Umbrellas were used as early as the 3rd century BC in Egypt as sun shades. The Chinese used them around the 2nd century BC and the Greeks and the Romans were both using them around the 1st century AD as a rain shield.
As recently as the 18th century umbrellas were regarded as an item for women only until the English Sir James Hanway made them popular amongst men.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
