A Brief History of Logistics

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Logistics,as we know it today,is an essential part of every successful business.You can see its wide application in commercial,non-commercial,government,military,and other types of trades.Over time,organized storage and transportation of goods,raw materials,and products have become as important as any other aspect of business operations.However,managing the distribution of various items didn’t become what it is overnight.The history of logistics started centuries ago as an integral part of solutions to provide supplies for different military affairs and population migrations.

每个成功企业都离不开我们今天所了解的物流。物流广泛应用于商业、非商业、政府、军事和其他类型的交易中。随着时间的推移，有序存储和运输货物、原材料及产品变得越来越重要，其重要性不逊于商业活动中的其他环节。然而，物流的发展并不是一朝一夕的事。很多世纪以前，在各种军事活动和人口迁移过程中，物流成为解决物资供应问题不可或缺的一环，物流史自此开始。

A history of logistics through the ages

历代物流史

Logistics represents effective planning and distribution of products and materials from one point to another.It involves an entire chain of services with the purpose of delivering goods to various locations by different means.Besides transportation,these operations also include storage,management,and control.From the initial idea to provide supplies for warfare,logistics expanded its use in various aspects of life.Nowadays,it’s an entire industry that provides extended maneuvering capabilities you can see across multiple delivery services.

Everything we have available today that surpasses the limits of international borders and trades is because of logistics:

We can now get and provide supplies all around the world,at a fraction of once high costs;

Buy products and sell items wherever the international agreements allow us to;

Rather than researching and dealing with relocation on our own,we can use shipping for non-commercial purposes to move our entire households internationally.

物流指通过高效规划与配送，将产品和材料从一处运输到另一处。它涉及整条服务链，目的是通过各种方式将货物运送到不同的地点。除了运输，物流还包括存储、管理和控制。自最初为战争提供补给的想法产生以来，物流的应用扩展到了生活的各个方面。如今，整个物流行业拥有广泛的运作能力，渗透到运输服务的方方面面。

今天，我们所拥有的一切跨越国际边界和贸易限制的东西，都得益于物流：

我们现在可以在全球范围内获取和提供物资，而成本却比以前小得多；

我们现在可以在国际协议允许的任何地方购买和销售产品；

我们现在可以将运输应用于非商业目的，例如通过物流跨国搬运全部家当，而不用自己调研和处理搬迁事宜。

Logistics in the ancient times

古代的物流

Probably the first application of logistics was for military purposes.Various ancient civilizations needed an efficient way to expand their influence through trading and warfare.They needed adequate methods to transport goods to distant parts of the known world.However,they were also looking for solutions to deliver weaponry and provision supplies to their conquering armies.

最初的物流可能是应用于军事。各种古代文明都需要一种有效的方式，通过贸易和战争扩大其影响力。他们需要恰当的方法将货物运送到已知世界的偏远地区。然而，他们也在寻找各种方式来给他们的远征军队提供武器和补给。

The first signs of logistics advancements

物流发展的最初迹象

One of the first signs of modern logistics that rely on systematic distribution can be seen in ancient Greeks and Romans.Alexander the Great used logistics to provide support for his impressive and long campaigns.Romans developed the first modern roads to help them connect and distribute goods for their legions to distant parts of the empire.Hannibal managed to enter Italy through the area impassable by armies,thanks to clever allocation and supply of resources.Many other empires,including Persian invaders,used calculated logistics to make it possible to move large troops across the lands.

Considering the scale of armies and the period over which warfare lasted,this is impressive.Not only were they dealing with transportation,but they were also resupplying at local areas and successfully creating depots along marching routes to help them in their campaigns.

在古希腊和古罗马时期，运用系统分配方法的现代物流初露痕迹。亚历山大大帝利用物流为他旷日持久的宏伟战役提供支持。罗马人开发了第一条现代道路，以协助他们联络帝国偏远地区的军团，并向他们分配货物。通过巧妙的资源分配与供应手段，汉尼拔率军从无法行军的地区进入了意大利。众多帝国，包括波斯侵略军等，都通过物流上的精心筹划，得以在陆地上调动大量军队。

军队规模如此庞大而战争又旷日持久，这种物流体系的建立令人称奇。作战方不仅解决了运输问题，还在各地补充供应，并在行军路线上建好了补给站，为战役提供支持。

The Middle Ages and distribution

中世纪与物流

By the time the Middle Ages arrived,there were many routes established for the transportation of goods and armies.Countries had storage systems that were often scarce but sufficient,allowing them to store supplies from the local countryside.In general,their castles and fortresses had a dual role: to protect the regional resources and population; to ensure storage and distribution of goods between regions.

Each military division ready for deployment was carefully organized and had a set of animals and baggage carts.By the end of the Middle Ages,military logistics further improved.To increase mobility and sustainability,rolling magazines and storage depots were introduced.

到中世纪时，许多运输货物和军队的路线已经建立起来。各国的存储系统虽然不多，但已足够储存来自当地农村的物资。一般来说，城堡和堡垒具有双重作用：一是保护地方资源和人民，二是确保货物在区域之间的存储和分配。

每个可以调度的军事部门都经过精心组织，配有一套驮畜和辎重运输车辆。到中世纪末期，军事物流进一步完善。为了提高机动性和可持续性，流动军火库和储备站得以设立。

The industrial age and logistics

工业时代与物流

With the development of internal combustion engines,logistics significantly changed.The industrial age brought us steam engines that powered railroads and ships.Meanwhile,the technological advancement in transportation and communication during the 19th century expanded the use of logistics to everyday life.Now,large trading companies could transport their goods much faster and reduce their operational costs.By the beginning of the 20th century,central and western Europe and eastern parts of the United States had the most advanced railroad systems.

Unfortunately,the two large World Wars took advantage of the industrial revolution,further expanding the use of motor vehicles,communications,and naval and air means of transportation and warfare.Eventually,this revolutionized air transportation as we know it today.On the bright side,once wars were over,the entire industry shifted from combat to business.This gave us the foundation

for today’s large-scale distribution and production planning.

随着内燃机的发展，物流发生了显著变化。工业时代带来的蒸汽机为火车和轮船提供了动力。与此同时，19 世纪交通和通信技术的进步将物流的应用扩展到了日常生活。此时，大型贸易公司可以大大提高运输速度并降低运营成本。到20 世纪初，中欧、西欧以及美国东部地区都拥有了最先进的铁路系统。

不幸的是，两次世界大战利用了工业革命的成果，进一步扩大了机动车辆、通信和海空运输及作战的运用。这最终彻底改变了我们今天所知的航空运输。还好，战争一结束，整个行业就从战争转向了商业。这为今天的大规模分销和生产规划奠定了基础。

The advance of information technology

信息技术的进步

The development of computer systems is another technological advance that revolutionized logistics.The ability to store and track a huge amount of data provided new systems with a considerable advantage.Thanks to IT,we can now better plan,manage,and optimize every aspect of logistics,regardless of the scale of businesses.Furthermore,the Internet provides businesses with additional means to use various digital channels to understand demands better and increase productivity.This will eventually,if not already,lead to complete automation of a large percentage of tasks included in supply chain management.

In the future,we can expect that further technological advancements will additionally support the flow of commercial and non-commercial goods.This will allow us to use drones,clean energy,and different online services.Not only as a way to enhance business operations but as a means to improve our daily actions.The history of logistics has taught us that the way of development from warfare to business operations was long.However,since the advancement period is shortening as time passes,completely new market opportunities may arise soon.■

另一项彻底改变物流的技术进步是计算机信息系统。存储和跟踪大量数据的能力为新的物流系统提供了巨大的优势。无论企业规模大小，我们都可以通过信息技术更好地规划、管理和优化物流的各个方面。此外，互联网为企业提供了其他途径，使它们能利用各种数字渠道来更好地了解客户需求并提高生产力。这最终将（即使不是“已经”）实现大部分供应链管理任务完全自动化。

可以预见，在未来，技术的发展将进一步支持商业和非商业货物的流动。我们得以使用无人机、清洁能源和不同的在线服务；它们不仅是一种增强经营活动的方式，还是改善我们日常活动的手段。物流史告诉我们，从战争转到经营活动的发展之路是漫长的。然而，由于发展周期随着时间的推移而缩短，全新的市场机会可能会很快出现。 □