Medieval Technology
The Middle Ages were dark and gloomy. People lived in castles and rode on horses. They constantly fought each other with swords and shields. That mainly sums up the Middle Ages, right? No wonder most people would rather slide in a DVD, grab a bag of popcorn, and relax on their comfy couch or favorite chair. Who could even imagine a world with no Nintendo, or even no washing machine? There wouldn't be a lot of kids or moms who would be very happy. A world with no technology sounds almost horrifying. However, there were many forms of "Medieval Technology." Of course they didn't have electricity or batteries in the Middle Ages, but that's not all technology is. Technology is the application of science, especially in industry or commerce. ("Technology" 698) So basically, anything that improves or makes life easier is a form of technology. With that in mind, the invention of those swords, shields, and castles of the Middle Ages were all forms of technology. The Middle Ages were filled with many different advancements and inventions to different parts of medieval society, which were all part of Medieval Technology. Technology and science during the Middle Ages were both very practical and natural. (Howarth 39) Techno
Sails could also be used in other forms of transportation during the Middle Ages. Although there was no "true flight" during the Middle Ages, there were many ideas and attempts. The person with the most ideas during this time was a man named Leonardo da Vinci. He was a man with many talents and had many inventions that have affected modern technology. His three "flying" inventions were used to form a basis for most of today's aviation transportation. (Bingham 88) Oceangoing ships were also improved during the Middle Ages in order to make them more seaworthy. Adding a second hull to ships did this. If the outer hulls of the ships were damaged, they still had their inner hulls to keep them afloat. The Double-hulled ships were less likely to sink if they sustained damage during a battle at sea. They could also navigate through reefs and shallow bays without fear of sinking. (Samuel) How clothing was made became a domestic occupation in the Middle Ages after the invention of the horizontal loom. The new horizontal loom used foot-treadles to raise every other wrap thread above the work. It replaced the vertical loom, which did not have any foot-treadles. Instead, the weaver would have to weave the heddle bar through the wrap threads every time. This along with a new boat-shaped shuttle allowed for more efficient weaving. Another interesting fact about the horizontal loom is its operator. Uniquely, the male head of the household operated the horizontal loom. The wife's job was to spin the yarn for the loom. The Middle Ages weren't dark and gloomy. After all, they didn't take place in a dungeon, and the sun did shine. There were many bright spots in this time in history. Electricity may not have been one of them, but where would the world be without eyeglasses. People wouldn't even be able to see how much their electricity bill costs. The Medieval inventions have proven to be a large part of the world today. Technology has been found in many different areas of medieval society. Transportation, manufacturing, farming, warfare, and domestic life were all affected by advancements in technology during the Middle Ages. Technology is only a modern word in the sense of its creation. However, technology has existed in many forms, throughout history. Medieval Technology, and all its different aspects, is now a part of history and no longer a dark and gloomy subject. Spectacles, paper, hard soap, magnets, compasses, and the astrolabe are just a few of these technological advancements. (Gans) As opposed to popular belief, the astrolabe was not used for navigating in the open seas. Instead it was used as an astronomical tool. Most astrolabes were common education tools used in astronomy during the Middle Ages. The astrolabe was typically about six inches in diameter, and made of brass. It could be used to see how the sky looks at a certain point in time. A picture of the sky was drawn on the astrolabe. Positions in the sky were then marked for easy reference. By adjusting certain parts of the astrolabe to a specific date and time, an image of the sky would be represented on the face of the instrument. (Howarth 38) The wheelbarrow was also developed in the Middle Ages for moving and hauling building materials. The medieval wheelbarrow was fashioned after the commonly used stretchers of the time. The disease and death of the Middle Ages promoted the invention of the wheelbarrow as an easier way to transport corpses. These wheelbarrows were later used in construction. One medieval painting shows Bertha, wife of Girard de Roussillon, giving orders to a man using a wheelbarrow in the construction of the Madeleine during the ninth century. Wheelbarrows would have also been very significant in the building of medieval cathedrals and castles. (Gans) The final invention of the three aerial machines was Da Vinci's "flying machine." The flying machine was based on the movement of birds, insec
Some common words found in the essay are:
Middle Ages, Da Vinci's, Northern Europe, Ages Invention, Samuel Ship, Medieval Militaries, middle ages, Johannes Gutenberg, Ages Spectacles, Medieval Construction, Death Plague, heavy plow, da vinci's, horizontal loom, lateen sail, middle ages invention, water mills, ages invention, flying machine, square sail, horse collar, da vinci's helicopter, da vinci's flying, sail square sail, technology middle ages,
Approximate Word count = 2713
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)
|