Since, excavations usually reveal only the foundation stones of
buildings, it can be concluded that in the primitive times most of the
people lived in mud brick or rough stone homes. However, according to
historical books and documentaries, majority of the population used to
stay in tents in that period, with nomads continuing this practice
throughout all the periods. In those times tents were not just
structures, but the hub of family life, each home reflecting the
personality of their inhabitants. Throughout the history of human race, tents have granted transient and transportable accommodation for use both at the time of war and peace. Tents may not be as durable as conventional buildings, but they were inexpensive and portable. The concept of tents primarily arose when two conditions prevailed, shortage of suitable building material and a need for mobility. The oldest tents known come from Siberia, Lapland, Iceland and Alaska. As people settled into agriculturally fixed communities, tents were also assigned the role of providing shelter for religious events, social gatherings, and housing great armies. Most of these tents consisted of a central mast surrounded by a conical layer or two upright pole and a steeply gabled roof.
As frequently mentioned in the Bible, the simplistic domicile was not a permanent edifice at all, but a tent. Most often, each extended family within a clan or tribe possessed a tent, which was pitched in close proximity to others for communal living. For over centuries, tents are been favored especially in times of natural calamities, nomadic life, hunting expeditions, feasts, events and gatherings etc.
The Fabric Used
Earlier tents were fabricated out of materials like, animal skins, felt, matting and even canvas. The evidences found to support this discovery themselves dates back to approximately 40,000 years. Hence, it can be concluded that around thirty thousand years later, woven fabric was first incorporated into the tent. Mostly, tents were made from goat skins or goat hair. Goatskins would have provided a dark, stuffy tent, but it would be warm and dry in winter and relatively cool in summer. To refuge themselves from icy winds, nomadic hunters hung animal skins over large bones. If trees were available, branches were used as supports.
The Black Tent
The most famous tent of the history is the "black tents." The black tent gets its name from the black goat hair used to weave its covering. This loosely woven cloth allows air to pass through while providing shade in hot and arid climates. Black tents use all the features that to this day allow tensioned structures to function. The fabric is draped over ropes, which are supported in turn by a series of poles. The ropes carry the load to the stakes, which tension the structure and anchor it down.
Significant developments
The years 1911, 1917, 1927, 1932, 1934 and 1937 are all dates that reflect and influence the styles and character of portable housing and tent as the world entered World War-II. According to a research it was founded that there was not a singular set of tent prints that usually stayed constant for more than 4 years. The experimentation, innovation and evolvement continues even today
