Career Career History



The carpenter's career is one of the oldest professions. Carpentry goes back to the beginning of the man with rough tools. The ancient Greeks showed their carpentry skills through the temples they built to show their respect for their gods and goddesses. In Asia, the ancient Japanese also showed their skill in carpentry through the buildings they built. These buildings date back to the 7th century and some of them are still standing.

We can trace the history of carpentry to 8000 BC. During this time, the first men use stone axes to build their shelters. Several studies and research have shown that early Stone Age Europeans built rectangular wooden houses more than 100 feet long.

Egyptians already used copper carpentry tools as early as 4000 BC. These copper tools evolved into bronze tools used in 2000 BC. The Egyptians were very good at drilling, dovetailing, mitering and mortising the wood.

The word carpenter is derived from the Latin word carpentarius. Carpentarius is the person who builds two-wheeled carts called carpentum in Latin. Roman carpenters already used adzes, saws, graters, punches, gouges and planes.

In the Middle Ages, carpenters found work in the big cities. They would travel with their tools to other villages where a major construction project is underway. At that time, steel hand tools were already part of the carpenter's toolbox. The skills in carpentry are already highly developed because of the construction of ornate patterns for churches and castles.

The guilds of carpenters began in the twelfth century. There were three kinds of members among guild masters, journeymen and apprentices. The master was a carpenter with a lot of experience and knowledge who takes an apprentice and trains them. The apprentice trained and lived with the master. He receives food, clothing and shelter but works without any payment.

After five to nine years, an apprentice can become a journeyman. A companion can already work for a salary. Eventually, he could become a master. Carpentry guilds have been the precursors of unions and modern workers' associations.

In 1724, carpenters' unions were created to help workers in areas such as regulated hours. Previously, the hours were eleven hours, but thanks to the union's efforts, they were reduced to the current eight-hour standard. Benefits and assistance were also offered to unemployed members.

In the Renaissance and later, the carpenters were already building beautiful buildings at that time. Meanwhile, medieval carpenters were already using tools that can be found in modern toolboxes. In fact, in 1873, the electric drill was used for the first time. The hand drill was developed in 1917. Portable electric saws were used in 1925.

There was a city literally hammered in the 1700s by carpenters. Much of the work was done by slaves that builders own or hired, but carpenters worked on structures, smokehouses, dairies and other outbuildings. They also worked on the layout of the brick structures. The colonial city they built is the city of Williamsburg.

Colonial carpenters built the city of Williamsburg and it still exists. This colonial city is proud of its historic attractions to showcase the talent of colonial carpenters. There would be reconstructions of colonial life in this city and construction underway during the 1700s.




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