Kite History
Kites were first developed 2,800 years ago in China. The chinese had already discovered how to weave the thread of silkworm into material. Bamboo was also available. The kite was invented by 5th century BC Chinese Philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban. Some people think that Buddhist missionaries from China started the spread of kites throughout Japan. Other people think Malaysians and Indonesians first made kites from leaves. They also have a history of kite flying. In 549 AD, paper kites were being used as a communication method. Kites were also used for testing the wind and measuring distances. The earliest kites were rectangular and flat. Anthropomorphic kites were made from cloth and wood and they were used in religious ceremonies. Marco Polo brought the stories of kites to Europe around the 13th century. Kites were brought back by sailors from Malaysia and Japan in the 16th century. By the 18th century, kites were used as vehicles for scientific research.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kite
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kite