Technology of the Medieval and Early Modern Worlds
6 Responding to Agricultural Recession 39 Modernizing Agriculture in Britain 43 New Commodities 44 Chapter 3 Crafts and Commerce 47 Medieval Crafts 47 Architecture 51 A Changing Economy 55 The Birth of the Factory System 57 The Wool Industry 59 Chapter 4 Military Technology 62 The Age of Cavalry 63 Armor 63 The Castle 66 Siege Weapons 67 The Age of Infantry 69 The Crossbow 70 The Longbow 72 The Halberd and Pike 72 The Gunpowder Revolution 75 Cannon 77 Cast Iron 78 Handguns 79
7 Chapter 5 Transportation Communication and Science 82 Transportation 82 The Compass 84 Clocks 88 The Printing Press 91 The Telescope 94 The Microscope 96 Conclusion 100 Glossary 102 For More Information 105 For Further Reading 108 Index 110
8 Introduction The medieval era between the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century and the beginning of the 16th century in Europe is often considered to be an isolated or backward period technologically Yet nothing is further from the truth The invention of the horse col lar followed by the moldboard turning plow in the 11th century vastly improved agricultural output The use of watermills to mill grain aided food production Windmills became a major energy source Mechanical clocks and later watches were major improvements over earlier time-measuring devices Lumber mills flourished and with them the construction of ships The discovery of the magnetic compass the development of the deep ship’s keel and improved sail design opened the world to navi gation Military technology moved through several stages the age of cavalry gave way to the age of infantry which itself had began to tran sition into the age of gunpowder by the end of the period Arabic numerals replaced Roman numerals simplifying the keeping of records The spinning wheel brought to Europe prob ably from India in the 13th century made homespun clothing available to all The spread of Islam through much of Europe transmitted The 13th-century Chartres Cathedral in the French town of Chartres is noted for its architectural innovations many sculptures and stained glass
