Dating back as far 100 AD, the wheelbarrow was first invented in China during the Han Dynsasty, which lasted roughly 400 years. At this time in China, two different forms of wheelbarow was made: the front, or central wheel design could support a large amount of weight, which is distributed equally between the handler, and the wheel.

Wheelbarrows in the majority of Europe until the medieval period around the start of the 1200s, in which the front wheel design was adapted. This technology would not spread fast to other parts of Asia until much later.