The History of the Tent

Tents have been used as portable housing since Biblical times. Tents provide shelter that can be easily assembled, dismantled and transported from place to place. Tents have evolved over time from a means of necessary shelter to a form of temporary recreational shelter.

  1. Biblical Times

    • Tents are frequently mentioned in the Bible as a form of shelter. Each family within a tribe or a clan possessed their own tent. The tents were pitched closed to each other to form a community. Early tents were constructed of animal skins, felt, matting and even canvas. Tents are also mentioned in the Old Testament (Exodus 39, 32-40, 38) as a portable temple. Moses erected a tent in which the Arc of the Covenant was placed.

    Ancient Rome

    • Tents were often used in Ancient Rome and Greece as housing for soldiers. These tents provided shelter using wooden frames and cloth coverings. The tents housed eight soldiers to a tent. Officers' tents were larger depending on their rank. Elaborate military camps were established near rivers using tents, which led to the development of cities such as Turin, Verona, Chester and York. The camps included bathhouses, storerooms and stables.

    Civil War Era

    • The pup tent was used to house troops extensively throughout the Civil War. This was a small tent that could easily be assembled, dismantled and moved. The pup tent was a simple tent with no flooring and no flaps at either end. It was big enough for two men. The pup tent got its name because soldiers said the tent was not even fit shelter for a dog. Sibley tents and A tents were also used during the war. The Sibley tent could house about 12 men and the A tent would house about 6 men.

    Modern Tents

    • Modern recreational tents became popular in the 1960s. Tents manufacturers began replacing wooden frames with lightweight medal and heavy canvas with lightweight water resistant fabrics. Tents are now available in a wide variety of sizes from two-man tents to tents divided into several rooms. Tents are used for camping, as temporary shelter for party sites, to provide a shaded area and to house military troops.