Feet of Engineering
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The History of Heels
Many horseback riding cultures wore heels on their boots and on their shoes for riding. Heels help you stay in the stirrups, which is why cowboy boots have heels. As early as the 10th century, the Persian cavalry was wearing inch high high heels. But then heels started to get gendered in their designs. Men's heels grew broad and sturdy, and women's became tapered and decorative. Finally men deemed them impractical. And in the 18th century, the high heel is strictly a lady shoe.
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