Carpets have been designed and made all over the world, from Europe through to Africa and Asia. Many cultures around the world have used carpets (Teppich) as a way to tell stories and illustrate religious myths and tales, through detailed patterns and designs. The history and culture of carpet manufacture goes hand in hand with human history and the advent of modern civilization. While carpets have been made by many traditional cultures around the world, some people have become especially famous for their unique and traditional carpet designs. Many of the traditional carpets that are so well known in the 21st century are totally different from the modern carpets that we see in our homes and businesses today. In fact, most traditional carpets would be classified as rugs today, because they were not designed and fitted to cover the entire floor area inside a home.

Some of the most famous types of traditional carpets include Chinese carpets, Turkish carpets, Persian carpets, Armenian carpets, Indian carpets, Pakistani carpets, French carpets, Spanish carpets, Turkmen carpets, and English carpets. While no-one is one hundred percent sure, the first ever carpets were probably produced in the region of southern Central Asia somewhere between the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC. However, their is evidence of humans using animal fur for warmth and comfort in their homes long before this time. There is evidence of goats and sheep being used for wool, and hair spun and woven to create coverings from at least as far back as 6000 BC, and possibly much earlier.

The oldest carpet that still exists today is the “Pazyryk Carpet”, which can be dated from the 5th or 4th century BC. Chinese people have also used carpets for a long time, although like a lot of Chinese artefacts, their carpets were woven almost exclusively for internal consumption. Other cultures that have a long history of carpet design and manufacture include India, Persia, and Pakistan. Carpet weaving in Persia dates back to the Bronze Age, Turkish carpets became known in the 15th and 16th centuries through European paintings, and Indian carpets are said to have originated in about 1500 AD. The history of traditional carpet design and production is a great way to learn about traditional cultures and ancient trade routes, as carpets have long been used as a way to share stories and traditions around the world.