technology in the middle ages
Technology in the Middle Ages
Many historians mention the medieval period of Europe as ‘Dark ages,’ a period when reason and logic was sidelined with belief and religion. However, the late medieval period offered a great advancement in technology. While many of these technological advancements weren’t inventions of medieval Europeans, they successfully refined these technologies and benefitted immensely by using them politically and economically.
Medieval East and West Compared in Technical Innovations The west produced most of the major technological inventions
Elements peculiar to Occident:
1. Roman Gaul seems to have been somewhat more inventiveness. Perhaps this mood of innovation carried over into the Western Middle Ages and expanded.
2. The West was much more deeply shaken by repeated invasions and chaos. The greater the travail of the West during the early Middle Ages may well have rusted traditional ways so deeply that people were generally more open to technological change.
3. The West monks were closer to worldly concerns than the East. The Latin monks came to feel far more responsibility for preserving not only religions but also the culture.
4. The Eastern churches give importance to “illumination”, while the west gives importance to “activity”. Technology involves doing things, and the mood of the Roman Church fostered it by encouraging activism and practicality in Western society.
Military Technology
Stirrups
Stirrups gave the rider greater control and give him greater leverage when swinging his sword or thrusting his lance. The use of paired stirrups is credited to the Chinese Jin Dynasty and came to Europe during the Middle Ages. Some argue that the stirrup was one of the basic tools used to create and spread modern civilization, possibly as important as the wheel or printing press.
The Crossbow
The Middle Ages invention of the crossbow applied engineering to the short bow. The weapons used during the Middle Ages included
Many historians mention the medieval period of Europe as ‘Dark ages,’ a period when reason and logic was sidelined with belief and religion. However, the late medieval period offered a great advancement in technology. While many of these technological advancements weren’t inventions of medieval Europeans, they successfully refined these technologies and benefitted immensely by using them politically and economically.
Medieval East and West Compared in Technical Innovations The west produced most of the major technological inventions
Elements peculiar to Occident:
1. Roman Gaul seems to have been somewhat more inventiveness. Perhaps this mood of innovation carried over into the Western Middle Ages and expanded.
2. The West was much more deeply shaken by repeated invasions and chaos. The greater the travail of the West during the early Middle Ages may well have rusted traditional ways so deeply that people were generally more open to technological change.
3. The West monks were closer to worldly concerns than the East. The Latin monks came to feel far more responsibility for preserving not only religions but also the culture.
4. The Eastern churches give importance to “illumination”, while the west gives importance to “activity”. Technology involves doing things, and the mood of the Roman Church fostered it by encouraging activism and practicality in Western society.
Military Technology
Stirrups
Stirrups gave the rider greater control and give him greater leverage when swinging his sword or thrusting his lance. The use of paired stirrups is credited to the Chinese Jin Dynasty and came to Europe during the Middle Ages. Some argue that the stirrup was one of the basic tools used to create and spread modern civilization, possibly as important as the wheel or printing press.
The Crossbow
The Middle Ages invention of the crossbow applied engineering to the short bow. The weapons used during the Middle Ages included