Oldest predecessor of carousels comes from 6th century Byzantium. People then made rides from baskets that were tied to a pole in the center and that would carry the riders. But real inspiration for modern carousels were cavalry games and jousting of 12th century Europe and Asia. Horsemen of that time played games on jousting competitions in which a group of horsemen would ride in a circle and throw to each other breakable balls full of perfume which needed a great skill.
