They came onto the scene as early as 2,000 or 3,000 B.C. Carpets are believed to have originated somewhere in the Middle East, although exactly where is still unknown. These early carpets were primarily used to make sitting on the ground more comfortable.

According to excavations, the oldest hand-knotted oriental carpet comes from the region of today's Iran and is approx. 2,500 years old. The carpet had a knot density of more than 300,000 knots per square metre and was hence above the knot density of most modern handmade carpets.

There are several ways to make carpet from yarn: Tufting, weaving, knitting, needle punching, fusion bonding and flocking. The yarn then usually goes to a tufting machine. Over 95% of the carpet manufactured in the United States is tufted.

Akbar, a Muhal emperor, is credited with introducing the art of carpet weaving to India during his reign. The Mughal emperors patronized Persian carpets for their royal courts and palaces. During this period, he brought Persian crafters from their homeland and established them in India.