Should there be an htaccess file?

[eluser]Lpeek[/eluser]
Hey! I'm new to CI and just wondering if there should be an htaccess file? I cant get the routing to work by just following the tutorial, and it seems bizarre that there is no htaccess file by default? I didn't think url rewriting was possible without using mod_rewrite?

With routing set to:

Code:

$route['default_controller'] = 'pages/view';
$route['(:any)'] = 'pages/view/$1';

I can go to www.mysite.com and I get the correct page. but going to www.mysite.com/pages/view/home I just get a 404.

Am I supposed to create an htaccess file which it just doesn't tell you about in the user guide? (or maybe it does tell you and I just missed it?)

Cheers!