There is some evidence of trousers being worn in the Upper Paleolithic. Still, they probably originated in Central Asia, worn from the waist to the ankles and covering both legs separately (as opposed to robes, skirts, and dresses). Woolen trousers have been found in Turpan, western China, dating from the 13th and the 10th century BC and likely made for horseback riding.
Trousers entered recorded history in the 6th century BC, on the rock carvings and artworks of Persepolis. Romans disdained trousers as barbarians’ mark (although they later began using them in the north as they provided greater warmth).
In the Middle Ages, trousers were worn under long tunics. Trousers in this period varied in length and were often closed at the cuff or even had attached foot coverings. Among upper-class males, by the 8th century, there is evidence of the wearing in Europe of two layers of trousers.