View source for History:Medieval technology

[[File:HGM Pumhart von Steyr.jpg|thumb|Pumhart von Steyr, a 15th-century supergun]]
[[File:Pl gdansk zuraw dlugiepobrzeze2006.jpg|thumb|Medieval port crane for mounting masts and lifting heavy cargo in the former Hanse town of Gdańsk<ref name="Matheus 1996, 346"/>]]

'''Medieval technology''' is the technology used in [[History:Middle Ages|medieval Europe]] under [[Religion:Christendom|Christian rule]]. After the [[History:Renaissance of the 12th century|Renaissance of the 12th century]], medieval Europe saw a radical change in the rate of new inventions, innovations in the ways of managing traditional means of production, and economic growth.<ref>Alfred Crosby described some of this technological revolution in his ''The Measure of Reality: Quantification in Western Europe, 1250-1600'' and other major historians of technology have also noted it.</ref> The period saw major [[Engineering:Technology|technological]] advances, including the adoption of [[Chemistry:Gunpowder|gunpowder]], the invention of vertical windmills, spectacles, mechanical clocks, and greatly improved water mills, building techniques (Gothic architecture, medieval castles), and [[Earth:Agriculture|agriculture]] in general (three-field crop rotation).

The [[History:List of early medieval watermills|development of water mills]] from their ancient origins was impressive, and extended from agriculture to [[Engineering:Sawmill|sawmill]]s both for timber and stone. By the time of the ''Domesday Book'', most large villages had turnable mills, around 6,500 in {{wipe|England}} alone.<ref>{{harvnb|Holt|1988|pp=7–8, 11}}</ref> Water-power was also widely used in mining for raising ore from shafts, crushing ore, and even powering [[Engineering:Bellows|bellows]].

European technical advancements from the 12th to 14th centuries were either built on long-established techniques in medieval Europe, originating from [[History:Ancient Rome|Roman]] and [[Place:Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] antecedents, or adapted from cross-cultural exchanges through trading networks with the [[Religion:Muslim world|Islamic world]], {{wipe|China}}, and India. Often, the revolutionary aspect lay not in the act of invention itself, but in its technological refinement and application to political and economic power. Though [[Chemistry:Gunpowder|gunpowder]] along with other weapons had been started by Chinese, it was the Europeans who developed and perfected its military potential, precipitating European expansion and eventual imperialism in the Modern Era.

Also significant in this respect were advances in maritime technology. Advances in shipbuilding included the multi-masted ships with [[Engineering:Lateen|lateen]] sails, the [[Engineering:Rudder|sternpost-mounted rudder]] and the skeleton-first [[Engineering:Hull (watercraft)|hull]] construction. Along with new navigational techniques such as the [[Physics:Compass|dry compass]], the [[Astronomy:Jacob's staff|Jacob's staff]] and the [[Astronomy:Astrolabe|astrolabe]], these allowed economic and military control of the seas adjacent to Europe and enabled the global navigational achievements of the dawning Age of Exploration.

At the turn to the [[Philosophy:Renaissance|Renaissance]], Gutenberg’s invention of mechanical printing made possible a dissemination of knowledge to a wider population, that would not only lead to a gradually more egalitarian society, but one more able to dominate other cultures, drawing from a vast reserve of knowledge and experience. The technical drawings of late-medieval artist-engineers Guido da Vigevano and Villard de Honnecourt can be viewed as forerunners of later Renaissance works such as Taccola or [[Biography:Leonardo da Vinci|da Vinci]].

== Civil technologies ==
The following is a list of some important medieval technologies. The approximate date or first mention of a technology in medieval Europe is given. Technologies were often a matter of cultural exchange and date and place of first inventions are not listed here (see main links for a more complete history of each).

=== Agriculture ===

'''[[Engineering:Ship mill|ship mill]]''' (6th century)

The ship mill is a Byzantine invention, designed to mill grains using hydraulic power. The technology eventually spread to the rest of Europe and was in use until ca. 1800.


'''[[Engineering:Carruca|Carruca]]''' (6th to 9th centuries)
[[File:Medievalplowingwoodcut.jpg|thumb|340x340px|Carruca (Heavy Plough )]]
A type of heavy wheeled plough commonly found in Northern Europe.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Life and Thought in the Early Middle Ages|last=Hoyt|first=Robert S|publisher=University of Minnesota|year=1967|isbn=|location=Lund Press, Minneapolis|pages=89}}</ref> The device consisted of four major parts. The first part was a [[Engineering:Coulter (agriculture)|Coulter (agriculture)]] at the bottom of the plough.<ref name=":0" /> This knife was used to vertically cut into the top sod to allow for the [[Plowshare|plowshare]] to work.<ref name=":0" /> The plowshare was the second pair of knives which cut the sod horizontally, detaching it from the ground below.<ref name=":0" /> The third part was the moldboard, which curled the sod outward.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Science and Technology in Medieval European Life|last=Wigelsworth|first=Jeffery R.|publisher=The Greenwood Press|year=2006|isbn=0-313-33754-3|location=Westport, CT|pages=7}}</ref> The fourth part of the device was the team of eight oxen guided by the farmer.<ref name=":1" /> This type of plough eliminated the need for cross-plowing by turning over the furrow instead of merely pushing it outward.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Life and Thought in the Early Middle Ages|last=Hoyt|first=Robert S|publisher=University of Minnesota|year=1967|isbn=|location=Lund Press, Minneapolis|pages=90}}</ref> This type of wheeled plough made seed placement more consistent throughout the farm as the blade could be locked in at a certain level relative to the wheels.<ref name=":2" /> A disadvantage to this type of plough was its maneuverability.<ref name=":2" /> Since this equipment was large and lead by a small herd of oxen, turning the plough was difficult and time-consuming.<ref name=":2" /> This caused many farmers to turn away from traditional square fields and adopt a longer, more rectangular field to ensure maximum efficiency.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Science and Technology in Medieval European Life|last=Wigelsworth|first=Jeffery R.|publisher=The Greenwood Press|year=2006|isbn=0-313-33754-3|location=Westport, CT|pages=8}}</ref>


'''[[Engineering:Ard (plough)|Ard (plough)]]''' (5th century)

An early medieval plough that consisted of a sharpened wooden post pulled by either animals or humans.<ref name=":3" /> This lightweight and primitive plough was used primarily before the invention of the [[Engineering:Carruca|carruca]].<ref name=":3" /> The ard was inefficient in more firm northern soil but did decent work in southern areas where the soil was much softer.<ref name=":3" /> Although the ard required the user to apply constant pressure to the plough in order to make sure the edge could break the ground, the soil was merely pushed to the sides instead of being properly turned over.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Science and Technology in Medieval European Life|last=Wigelsworth|first=Jeffery R.|publisher=The Greenwood Press|year=2006|isbn=0-313-33754-3|location=Westport, CT|pages=7}}</ref>


'''Horse collar''' (6th to 9th centuries)

Once oxen started to be replaced by horses on farms and in fields, the yoke became obsolete due to its shape not working well with a horses' posture.<ref name=":4" /> The first design for a horse collar was a throat-and-girth-harness.<ref name=":4" /> These types of harnesses were unreliable though due to them not being sufficiently set in place.<ref name=":4" /> The loose straps were prone to slipping and shifting positions as the horse was working and often caused asphyxiation.<ref name=":4" /> Around the eighth century, the introduction of the rigid collar eliminated the problem of choking.<ref name=":4" /> The rigid collar was "placed over the horses head and rested on its shoulders.<ref name=":4" /> This permitted unobstructed breathing and placed the weight of the plow or wagon where the horse could best support it."<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=Science and Technology in Medieval European Life|last=Wigelsworth|first=Jeffery R.|publisher=The Greenwood Press|year=2006|isbn=0-313-33754-3|location=Westport, CT|pages=9}}</ref>


'''[[Engineering:Horseshoe|Horseshoe]]s''' (9th century)

Allowed horses to carry larger loads and move around with greater traction on hard to walk surfaces.<ref name=":5" /> The practice of shoeing horses was initially practiced in the Roman Empire but lost popularity throughout the Middle Ages until around the 11th century.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|title=Science and Technology in Medieval European Life|last=Wigelsworth|first=Jeffery R.|publisher=The Greenwood Press|year=2006|isbn=0-313-33754-3|location=Westport, CT|pages=9}}</ref> Although horses in the southern lands could easily work while on the softer soil, the rocky soil of the north proved to be damaging to the horses' hooves.<ref name=":6" /> Since the north was the problematic area, this is where shoeing horses first became popular.<ref name=":6" /> The introduction of gravel roadways was also cause for the popularity of horseshoeing.<ref name=":6" /> The loads a shoed horse could take on these roads were significantly higher than one that was barefoot.<ref name=":6" /> By the 14th century, not only did horses have shoes, but many farmers were shoeing oxen and donkeys in order to help prolong the life of their hooves.<ref name=":6" /> The size and weight of the horseshoe changed significantly over the course of the middle ages.<ref name=":6" /> In the 10th century, horseshoes were secured by six nails and weighed around one-quarter of a pound, but throughout the years, the shoes grew larger and by the 14th century, the shoes were being secured with eight nails and weighed nearly half a pound.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|title=Science and Technology in Medieval European Life|last=Wigelsworth|first=Jeffery R.|publisher=The Greenwood Press|year=2006|isbn=0-313-33754-3|location=Westport, CT|pages=10}}</ref>


'''[[Earth:Crop rotation|Crop rotation]]''' (8th century)

Also called the Two-field system. This system included the farmers' field being divided into two separate crops.<ref name=":7" /> One field would grow a crop while the other was allowed to lie fallow and was used to feed livestock and regain lost nutrients.<ref name=":7" /> Every year, the two fields would switch in order to ensure fields did not become nutrient deficient.<ref name=":7" /> In the 11th century, this system was introduced into Sweden and spread to become the most popular form of farming.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|title=Science and Technology in Medieval European Life|last=Wigelsworth|first=Jeffery R.|publisher=The Greenwood Press|year=2006|isbn=0-313-33754-3|location=Westport, CT|pages=6}}</ref>


'''[[Earth:Three-field system|Three-field system]]''' (8th century)
[[File:De Grey Hours f.9.r Wine pressing.jpg|thumb|An individual grape stomping as a form of wine pressing.]]
The ideal three-field system is one that separates a section of land into three equal parts.<ref name=":10" /> Each one of the three parts holds a different crop.<ref name=":10" /> One part holds a spring crop, such as barley or oats, another part holds a winter crop, such as wheat or rye, and the third part is an off-field that is left alone to grow and is used to help feed livestock.<ref name=":10" /> By rotating the three crops to a new part of the land after each year, the off-field regains some of the nutrients lost during the growing of the two crops.<ref name=":10" /> This system increases agricultural productivity over the Two-field system by only having one-third of the field not being used instead of one half.<ref name=":10" /> Another advantage of crop rotation is that many scholars believe it helped increase yields by up to 50%.<ref name=":10">{{Cite book|title=Science and Technology in Medieval European Life|last=Wigelsworth|first=Jeffery R.|publisher=The Greenwood Press|year=2006|isbn=0-313-33754-3|location=Westport, CT|pages=6}}</ref>

'''[[Engineering:Wine press|Wine press]]''' (12th century)

This device was the first practical means of [[Physics:Pressing (wine)|Pressing (wine)]] on a plane surface.<ref name=":9" /> The wine press was an expensive piece of machinery that only the wealthy could afford.<ref name=":9" /> The method of Grape stomping was often used as a less expensive alternative.<ref name=":9" /> While white wines required the use of a wine press in order to preserve the color of the wine by removing the juices quickly from the skin, red wine did not need to be pressed until the end of the juice removal process since the color did not matter.<ref name=":9" /> Many red wine winemakers used their feet to smash the grapes then used a press to remove any juice that remained in the grape skins.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book|title=Science and Technology in Medieval European Life|last=Wigelsworth|first=Jeffery R.|publisher=The Greenwood Press|year=2006|isbn=0-313-33754-3|location=Westport, CT|pages=17}}</ref>

'''[[Engineering:Qanat|Qanat]]''' (5th century)

An underground passage used to water fields, crops, and provide drinking water.<ref name=":8" /> These tunnels had a gradual slope which used gravity to pull the water from either an [[Earth:Aquifer|aquifer]] or [[Earth:Water well|water well]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite book|title=Medieval Folk Astronomy and Agriculture in Arabia and the Yemen|last=Varisoc|first=Daniel Martin|publisher=Ashgate Publishing Company|year=1997|isbn=0-86078-651-X|location=Brookfield, Vermont|pages=249}}</ref> This system was originally found in middle eastern areas and is still used today in places where surface water is hard to find.

=== Architecture and construction ===
'''Pendentive architecture''' (6th century)

A specific spherical form in the upper corners to support a dome. Although the first experimentation was made in the 200s, it was in the 6th century in the [[Place:Byzantine Empire|Byzantine Empire]] that its potential was fully achieved.

'''[[Earth:Artesian well|Artesian well]]''' (1126)

A thin rod with a hard iron cutting edge is placed in the bore hole and repeatedly struck with a hammer, underground water pressure forces the water up the hole without pumping. Artesian wells are named after the town of Artois in France, where the first one was drilled by Carthusian monks in 1126.

'''[[Engineering:Central heating|Central heating]] through [[Engineering:Underfloor heating|underfloor channels]]''' (9th century)

In the early medieval Alpine upland, a simpler central heating system where heat travelled through underfloor channels from the furnace room replaced the Roman [[Engineering:Hypocaust|hypocaust]] at some places. In Reichenau Abbey a network of interconnected underfloor channels heated the 300 m<sup>2</sup> large assembly room of the monks during the winter months. The degree of efficiency of the system has been calculated at 90%.<ref>{{harvnb|Hägermann|Schneider|1997|pp=456–459}}</ref>

'''Rib vault''' (12th century)

An essential element for the rise of Gothic architecture, rib vaults allowed vaults to be built for the first time over rectangles of unequal lengths. It also greatly facilitated scaffolding and largely replaced the older groin vault.

'''[[Engineering:Chimney|Chimney]]''' (12th century)

The earliest true chimneys appeared in Northern Europe during the 12th century, and with them came the first true fireplaces.

'''Segmental arch bridge''' (1345)

The Ponte Vecchio in [[Place:Florence|Florence]] is considered medieval Europe's first stone segmental arch bridge.

[[File:Treadmillcrane.jpg|thumb|180px|Treadwheel crane]]
'''[[Engineering:Treadwheel crane|Treadwheel crane]]''' (1220s)

The earliest reference to a treadwheel in archival literature is in France about 1225,<ref name="Andrea Matthies, p.515">{{harvnb|Matthies|1992|p=515}}</ref> followed by an illuminated depiction in a manuscript of probably also French origin dating to 1240.<ref>{{harvnb|Matthies|1992|p=526}}</ref> Apart from tread-drums, windlasses and occasionally cranks were employed for powering cranes.<ref>{{harvnb|Hall|1979|p=48}}</ref>

'''Stationary harbour crane''' (1244)

Stationary harbour cranes are considered a new development of the Middle Ages; its earliest use being documented for Utrecht in 1244.<ref name="Matheus 1996, 345">{{harvnb|Matheus|1996|p=345}}</ref> The typical harbour crane was a pivoting structure equipped with double treadwheels. There were two types: wooden gantry cranes pivoting on a central vertical axle and stone tower cranes which housed the windlass and treadwheels with only the jib arm and roof rotating.<ref name="Matheus 1996, 346">{{harvnb|Matheus|1996|p=346}}</ref> These cranes were placed on docksides for the loading and unloading of cargo where they replaced or complemented older lifting methods like see-saws, [[Engineering:Winch|winch]]es and [[Engineering:Yard (sailing)|yards]].<ref name="Matheus 1996, 345"/> '''Slewing cranes''' which allowed a rotation of the load and were thus particularly suited for dockside work appeared as early as 1340.<ref>{{harvnb|Matthies|1992|p=534}}</ref>

'''[[Engineering:Crane vessel|Floating crane]]'''

Beside the stationary cranes, floating cranes which could be flexibly deployed in the whole port basin came into use by the 14th century.<ref name="Matheus 1996, 346"/>

'''[[Engineering:Crane (machine)|Mast crane]]'''

Some harbour cranes were specialised at mounting masts to newly built sailing ships, such as in Gdańsk, Cologne and Bremen.<ref name="Matheus 1996, 346"/>

'''[[Engineering:Wheelbarrow|Wheelbarrow]]''' (1170s)

The wheelbarrow proved useful in building construction, mining operations, and agriculture. Literary evidence for the use of wheelbarrows appeared between 1170 and 1250 in north-western Europe. The first depiction is in a drawing by Matthew Paris in the mid-13th century.

=== Art ===
[[File:Jan van Eyck 091.jpg|thumb|180px|''Portrait of a Man in a Turban'', oil painting by Jan van Eyck (1433)]]
'''[[Chemistry:Oil paint|Oil paint]]''' (by 1125)

As early as the 13th century, oil was used to add details to tempera paintings and paint wooden statues. Flemish painter Jan van Eyck developed the use of a stable oil mixture for panel painting around 1410.<ref>Giorgio Vasari and Karel van Mander propagated a myth that van Eyck invented oil painting, but Theophilus (Roger of Helmarshausen?) clearly gives instructions in his 1125 treatise, ''On Divers Arts''. The van Eyck brothers were among the earliest Early Netherlandish painters to employ it for detailed panel painting and achieved new effects through the use of glazes, wet-on-wet and other techniques. {{cite book|last=Gombrich|first=E. H.|title=The Story of Art|pages=236–39|publisher=Phaidon|year=1995|isbn=0-7148-3355-X}}</ref>

=== Clocks ===
'''Hourglass''' (1338)

Reasonably dependable, affordable and accurate measure of time. Unlike water in a [[Physics:Water clock|clepsydra]], the rate of flow of sand is independent of the depth in the upper reservoir, and the instrument is not liable to freeze. Hourglasses are a medieval innovation (first documented in Siena, Italy).

'''[[Physics:Clock|Mechanical clocks]]''' (13th to 14th centuries)

A European innovation, these weight-driven clocks were used primarily in clock towers.

=== Mechanics ===
'''[[Engineering:Crank (mechanism)|Compound crank]]'''

The Italian physician Guido da Vigevano combines in his 1335 ''Texaurus'', a collection of war machines intended for the recapture of the Holy Land, two simple cranks to form a compound crank for manually powering war carriages and [[Engineering:Paddle steamer#History|paddle wheel boats]]. The devices were fitted directly to the vehicle's axle respectively to the shafts turning the paddle wheels.<ref>{{harvnb|White, Jr.|1962|p=112}}; {{harvnb|Hall|1979|p=80}}</ref>

=== Metallurgy ===
'''[[Engineering:Blast furnace|Blast furnace]]''' (1150–1350)

European cast iron first appears in Middle Europe (for instance Lapphyttan in Sweden, Dürstel in Switzerland and the Märkische Sauerland in Germany) around 1150,<ref>[http://www.uni-muenster.de/UrFruehGeschichte/kier1.htm Archaeological Investigations on the Beginning of Blast Furnace-Technology in Central Europe] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208193313/http://www.uni-muenster.de/UrFruehGeschichte/kier1.htm |date=2007-02-08 }}</ref> in some places according to recent research even before 1100.<ref>Radomir Pleiner: Vom Rennfeuer zum Hochofen. "Die Entwicklung der Eisenverhüttung", 9.-14. Jh., in: Uta Lindgren (ed.): ''Europäische Technik im Mittelalter. 800-1400'', Berlin 2001 (4th ed.), pp. 249-256 (255) {{ISBN|3-7861-1748-9}}</ref> The technique is considered to be an independent European development.<ref>Karl-Heinz Ludwig, Volker Schmidtchen: ''Propyläen Technikgeschichte. Metalle und Macht 1000-1600'', Berlin 1997, p.389f. {{ISBN|3-549-05633-8}}</ref>

=== Milling ===
{{Further|History:List of early medieval watermills}}
'''[[Engineering:Paper mill|Paper mill]]''' (13th century)

The first certain use of a water-powered [[Engineering:Paper mill|paper mill]], evidence for which is elusive in both Chinese<ref>Tsien, Tsuen-Hsuin 1985, pp. 68−73</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Lucas|2005|p=28, fn. 70}}</ref> and Muslim paper making,<ref>{{harvnb|Burns|1996|pp=414f.}}; {{harvnb|Thompson|1978|p=169}}</ref> dates to 1282.<ref>{{harvnb|Burns|1996|p=418}}</ref>

'''Rolling mill''' (15th century)

Used to produce metal sheet of an even thickness. First used on soft, malleable metals, such as [[Chemistry:Lead|lead]], [[Chemistry:Gold|gold]] and [[Chemistry:Tin|tin]]. Leonardo da Vinci described a rolling mill for wrought iron.

'''[[Engineering:Tide mill|Tidal Mill]]s''' (6th century)

The earliest tidal mills were excavated on the Irish coast where watermillers knew and employed the two main waterwheel types: a 6th-century tide mill at Killoteran near Waterford was powered by a vertical waterwheel,<ref name="Murphy 2005">{{harvnb|Murphy|2005}}</ref> while the tide changes at Little Island were exploited by a twin-flume horizontal-wheeled mill (c. 630) and a vertical undershot waterwheel alongside it.<ref name="Wikander 1985, 155–157">{{harvnb|Wikander|1985|pp=155–157}}</ref><ref>{{harnvb|Rynne|2000|pp=17, 49}}</ref> Another early example is the Nendrum Monastery mill from 787 which is estimated to have developed seven to eight [[Horsepower|horsepower]] at its peak.<ref>{{harvnb|McErlean|Crothers|2007}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nendrum.utvinternet.com/tmill/ Nendrum Monastery mill] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225336/http://www.nendrum.utvinternet.com/tmill/ |date=2007-09-27 }}</ref>

'''Vertical windmills''' (1180s)

Invented in Europe as the pivotable post mill, the first surviving mention of one comes from Yorkshire in England in 1185. They were efficient at grinding grain or draining water. Stationary tower mills were also developed in the 13th century.

'''[[Engineering:Trip hammer|Water hammer]]''' (12th century at the latest)

Used in metallurgy to forge the metal blooms from [[Chemistry:Bloomery|bloomeries]] and Catalan forges, they replaced manual hammerwork. The water hammer was eventually superseded by [[Engineering:Steam hammer|steam hammer]]s in the 19th century.

=== Navigation ===
'''[[History of the compass#Dry compass|Dry compass]]''' (12th century)

The first European mention of the directional compass is in [[Biography:Alexander Neckam|Alexander Neckam]]'s ''On the Natures of Things'', written in Paris around 1190.<ref>Barbara M. Kreutz, “Mediterranean Contributions to the Medieval Mariner's Compass,” ''Technology and Culture'', Vol. 14, No. 3. (July 1973), p.368</ref> It was either [[Physics:Compass#Question of diffusion|transmitted from China or the Arabs]] or an [[Physics:Compass#Question of independent European invention|independent European innovation]]. Dry compass were invented in the Mediterranean around 1300.<ref>Frederic C. Lane, “The Economic Meaning of the Invention of the Compass,” ''The American Historical Review'', Vol. 68, No. 3. (April 1963), p.615ff.</ref>

'''[[Physics:Compass|Astronomical compass]]''' (1269)

The French scholar Pierre de Maricourt describes in his experimental study ''Epistola de magnete'' (1269) three different compass designs he has devised for the purpose of astronomical observation.<ref>{{harvnb|Taylor|1951|pp=2ff.}}</ref>

[[File:Pintle and gudgeon rudder system scheme.svg|thumb|180px|Scheme of a sternpost-mounted medieval rudder]]
'''[[Engineering:Rudder|Stern-mounted rudders]]''' (1180s)

The first depiction of a pintle-and-gudgeon rudder on church carvings dates to around 1180. They first appeared with [[Engineering:Cog (ship)|cog]]s in the North and Baltic Seas and quickly spread to Mediterranean. The iron hinge system was the first stern rudder permanently attached to the ship hull and made a vital contribution to the navigation achievements of the age of discovery and thereafter.<ref>[http://nautarch.tamu.edu/pdf-files/Mott-MA1991.pdf Lawrence V. Mott, ''The Development of the Rudder, A.D. 100-1600: A Technological Tale'', Thesis May 1991, Texas A&M University]</ref>

=== Printing, paper and reading ===
'''Movable type printing press''' (1440s)

Johannes Gutenberg's great innovation was not the printing itself, but instead of using carved plates as in woodblock printing, he used separate letters (''types'') from which the printing plates for pages were made up. This meant the types were recyclable and a page cast could be made up far faster.

'''[[Chemistry:Paper|Paper]]''' (13th century)

Paper was invented in China and transmitted through Islamic Spain in the 13th century. In Europe, the paper-making processes was mechanized by water-powered mills and paper presses (see [[Engineering:Paper mill|paper mill]]).

[[File:Friedrich Herlin, Reading Saint Peter (1466).jpg|thumb|180px|Reading Saint Peter with eyeglasses (1466)]]

'''Rotating bookmark''' (13th century)

A rotating disc and string device used to mark the page, column, and precise level in the text where a person left off reading in a text.  Materials used were often leather, velum, or paper.

'''Spectacles''' (1280s)

The first spectacles, invented in Florence, used convex lenses which were of help only to the far-sighted. Concave lenses were not developed prior to the 15th century.

'''Watermark''' (1282)

This medieval innovation was used to mark paper products and to discourage counterfeiting. It was first introduced in Bologna, Italy.

=== Science and learning ===

'''[[Physics:Theory of impetus|Theory of impetus]]''' (6th century)

A scientific theory that was introduced by [[Biography:John Philoponus|John Philoponus]] who made criticism of Aristotelian principles of physics, and it served as an inspiration to medieval scholars as well as to [[Biography:Galileo Galilei|Galileo Galilei]]  who ten centuries later, during the Scientific Revolution, extensively cited Philoponus in his works while making the case as to why Aristotelian physics was flawed. It is the intellectual precursor to the concepts of [[Physics:Inertia|inertia]], [[Physics:Momentum|momentum]] and [[Physics:Acceleration|acceleration]] in [[Physics:Classical mechanics|classical mechanics]].

'''[[Arabic numerals]]''' (13th century)

The first recorded mention in Europe was in 976, and they were first widely published in 1202 by Fibonacci with his ''Liber Abaci''.

'''[[Organization:University|University]]'''

The first medieval universities were founded between the 11th and 13th centuries leading to a rise in literacy and learning. By 1500, the institution had spread throughout most of Europe and played a key role in the Scientific Revolution. Today, the educational concept and institution has been globally adopted.<ref>{{harvnb|Makdisi|1970|p=264}}</ref>

=== Textile industry and garments ===
'''[[Engineering:Button|Functional button]]''' (13th century)

German buttons appeared in 13th-century Germany as an indigenous innovation.<ref>Lynn White: "The Act of Invention: Causes, Contexts, Continuities and Consequences", ''Technology and Culture'', Vol. 3, No. 4 (Autumn, 1962), pp. 486-500 (497f. & 500)</ref> They soon became widespread with the rise of snug-fitting clothing.

'''[[Engineering:Loom|Horizontal loom]]''' (11th century)

Horizontal looms operated by foot-treadles were faster and more efficient.

'''[[Chemistry:Silk|Silk]]''' (6th century)

Manufacture of silk began in Eastern Europe in the 6th century and in Western Europe in the 11th or 12th century. Silk had been imported over the Silk Road since antiquity. The technology of "silk throwing" was mastered in Tuscany in the 13th century. The silk works used waterpower and some regard these as the first mechanized textile mills.

'''[[Engineering:Spinning wheel|Spinning wheel]]''' (13th century)

Brought to Europe probably from India.

=== Miscellaneous ===
[[File:KnightsTemplarPlayingChess1283.jpg|thumb|right|Knights Templar playing chess, ''Libro de los juegos'' (1283)]]
'''Chess''' (1450)

The earliest predecessors of the game originated in 6th-century AD India and spread via Persia and the Muslim world to Europe. Here the game evolved into its current form in the 15th century.

'''[[Engineering:Forest glass|Forest glass]]''' (c. 1000)

This type of glass uses [[Chemistry:Wood ash|wood ash]] and sand as the main raw materials and is characterised by a variety of greenish-yellow colours.

'''Grindstones''' (834)

Grindstones are a rough stone, usually sandstone, used to sharpen iron. The first rotary grindstone (turned with a leveraged handle) occurs in the ''Utrecht Psalter'', illustrated between 816 and 834.<ref name="White, Jr. 1962, 110">{{harvnb|White, Jr.|1962|p=110}}</ref> According to Hägermann, the pen drawing is a copy of a late-antique manuscript.<ref>{{harvnb|Hägermann|Schneider|1997|pp=425f.}}</ref> A second crank which was mounted on the other end of the axle is depicted in the ''Luttrell Psalter'' from around 1340.<ref name="White, Jr. 1962, 111">{{harvnb|White, Jr.|1962|p=111}}</ref>

'''[[Chemistry:Liquor|Liquor]]''' (12th century)

Alcohol distillation was introduced by Pūr Sinɑʼ (Persian ابن سینا or ابو علی‌ سینا or پور سينا Pur-e Sina; [ˈpuːr ˈsiːnɑː] "son of Sina";[full citation needed] August c. 980 – June 1037), commonly known as Ibn Sīnā, or in Arabic writing Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Sīnā. It was initially used as a medicinal elixir and was a popular remedy for the Black Death during the 14th century. Drinks such as vodka, gin and brandy come into form.

'''[[Physics:Magnet|Magnet]]s''' (12th century)

Magnets were first referenced in the ''Roman d'Enéas'', composed between 1155 and 1160.

'''[[Physics:Mirror|Mirror]]s''' (1180)

The first mention of a "glass" mirror is in 1180 by Alexander Neckham who said "Take away the lead which is behind the [[Chemistry:Glass|glass]] and there will be no image of the one looking in."

'''Illustrated surgical atlas''' (1345)

Guido da Vigevano (c. 1280 − 1349) was the first author to add illustrations to his anatomical descriptions. His ''Anathomia'' provides pictures of [[Biology:Neuroanatomy|neuroanatomical]] structures and techniques such as the dissection of the head by means of trephination, and depictions of the [[Medicine:Meninges|meninges]], [[Biology:Cerebrum|cerebrum]], and [[Biology:Spinal cord|spinal cord]].<ref>{{harvnb|Di Ieva|2007|pp=1–4}}</ref>

'''[[Medicine:Quarantine|Quarantine]]''' (1377)

Initially a 40-day-period, the quarantine was introduced by the [[Place:Republic of Ragusa|Republic of Ragusa]] as a measure of disease prevention related to the Black Death. It was later adopted by Venice from where the practice spread all around in Europe.

'''Rat traps''' (1170s)

The first mention of a rat trap is in the medieval romance ''Yvain, the Knight of the Lion'' by Chrétien de Troyes.

'''[[Chemistry:Soap|Soap]]''' (9th century)

Soap came into widespread European use in the 9th century in semi-liquid form, with hard soap perfected by the Arabs in the 12th century.

== Military technologies ==

=== Armour ===
'''[[Engineering:Gambeson|Quilted Armour]]''' (pre 5th - 14th Century)

There was a vast amount of armour technology available through the 5th to 16th centuries. 
Most soldiers during this time wore padded or quilted armor. This was the cheapest and most available armor for the majority of soldiers. Quilted armour was usually just a jacket made of thick linen and wool meant to pad or soften the impact of blunt weapons and light blows. Although, this technology predated the 5th century, it was still extremely prevalent because of the low cost and the weapon technology at the time made the bronze armor of the Greeks and Romans obsolete. Quilted armour was also used in conjunction with other types of armour. Usually worn over or under leather, mail, and later plate armour.<ref>{{cite book|last1=DeVries|first1=Kelly|last2=Smith|first2=Robert Douglas|title=Medieval Military Technology|date=2012|publisher=University of Toronto Press|location=Toronto, Ontario|isbn=978-1-4426-0497-1|page=72|edition=2nd}}</ref>

'''[[Engineering:Boiled leather|Cuir Bouilli]]''' (5th-10th Century)

Hardened leather armour also called Cuir Bouilli was a step up from quilted armour. Made by boiling leather in either water, wax or oil to soften it so it can be shaped, it would then be allowed to dry and become very hard.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Flank|first1=Lenny|title=A History of European Armor|journal=Hidden History|date=May 24, 2016|url=https://lflank.wordpress.com/2016/05/24/a-history-of-european-armor/}}</ref> Large pieces of armour could be made such as breast plates, helmets, and leg guards, but many times smaller pieces would be sewn into the quilting of quilted armour or strips would be sewn together on the outside of a linen jacket. This was not as affordable as the quilted armour but offered much better protection against edged slashing weapons.

'''[[Engineering:Chain mail|Chain Mail]]''' (11th-16th Century)

The most common type during the 11th through the 16th centuries was the '''[[Engineering:Hauberk|Hauberk]]''', also known earlier than the 11th century as the Carolingian byrnie.<ref>{{cite book|last1=DeVries|first1=Kelly|last2=Smith|first2=Robert Douglas|title=Medieval Military Technologies|date=2012|publisher=University of Toronto Press|location=Toronto, Ontario|isbn=978-1-4426-0497-1|page=64|edition=2nd}}</ref> Made of interlinked rings of metal, it sometimes consisted of a coif that covered the head and a tunic that covered the torso, arms, and legs down to the knees. Chain mail was very effective at protecting against light slashing blows but ineffective against stabbing or thrusting blows. The great advantage was that it allowed a great freedom of movement and was relatively light with significant protection over quilted or hardened leather armour. It was far more expensive than the hardened leather or quilted armour because of the massive amount of labor it required to create. This made it unattainable for most soldiers and only the more wealthy soldiers could afford it. Later, toward the end of the 13th century '''[[Engineering:Banded mail|banded mail]]''' became popular.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ashdown|first1=Charles Henry|title=European Arms & Armour|date=1967|publisher=Brussel & Brussel|location=New York|page=134}}</ref> Constructed of washer shaped rings of iron overlapped and woven together by straps of leather as opposed to the interlinked metal rings of chain mail, banded mail was much more affordable to manufacture. The washers were so tightly woven together that it was very difficult penetrate and offered greater protection from arrow and bolt attacks.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ashdown|first1=Charles Henry|title=European Arms & Armour|date=1967|publisher=Brussel & Brussel|location=New York|pages=134-138}}</ref> [[File:Banded_Mail_Armour.jpg|thumb|right|Banded Mail Armour Construction]]

'''[[Engineering:Jazerant|Jazerant]]''' (11th century)

The Jazerant or Jazeraint was an adaptation of chain mail in which the chain mail would be sewn in between layers of linen or quilted armour.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Andre-Driussi|first1=Micheal|title=Lexicon Urthus|date=2008|publisher=Sirius Fiction|isbn=0964279517|page=192|edition=second}}</ref> Exceptional protection against light slashing weapons and slightly improved protection against small thrusting weapons, but little protection against large blunt weapons such as maces and axes. This gave birth to reinforced chain mail and became more prevalent in the 12th and 13th century. Reinforced armour was made up of chain mail with metal plates or hardened leather plates sewn in. This greatly improved protection from stabbing and thrusting blows. 

'''Scale Armour''' (12th century)

A type of '''[[Engineering:Lamellar armour|Lamellar armour]]''',<ref>{{cite book|last1=DeVries|first1=Kelly|last2=Smith|first2=Robert Douglas|title=Medievil Militay Technology|date=2012|publisher=University of Toronto Press|location=Canada|isbn=978-1-4426-0497-1|page=70|edition=Second}}</ref> was made up entirely of small, overlapping plates. Either sewn together, usually with leather straps, or attached to a backing such as linen, or a quilted armor. Scale armour does not require the labor to produce that chain mail does and therefore is more affordable. It also affords much better protection against thrusting blows and pointed weapons. Though, it is much heavier, more restrictive and impedes free movement. 

[[File:KHM Wien S XIII - Jousting armour by Jörg and Lorenz Helmschmid front.jpg|thumb|180px|Jousting armor commissioned by Maximilian I in 1494]]

'''[[Engineering:Plate armour|Plate Armour]]''' (14th century)

Plate armour covered the entire body. Although parts of the body were already covered in plate armour as early as 1250, such as the Poleyns for covering the knees and Couters - plates that protected the elbows,<ref>{{cite book|last1=DeVries|first1=Kelly|last2=Smith|first2=Robert Douglas|title=Medieval Military Technology|date=2012|publisher=University of Toronto Press|location=Canada|isbn=978-1-4426-0497-1|page=75}}</ref> the first complete full suit without any textiles was seen around 1410-1430. <ref>{{cite book|last1=Ashdown|first1=Charles Henry|title=European Arms & Armour|date=1967|publisher=Brussel & Brussel|location=New York|page=194}}</ref> '''[[Engineering:Components of medieval armour|Components of medieval armour]]''' that made up a full suit consisted of a cuirass, a gorget, vambraces, gauntlets, cuisses, greaves, and sabatons held together by internal leather straps. Improved weaponry such as crossbows and the long bow had greatly increased range and power. This made penetration of the chain mail hauberk much easier and more common.<ref>{{cite book|last1=DeVries|first1=Kelly|last2=Smith|first2=Robert Douglas|title=Medieval Military Technology|date=2012|publisher=University of Toronto Press|location=Canada|isbn=978-1-4426-0497-1|page=74|edition=second}}</ref> By the mid 1400's most plate was worn alone and without the need of a hauberk.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ashdown|first1=Charles Henery|title=European Arms & Armour|date=1967|publisher=Brussel & Brussel|location=New York|page=196}}</ref> Advances in metal working such as the blast furnace and new techniques for carburizing made plate armour nearly impenetrable and the best armour protection available at the time. Although plate armour was fairly heavy, because each suit was custom tailored to the wearer, it was very easy to move around in. A full suit of plate armour was extremely expensive and mostly unattainable for the majority of soldiers. Only very wealthy land owners and nobility could afford it. The quality of plate armour increases as more armour makers became more proficient in metal working. A suit of plate armour became a symbol of social status and the best made were personalized with embellishments and engravings. Plate armour saw continued use in battle until the 17th century.

=== Cavalry ===
'''Arched saddle''' (11th century)

The arched saddle enabled mounted knights to wield [[Engineering:Lance|lance]]s underarm and prevent the charge from turning into an unintentional pole-vault. This innovation gave birth to true shock cavalry, enabling fighters to charge on full gallop.

'''[[Engineering:Spur|Spur]]s''' (11th century)

Spurs were invented by the Normans and appeared at the same time as the cantled saddle. They enabled the horseman to control his horse with his feet, replacing the whip and leaving his arms free. Rowel spurs familiar from cowboy films were already known in the 13th century. Gilded spurs were the ultimate symbol of the knighthood - even today someone is said to "earn his spurs" by proving his or her worthiness.

'''[[Engineering:Stirrup|Stirrup]]''' (6th century)

Stirrups were invented by steppe nomads in what is today Mongolia and northern China in the 4th century. They were introduced in Byzantium in the 6th century and in the Carolingian Empire in the 8th. They allowed a mounted knight to wield a sword and strike from a distance leading to a great advantage for mounted cavalry.

=== Gunpowder weapons ===
'''[[Engineering:Cannon|Cannon]]''' (1324)

Cannons are first recorded in Europe at the siege of Metz in 1324. In 1350 Petrarch wrote "these instruments which discharge balls of metal with most tremendous noise and flashes of fire...were a few years ago very rare and were viewed with greatest astonishment and admiration, but now they are become as common and familiar as any other kinds of arms."<ref name="Matheus 1996, 346"/>

'''[[Engineering:Volley gun|Volley gun]]'''

See [[Engineering:Ribauldequin|Ribauldequin]].

'''[[Chemistry:Gunpowder|Corned gunpowder]]''' (late 14th century)

First practiced in Western Europe, corning the black powder allowed for more powerful and faster ignition of cannons. It also facilitated the storage and transportation of black powder. Corning constituted a crucial step in the evolution of gunpowder warfare.

[[File:Mons Meg, Medieval Bombard, Edinburgh, Scotland. Pic 01.jpg|thumb|180px|Scottish bombard Mons Meg]]
'''Supergun''' (late 14th century)

Extant examples include the wrought-iron [[Engineering:Pumhart von Steyr|Pumhart von Steyr]], [[Engineering:Dulle Griet|Dulle Griet]] and [[Engineering:Mons Meg|Mons Meg]] as well as the cast-bronze [[Engineering:Faule Mette|Faule Mette]] and [[Engineering:Faule Grete|Faule Grete]] (all from the 15th century).

=== Mechanical artillery ===
'''[[Engineering:Trebuchet|Counterweight trebuchet]]''' (12th century)

Powered solely by the force of gravity, these catapults revolutionized medieval siege warfare and construction of fortifications by hurling huge stones unprecedented distances. Originating somewhere in the eastern Mediterranean basin, counterweight trebuchets were introduced in the [[Religion:Crusader states|Crusader states]] by the 1120s, Byzantium by the 1130s and in the Latin West by the second half of the century.<ref>[http://www.doaks.org/DOP54/DP54ch4.pdf Paul E. Chevedden, "The Invention of the Counterweight Trebuchet: A Study in Cultural Diffusion", ''Dumbarton Oaks Papers'', No. 54 (2000), pp.71-116 (104f.)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205183303/http://www.doaks.org/DOP54/DP54ch4.pdf |date=2007-02-05 }}</ref>

=== Missile weapons ===
'''[[Engineering:Greek fire|Greek fire]]''' (7th century)

An incendiary weapon which could even burn on water is also attributed to the Byzantines where they installed it on their ships. It played a crucial role in the Byzantine Empire's victory over the [[Place:Umayyad Caliphate|Umayyad Caliphate]] during the Siege of Constantinople (717–718)

'''Grenade''' (8th century) [[File:Liquid fire granades Chania.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Ceramic grenades that were filled with Greek fire, surrounded by [[Engineering:Caltrop|caltrop]]s, 10th–12th century, National Historical Museum, Athens, Greece]]

Rudimentary incendiary grenades appeared in the [[Place:Byzantine Empire|Byzantine Empire]], as the Byzantine soldiers learned that [[Engineering:Greek fire|Greek fire]], a Byzantine invention of the previous century, could not only be thrown by [[Physics:Flamethrower|flamethrower]]s at the enemy, but also in stone and ceramic jars. 

'''[[Engineering:English longbow|Longbow]] with massed, disciplined archery''' (13th century)

Having a high rate of fire and penetration power, the longbow contributed to the eventual demise of the medieval knight class{{dubious|date=July 2016}}. Used particularly by the English to great effect against the French cavalry during the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453).

'''[[Engineering:Arbalest|Steel crossbow]]''' (late 14th century)

European innovation. Came with several different cocking aids to enhance draw power, making the weapons also the first hand-held mechanical crossbows.

=== Miscellaneous ===
'''[[Social:Combined arms|Combined arms]] tactics''' (14th century)

The battle of Halidon Hill 1333 was the first battle where intentional and disciplined combined arms infantry tactics were employed.{{dubious|date=October 2012}} The English men-at-arms dismounted aside the archers, combining thus the staying power of super-heavy infantry and striking power of their two-handed weapons with the missiles and mobility of the archers using longbows and shortbows
. Combining dismounted knights and men-at-arms with archers was the archetypal Western Medieval battle tactics until the battle of Flodden 1513 and final emergence of firearms.

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center">
File:Altarpiece of St Sebastian.jpg|[[Engineering:English longbow|Longbowmen]] (c. 1493)
File:Altarpiece of St Sebastian (detail).jpg|Cranked rack-and-pinion device for cocking a [[Engineering:Crossbow|crossbow]] (c. 1493)
File:Konrad Kyeser, Bellifortis, Clm 30150, Tafel 13, Blatt 74v.jpg|Organ gun in the ''Bellifortis'' (c. 1405)
</gallery>

== Notes and references ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Bibliography ==
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*Crosby, Alfred. ''The Measure of Reality : Quantification in Western Europe, 1250-1600''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997
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==See also==
* Greek technology
* [[History:Renaissance of the 12th century|Renaissance of the 12th century]]
* [[Engineering:Roman technology|Roman technology]]
* [[History:History of technology|History of technology]]
* Medieval transport

==External links==
* [http://scholar.chem.nyu.edu/tekpages/Technology.html The Medieval Technology Pages]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130508045210/http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/pabacker/history/middle.htm Technology in the Medieval Age]


[[Category:History of technology]]

{{Sourceattribution|Medieval technology|1}}