The earliest umbrellas were designed to provide shade from the sun—the word’s Latin root “umbra” means shade or shadow—and versions were used among ancient societies in Assyria, China, Egypt, and Greece. However, it was the Chinese who first waterproofed their devices by waxing and lacquering paper parasols to give users additional protection from the rain. Umbrellas became increasingly popular in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries,...Continue Reading