, also served as a task rather than to protect the wearer from the elementssign of prestige.<ref>Ulrike Beck et al., "The invention of trousers What We Theorize - When and its likely affiliation with horseback riding and mobility: A case study of late 2nd millennium BC finds from Turfan in eastern Central AsiaWhere Domestication Occurred," <i>Quaternary What We Theorize - When and Where Domestication Occurred | International</i> 348 (2014): Museum of the Horse, doi http:10.1016/j/www.quaintimh.2014org/exhibits/online/what-we-theorize-when-and-where-domestication-occurred.04.056.</ref> In this way, pants helped to define a class and social divisions, as wearing them visually identified the wearer with the tasks which they completed.

While the development The earliest existing pair of horseback riding led pants was found in China and dates to the immediate beginnings around 1000 BCE - within 1000 years when it is believed horses were initially domesticated. These pants are constructed of wool with legs made of pants they were not instantly accepted as a garment across the entire world at that timemultiple panels. Instead, they spread gradually and often faced challenges among cultures Experts believe that considered themselves more “civilized” the construction style of these garments was designed specifically for horseback riding rather than those who were wearing pantsfor warmth or protection from the underbrush.

The garments show a more complex pieced construction than those tunics and skirts, with far more small parts stitched together instead of being a simple wrap or comprised of two simple shapes sewn to one another. These were garments designed for a task rather than to protect the wearer from the elements.<ref>Ulrike Beck et al., "The invention of trousers and its likely affiliation with horseback riding and mobility: A case study of late 2nd millennium BC finds from Turfan in eastern Central Asia," <i>Quaternary International</i> 348 (2014):, doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.04.056.</ref> In this way, pants helped define a class and social divisions, as wearing them visually identified the wearer with the tasks they completed.  While the development of horseback riding led to pants' immediate beginnings, they were not instantly accepted as a garment across the entire world at that time. Instead, they spread gradually and often faced challenges among cultures that considered themselves more “civilized” than those wearing pants.  ==Development How did Pants Develop in the Western World? ==Scythian warriors, both male, and female, from Central Eurasia, are depicted wearing tight -fitting trousers in Greek art dating from the 6th centuries BCE.<ref>Susan Brown, <i> Fashion: the definitive history of costume and style </i> (New York, NY: DK Publishing, 2012), 15.</ref> Similar styles, consisting of a tunic and trousers , have been found surviving in tombs.  The Greeks wore a wrapped garment, the chiton, and viewed the wearing of trousers as something done by foreigners and females - some . Some historians believe that the Amazons of Greek myth were at least partially based off of on the female warriors of the Scythians. In these myths, the trousers come to stand as just one of the ways these warriors buck tradition.<ref>Mayor, Adrienne. <i> The Amazons: lives and legends of warrior women across the ancient world.</i> Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2014, 96.</ref>

In the Roman world, the toga was the typical wrap garment for men on formal occasions. Casual wear consisted of a tunic. Earlier military members of the military didn’t wear trousers, seeing them as effeminate like their Greek predecessors - however, the combination of being defeated by the trouser wearing Teutons, continued northern exploration, and increased usage of cavalry. The spread of the Romans also helped in spreading trousers throughout much of the area where they conquered. Many of these areas were at that point still wearing the separate leggings with a tunic and mantle - normally made of heavy wool.<ref>Douglas A. Russell, <i>Costume history and style</i> (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1983), 77</ref>  == When did Men begin Wearing Pants in the Modern Era? ==After the Romans accepted pants, they became a more standard mode of dress across the Western world. As centuries went on, it became those who did not wear pants who stood out, such as Scottish soldiers who wore kilts into battle up into the 20th century. Even as in previous civilizations, pants had served as a designator of completing a specific task for the upper class of later Western civilizations. They serve to show modernity and how the wearer fits the mold of masculinity. By being prepared to carry out physical activities and not constrained by tight clothing or billowing robes, new fashions showed a change in the cultural mindset as to what was appropriate for these men to accomplish. To show how this change occurred, it helps to look at the specific cases of Imperial Russia and Regency England.<ref>Mila Contini, Fashion, from ancient Egypt to the present day (New York: Odyssey Press, 1965), 183.</ref>  [[File:1200px-A_Boyar_Wedding_Feast_(Konstantin_Makovsky,_1883)_Google_Cultural_Institute.jpg|thumbnail|275px|left| By Konstantin Makovsky, 1883 - Google Cultural Institute (original file link), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44381235. The painting depicts two Boyar families at a wedding.]]As part of a mission to drag Russia into what he viewed as the modern world, Peter the Great issued a decree, in 1701, on modern clothing stating that upper-class men were to follow these guidelines concerning attire - “The upper dress shall be of French or Saxon cut, and the lower dress and underwear-[including] waistcoat, trousers, boots, shoes, and hats- shall be of the German type.” This replaced the previous style of floor-length caftans.

==Men Wearing Pants The pants mentioned in the Modern Era==After pants this decree were accepted by the Romans they became a more standard mode of dress across knee-breeches popularized at the Western world. As centuries went on it became those who did not wear pants who stood out, such as Scottish soldiers who wore kilts into battle up into time by the 20th centuryFrench court. Even as in previous civilizations pants had served as a designator of completing a specific task for In forcing the upper class of later Russian court to adopt Western civilizations they serve styles, Peter I used clothing to show modernity and how highlight the wearer fits the mold of masculinity. By being prepared to carry out physical activities and not being constrained by tight clothing or billowing robes, new fashions showed a larger societal change in the cultural mindset as to what efforts he was appropriate for these men to accomplish. To show how this change occurred it helps to look at putting into place within the specific cases of Imperial Russia and Regency Englandcountry.<ref>Mila Contini"PETER'S DECREES ON WESTERN DRESS AND SHAVING, Fashion1701 AND 1705, from ancient Egypt to the present day (New York" http://wayback.archive-it.org/6473/20160819151435/https: Odyssey Press, 1965), 183//tspace.library.utoronto.ca/citd/RussianHeritage/6.PG/6.L/7.X.30.html.</ref>

[[File:1200px-A_Boyar_Wedding_Feast_(Konstantin_Makovsky,_1883)_Google_Cultural_Institute.jpg|thumbnail|275px|left| By Konstantin Makovsky, 1883 - Google Cultural Institute (original file link), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44381235. The painting depicts two Boyar families at a wedding.]]As part of a mission to drag Russia into what he viewed as the modern world Peter the Great issued a decree, final victory for trousers over breeches in 1701, on modern clothing stating England and those that upper-class men were looked to follow these guidelines in regard to attire - “The upper dress shall be England for fashion was the rise of French or Saxon cut, and the lower dress and underwear-[including] waistcoat, trousers, boots, shoes, and hats- shall be popularity of the German type.” This replaced menswear suit as known today, heavily influenced by Beau Brummell in the previous style of floor length caftansearly 1800s. The pants mentioned in this decree were the knee breeches Brummell popularized at the time a style characterized by the French courtsimplicity and good tailoring, in contrast to previous decades' most flamboyant styles. In forcing the Russian court to adopt Western Previous styleshad featured tight-fitting knee-breeches and stockings along with heeled shoes, Peter I used clothing to highlight the larger societal change efforts styles which he was putting into place within showcased the countrywearers' high rank in that they were not practical for doing vigorous physical activity. <ref>"PETER'S DECREES ON WESTERN DRESS AND SHAVINGC. Willett Cunnington and Phillis Cunnington, 1701 AND 1705," http: <i>The history of underclothes<//wayback.archive-it.org/6473/20160819151435/httpsi> (New York://tspaceDover Publications, Inc.library.utoronto.ca/citd/RussianHeritage/6.PG/6.L/7.X.30.html, 1992), 95.</ref>

The final victory for trousers over breeches in England and those nations which looked to England for fashion was the rise of the popularity of the menswear suit as known today, heavily influenced by Beau Brummell in the early 1800s. Brummell popularized a style characterized by simplicity and good tailoring, in contrast to the most flamboyant styles of previous decades. Previous styles had featured tight fitting knee-breeches and stockings along with heeled shoes, styles which showcased the wearers high rank in that they were not practical for doing a vigorous physical activity. <ref> C. Willett Cunnington and Phillis Cunnington, <i>The history of underclothes</i> (New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1992), 95. </ref> On the other hand, the Brummell's style brought to the forefront by Brummell with both its looser long trousers and flat boots and shoes allowed the wearer to participate in more activities matching a social change in the concept of masculinity. He also preferred dark colors, normally black with a white shirt, over the bright colors worn previously. This style was adopted by upper-class men and became the norm for western society through to the modern -day.<ref>Brian Dillon, "Inventory/A Poet of Cloth," <i> Cabinet</i>, Spring 2006.</ref>

====Conclusion====The development of pants allowed for a greater range of freedom and movement. While this initially was just for the warrior and lower classes, specifically the males in many societies, over history , the wearing of pants has come to symbolize not only a necessity of movement (as seen when worn by warriors or working peasants) but the choice to be active and to enjoy physical freedoms. Wearing pants showed cultural and societal changes not only in the ideas of what is masculine and what is feminine but also in and what is expected of all members of society.

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