High heels were originally created for Persian soldiers to help them stay on their horses.

In the 10th century, Persian cavalry used heels for stability. When a soldier stands in stirrups to shoot a bow, his feet can easily slide. The heel acted like a hook to keep the foot in place while the horse moved.In 1599, Persian leaders traveled to Europe to meet with other rulers. European nobles saw the heeled boots and began wearing them to look powerful and masculine. These shoes were hard to walk in, which showed that the wearer did not have to work in fields or walk long distances.King Louis XIV of France was a famous fan of this style. He wore 4-inch heels to look taller and had the soles painted with expensive red dye. At that time, high heels were a symbol of high social rank for men.By the late 1700s, men's fashion changed to be more practical. Men stopped wearing heels and switched to flat shoes. Over time, heels became associated with women's fashion instead of military use.