Description
Perhaps influenced by earlier Egyptian and Hittite examples, some kingdoms in Saharan Africa adopted the chariot by the 5th century BC. Usage was most prevalent amongst the Garamantians, and Herodotus recorded them raiding their southern Ethiopian neighbours using four-horse chariots. Whether drawn by two or four horses, chariots were built for speed and manoeuvrability, rather than impact and protection. They consisted of little more than yoke and a platform with axle and wheels at the back and a waist-high screen. The driver and passengers wore cloth armour and used javelins, or in some cases bows. The emphasis on speed probably comes from the role chariots played in hunting being transferred to the battlefield, especially when raiding for slaves. Despite their weight, when many chariots were drawn up together their impact against light or untrained infantry and cavalry could still be devastating!
