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Bag

technology Maturity 11-13 Next article →

A bag is a flexible, floppy container used to hold and transport various items.

These tools are essential for human civilization because they allow people to collect loose materials. For example, humans can gather berries or food grains more efficiently with bags. Without them, people would be limited by what they could hold in their hands. Bags are made from many different materials. Common materials include cloth, leather, bamboo, paper, or plastic. They vary greatly in size and shape to suit different needs. Some are small, like a purse, while others are large, like a suitcase.

The mechanism of a bag relies on its ability to be compressible.

Unlike a basket, which is made of rigid materials, a bag is often foldable. This flexibility makes bags very convenient for storage when they are empty. You can squeeze a bag into a small space easily. This makes it simple to carry an empty bag to a shop. To keep items inside, bags use different closing methods. Some use a zipper or a snap fastener. Others might use a drawstring or simply be closed by folding the top. Some specialized bags, such as money bags, even feature a lock for security.

Bags have been used by humans for thousands of years.

Thousands of bean bags
Thousands of bean bags

Evidence of bag use exists as far back as Ancient Egypt, where hieroglyphs show men with bags tied to their waists. Around 2000 BCE, bags were used in the Xiaohe Cemetery in China to encase cosmetic sticks. In the first century, the Bible mentions pouches, specifically regarding Judas Iscariot. During the 14th century, people used drawstring bags to protect their money from thieves. These were often attached to a girdle using a long cord. In medieval Europe, women also wore ornate drawstring bags called hamondeys or tasques. These bags helped display a person's social status.

Different cultures developed unique styles of bags for specific purposes.

Pouch, Arapaho (Native American), Late 19th or early 20th cent., 08.434
Pouch, Arapaho (Native American), Late 19th or early 20th cent., 08.434

In northern Australia, Aboriginal women use traditional dillybags woven from plant fibers to gather food. In China, paper bags were used during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD) to preserve the flavor of tea. Indigenous women in North America created the parfleche. This was a container made from buffalo rawhide. They decorated these bags with pigments to express symbolism and tribal perspectives. During the Renaissance, fashions became very complex. Women wore pouches under many layers of petticoats. Men wore leather pockets, known as bagges, inside their breeches.

In the modern world, bags are ubiquitous, meaning they are found everywhere.

Burberry handbag
Burberry handbag

We use them for everything from professional briefcases to casual backpacks. Retailers often provide cheap, disposable paper or plastic shopping bags. These are used for convenience when customers buy groceries. However, the use of single-use plastic bags has created environmental concerns. To address this, some European Union countries, like Ireland and the Netherlands, work to reduce their use. The United Kingdom has charged 5p per plastic carrier bag in large shops since 2015. Some nations have even moved to ban plastic bags entirely.

Many people now use reusable bags to help the environment.

Garbage bag Basel Bebbisagg
Garbage bag Basel Bebbisagg

These heavy-duty bags are often made of fabric or strong plastic. In some areas, these reusable bags cost between €0.50 and €1. Using a bag multiple times is often better for both the economy and the planet. Even a disposable bag can often be used more than once for these reasons. However, some bags must be used only once for hygienic or logistic reasons. For example, garbage bags are often thrown away with their contents. Medical bags, like colostomy bags, are also disposed of as medical waste.

Bags relate to many different systems and specialized fields. There are many specific types of bags designed for unique tasks. Some are for safety, like the airbag used in vehicles. Others are for food, such as tea bags or pastry bags. Some are for specific items, like antistatic bags used to ship electronic components. There are even bags for extreme environments, such as a bivouac bag. This wide variety shows how the simple concept of a container can be adapted for almost any human need.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Bolsas-de-asa-plana-interior-bolsapubli.jpg
Bolsas-de-asa-plana-interior-bolsapubli.jpg
File:Embroidered purse, France, mid 14th century AD - Cinquantenaire Museum - Brussels, Belgium - DSC08798.jpg
Embroidered purse, France, mid 14th...
File:Burberry handbag.jpg
Burberry handbag.jpg
File:Pouch, Arapaho (Native American), Late 19th or early 20th cent., 08.434.jpg
Pouch, Arapaho (Native American), Late...
File:Thousands of bean bags.jpg
Thousands of bean bags.jpg
File:Reisetasche (fcm).jpg
Reisetasche (fcm).jpg
File:Garbage bag Basel Bebbisagg.JPG
Garbage bag Basel Bebbisagg.JPG
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