A bit of history about the handbag

In the scheme of things, a purse is essentially a pouch. Pouches have been used by man (and woman, of course) in some capacity for almost as long as man has been around.

The early use of pouches was a functional one. Peasants in early rural societies used pouches to carry seeds. Later on men used pouches to hold coins and other valuables.

Handbags as we know them began to become popular in the later part of the medieval and renaissance period of the sixteenth century. They were worn by both sexes. These handbags were particularly considered important by those who traveled. During the seventeenth century people saw more variety in handbags. they became smaller in size and took on a variety of complex shapes and became more decorative.

Source; The Godiva Chronicles