Where did braids originate?

The first documentation of the "French braid" was found in
an 1871 issue Arthur's Home Magazine. It was mentioned in a an
article describing it as a new style--

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'... do up your hair in that new French
braid..." 

The term
undoubtedly originated somewhat earlier, but it is unknown how it became associated with
France. In its "native" country, the French braid is called "tresse Africaine ("African
braid") or "tresse Indienne" ("Indian braid"). The term "fishtail braid" or "Grecian
braid," which divides the hair into two sections instead of three, has been in existence
since the 19th century. A "Dutch braid" is a variation of the French braid, except that
the three sections are crossed under, instead of over, each
other.