So we're all in agreement then that the crafty Egyptians made the first real rope (that is to say made from fibres and not a bunch of vines braided together) and no doubt begat the pyramids. China came next around 2800 BC with rope made from hemp.
Then there is a big gap of almost a thousand years. I'm doing my best to find out what the hell went on. Might even have to buy a book. Anyway, rope shows up again in Europe in the Middle Ages. Seems they had a lot of exploring going on and boats and slaves to tie up.
To be able to make rope they had to use real long buildings called rope walks. Some were as much as 250+ metres long. The British Navy required rope to be 1000 feet long. Thats over 300 metres. The strands were laid out side by side and twisted together. Shortere pieces could be made of course, but they needed to be spliced together and would bind in the blocks and pulleys.
So to be called rope, the cordage needs to be at least an inch in circumference. Anything smaller is called cord or twine, and the smallest stuff is yarn or thread.
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