who invented high heels

High heels were not invented by a single individual; rather, they evolved over centuries across various cultures. The earliest high heels date back to ancient Egypt around 3500 BCE, where both men and women wore heeled sandals for ceremonial and symbolic purposes. In the 10th century, Persian cavalrymen wore heeled boots to secure their feet in stirrups while riding horses, giving the heels a practical function. In Europe, high heels gained popularity during the Renaissance, with Catherine de Medici often credited for popularizing them among women by wearing heels to appear taller. In the 20th century, notable designers such as Salvatore Ferragamo, Roger Vivier, and André Perugia contributed to modern heel designs like the stiletto. Ferragamo is also noted for inventing the steel arch that made stilettos possible.