The first windmills built in West Asia

The first windmills were built in West Asia, probably in Syria, in the 7th century BC. There is strong wind in this area of the world, almost always blowing in the same direction, so these early windmills were built to face the prevailing wind. They do not look like the windmills seen today, but have vertical shafts with wings arranged vertically, similar to the arrangement of wooden horses on a carousel device.