Chariots numbering ten thousand are mentioned as an important part of Atlantis’ armed forces. However, it is generally accepted that chariots first appeared in Mesopotamia around 3000 BC and became fairly 
commonplace by the middle of the second millennium BC. There is no evidence of any of the major Late Bronze Age nations having any more than a few hundred chariots. It would also appear that these chariots were normally reserved for nobles, wearing full bronze armour. War chariots were only effective over open and relatively flat ground.
With regard to the Atlantis story, we must comment that 10,000 chariots controlled by one army, would only be required if its potential enemies controlled large tracts of flat land and possessed a similar force of chariots. Since no such enemy had been identified, we are forced to consider the possibility that the chariot numbers, as with so many other of his figures, in Plato’s story are suspect.
The date given by Plato for the destruction of Atlantis is 9600 BC. This would make the existence of chariots at that time, not to mention in such numbers, a complete anachronism. It is not likely that Atlantis to have waged war with 10,000 chariots at that time without their enemies having developing a comparable fighting accessory. As already stated the Atlanteans would not have needed chariots in such numbers unless their opponents also had chariots. Plato’s date would appear to be out by about 8000 years. Since chariots were only introduced into Britain in the 5th century BC, in other words after Solon. This would seem to rule out Britain as the home or even a colony of the original empire of Atlantis. Similarly, with no evidence of chariots in the ancient Americas or the Caribbean, it would not be unreasonable to rule them out as the Atlantis of Plato. If the reference to chariots is to be taken as a real attribute of the Atlantean military machine, we are forced to look, in very general terms, to the Mediterranean region, both inside and outside the Strait of Gibraltar as far as the Black Sea and Egypt.
I must also add that from a functional point of view the most efficient chariots required spoked wheels and the earliest examples of which have been dated no earlier than 2000 BC(a). Perhaps another reason to review Plato’s Atlantis date.
Chariot racing as a spectator sport in Rome dates back to around the 6th century BC. It was also quite popular among the Etruscansand the Lucanians of Sicily in the 5th century BC.
In conclusion, 10,000 chariots being employed in 9600 BC is either a colourful Platonic embellishment or a garbled account of the military power of an unnamed Bronze Age society.
(a) http://www.michaelsheiser.com/PaleoBabble/HoffmeierObservationsEvolvingChariotWheelinEgypt.pdf
