• Гідрологія і Гідрометрія
• Господарське право
• Економіка будівництва
• Економіка природокористування
• Економічна теорія
• Земельне право
• Історія України
• Кримінально виконавче право
• Медична радіологія
• Методи аналізу
• Міжнародне приватне право
• Міжнародний маркетинг
• Основи екології
• Предмет Політологія
• Соціальне страхування
• Технічні засоби організації дорожнього руху
• Товарознавство продовольчих товарів

HISTORY OF FOOTWEAR

Footwear has a history which goes back to many thousands of years, and has long been an article of prestige. The earliest footwear probably made of plaited grass or rawhide held to the foot with thongs undoubtedly born of the necessity to provide some protection when moving over rough terrain in varying weather conditions, and there still exist examples of footwear from ancient civilization, such as the Egyptians, Chinese and Vikings. Soon, however, the rich and influential began distinguishing themselves by the craftsmanship and decoration which characterized their shoes.

Throughout the history footwear has figured widely in mythology, folk stories and superstition. The Greek god Mercury wore winged sandals, and there are very few Europeans who do not remember childhood tales of Puss in Boots, the Seven League Boots, Cinderella and the Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe, and most cultures have stories where shoes play a starring role. The cobbler has always been a romantic figure, and even today it is traditional to tie a boot or a shoe to the back of the newlyweds’ car as good luck token.

In ancient times, as today, the basic type of shoe worn depended on the climate. In warmer areas, the sandal was, and still is the most popular form of footwear. It varied from the primitive form worn thousands of years before Christ, to beautifully finished versions with many straps and intricate decoration. The modern moccasin derives from the original shoe adopted in cold climates by races as North American Indians, Eskimos, Laplanders and Siberian tribesmen. The distinctive seam on the upper of modern moccasin is all that remains, however, of the puckering string that was gathered and tied about the ankles to give all over protection to the foot.

Shoes have not always served such a purely functional purpose, however, and the requirements of fashion have dictated some curious designs, not all of which made walking easy. The “cracowes” of mediaeval time, famous for their long tapering points, eventually became so long and tapering as to make walking impossible, and their successors, the duckbill shots the 16^th and 17^th centuries were so wide and flat that they also created severe problems. Neither did the mediaeval period have the monopoly of impractical fashion shoes. In our own times the stiletto heel became so high and narrow that it not only made walking difficult and risky, but also damaged floors and carpets, while the “platform” fashion of the 1970’s gave us soles several inches thick.

Specialized footwear for specific purposes was not known until comparatively recent times, this being particularly true of the military, where footwear was given little or no consideration until the 17^th century.

IV. Answer the questions:

1. How long is a history of footwear?

2. What was the earliest footwear made of?

3. What characterized shoes of the rich and influential?

4. Where has footwear widely figured throughout the history?

5. What kind of sandals did the Greek god Mercury wear?

6. What European childhood folk stories tell about shoes?

7. Why is a boot or a shoe tied to the back of a car?

8. What type of a shoe was worn in warmer areas?

9. What type of a shoe was worn in cold climates?

10. When was specialized footwear for specific purposes known?

V. Complete the sentences with the words from the text:

1. … has long been an article of prestige.

2. The earliest footwear held to the foot with … .

3. The Greek god Mercury wore … .

4. … has always been a romantic figure.

5. The most cultures have stories where … play a starring role.

VI. Find the English equivalents to the words:

взуття, захист, міфологія, ремінь, черевик, туфля, оздоблення, при зборювати, сандаля, походити

VII. Make up sentences with the terms:

an article of prestige, to distinguish, to tie a boot or a shoe, mythology, a functional purpose, to give protection, tapering points, modern moccasin, to make walking impossible, to tie about the ankle

VIII. Give definitions to the words:

plaited grass, rawhide, craftsmanship, decoration, sandals, moccasin, fashion, platform, specialized footwear, seam

IX. Translate the sentences into English:

1. Історія взуття нараховує багато тисяч років.

2. Можливо перше взуття було зроблено з плетеної трави або не дубленої шкіри.

3. Згодом заможні та впливові особи почали вирізняти себе оздоблюючи своє взуття.

4. На протязі всієї історії взуття знаходило відображення в міфології, казках та забобонах.

5. Основний тип взуття, який носили в давні часи, залежав від клімату.

6. Сандалі були загальнопоширеним видом взуття в країнах з теплим кліматом.

7. Сучасні мокасини походять від оригінального взуття, яке носили північноамериканські індіанці, ескімоси, лапландці та племена Сибіру.

8. Взуття не завжди виконує своє безпосереднє призначення.

9. Мода диктує незвичайні моделі, які не роблять ходіння легкою справою.

10. До нещодавно взуття для спеціального призначення не було відомо.

X. Speak on the topic using the following words and word-combinations:

to make footwear, to provide some protection, to distinguish, craftsmanship and decoration, to figure widely in, as good luck, the basic type of shoe, a sandal, many straps and intricate decoration, a moccasin, to serve a functional purpose, footwear for special purposes

Text B

I. Read and remember:

1. riding – верхова їзда

2. consummate – досконалий

3. nobility – знать, панство

4. last – колодка, копил

5. vamp – союзка

6. counter – задник

7. patent leather – лакована шкіра

8. maroon – каштановий колір

9. stitch – стібок

10. sole – підошва

11. calf – опойок

II. Read the text and define the main idea of it:

Читайте також:

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2. CAD/CAM in Footwear Manufacture
3. COATED FABRICS IN FOOTWEAR MANUFACTURE
4. FOOTWEAR
5. FOOTWEAR AND WORK
6. FOOTWEAR DESIGN
7. FOOTWEAR IN SUMMER AND WINTER
8. FOOTWEAR MATERIALS
9. FOOTWEAR STYLES
10. From the history of computer.
11. From the History of Note-Taking
12. FROM THE HISTORY OF THE WESTERN BOOT

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