Clothing is a term that refers to a

covering for the human body that is worn.

The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies. The amount and type of clothing worn depends on functional considerations (such as a need for warmth or protection from the

elements) and social considerations

Clothing has played an important role in the

progress of the civilization and all its cultural aspects , religion, government, social conduct & behavior, the performing arts, Visual arts & most human endeavor.

clothing may have been used as long ago as 650 thousand years ago - much longer than previously thought to archaeologists and anthropologists, the earliest clothing likely consisted of fur, leather, leaves, or grass that were draped, wrapped, or tied around the body.

According

Knowledge of such clothing remains inferential, since clothing materials deteriorate quickly compared to stone, bone, shell and metal artifacts.

 Archeologists

have identified very early sewing needles of bone and ivory from about 30,000 BC, found near Kostenki, Russia in 1988. flax fibers that could have been used in clothing have been found in a prehistoric cave in the Republic of Georgia that date back to 36,000 BP are still debating when people started wearing clothes

Dyed

Scientists

 research

suggests the invention of clothing may have coincided with the northward migration of modern Homo sapiens away from the warm climate of Africa, thought to have begun between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago.

Why clothing Started ???

Protection or Decoration

 Thomas

Carlyle was the scot philosopher who first stated that the prehistoric man wore cloths for decoration.
he did not state as to why the prehistoric man needed to decorate himself.

But

Oldest depiction of clothing is in the caverns in the French Pyrenees known as Trois Frers. Dated 20 to 30 thousand years ago. pic

 In

Eastern spain at cogul, Mesolithic drawings depicted women wearing bell shaped skirts.

 The

stone age warriors drawn in Gasulla gorge in Eastern Spain are wearing headdress made of feathers.

 At

Malta, the siberian site of Paleolithic age interesting beads and pendent of ivory & bone were found.

A stone statue wearing a hooded garment and a trouser was also found. Pic
These ancient cave & gravesite findings indicate that clothing was a concern of early man.

Between 4500 and 4000 B.C. western civilization had it beginning in the area of Mediterranean Sea. The Tigris in Mesepotamia and Nile in Egypt became permanent home for wandering tribes.
The climates in which early civilizations flourished were tropical or semi tropical The climate was warm and hot & the air was dry. Clothing was not required for warmth but may be necessary for protection from sun.

 But

clothing style of Sumerians and Egyptians revels that clothing was used to show rank, wealth and status, for ritual & ornamentation rather than for protection.

 Yaggans

from Tieera del Fuego at the tip of south America live in cold, damp & stormy climate. Snowfall is seen even in summer. These people wear very brief clothing

 The

aborigines of Australia live in sever climate. But they wear only brief loincloth. They decorate their body with grease and ocher for ceremonial purpose.

Clothing was worn by the early man for decorative and ornamental purpose.
And the reason was to demonstrate superiority. Dr. Alfred Adler who originated the concept of inferiority complex stated that to compensate for the inferior feeling man has the goal of superiority. Primitive man decorated himself to compensate for his feelings of inadequacy & insecurity in relation to nature & animals around him.

To belong to a tribe
To feel superior to his fellow men & win their admiration. To frighten enemy To propitiate the gods To indicate the tribe

To Show rank in the tribe.

 Body

ornaments & decorations to demonstrate superiority are common even today the soldier wearing his medals, a Monarch wearing crown for ceremonies etc.
same holds true for lady of fashion who bedeck herself with expensive jewellary. women wearing gold rings around the neck.

The

Burmees

 The

desire to achieve superiority and win admiration of our fellow men is our deepest needs.

Hence clothing is worn to achieve superiority.