Medieval Ages Science & Technology PDF

THE MEDIEVAL AGES  500-1500 CE (COMMON ERA) Started after the collapse of the Western Roman empire in the 5th Century and the beginning of the colonial expansion of western Europe in the late 15th century, known traditionally as the Middle Ages. The first hal...

THE MEDIEVAL AGES  500-1500 CE (COMMON ERA) Started after the collapse of the Western Roman empire in the 5th Century and the beginning of the colonial expansion of western Europe in the late 15th century, known traditionally as the Middle Ages. The first half of this period consists of the five centuries of the DARK AGES. This is where a new civilization was formed and developed, Western Europe (Germany, France, Netherland, Monaco, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands) This the era where CHRISTIAN church was the most outstanding institution  THE DARK AGES This is also where the TEUTONIC TRIBES who moved to the western part of Europe bring with them a much superior technology than that of the ROMANS. Teutonic tribes are ethno-linguistic Indo-European group of northern European origin, using Germanic languages. They were led by a group called “Teutonic Order” Teutonic Order is a catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. For 500 years of ruling, a new civilization grew in strength and began to experiment in all aspects of human endeavor.  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING THE MEDIEVAL AGES During the Middle Ages the center of the European culture shifted from the lands around the Mediterranean Sea to regions that had barely been touched by Greco-Roman civilization. A new civilization – medieval civilization – took shape during the early Middle Ages (A.D. 500 – 1050). There were few strong rulers or government in this period and a political system grew up in which power was divided among many local lords. Economic and social life also changed, centering both politics and society in medieval civilization SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING THE MEDIEVAL AGES Medieval Advances in Agriculture They invented the wheelbarrow, improved ways of making cement, and developed a rudder for steering ships and a new type of anchor. It was the field of agriculture, however, that medieval people made the most significant advances. By making possible greater food production, these advances paved the way for increased trade and the growth of cities.  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING THE MEDIEVAL AGES Among medieval inventions in agriculture were the horseshoe, a heavy plow and the horse collar. The new plow had two blades – one cut the soil and the other turned it over. The horse collar and horseshoe made it possible to use horses more efficiently. One of the first inventions to use energy other than the muscles of people or animals was the water wheel. Since ancient times the water wheel had been used to grind grain. In the middle ages the water wheel – along with the windmill – was adapted for use in preparing cloth, tanning leather, and working metal.  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING THE MEDIEVAL AGES Interest in Science Grows during the Medieval Ages Thomas Aquinas and many other medieval thinkers, however, developed an interest in studying the natural world. Many ancient scientific works were translated into Latin in the High Middle Ages. They were brought into Western Europe along translations of the works of Muslim scholars. These writings, which had been unknown in Europe during the early Middle Ages, stimulated a new interest in observing nature. The greatest naturalist among medieval scholars was Albertus Magnus, who was the teacher of Thomas Aquinas at the universities in Paris and Cologne. Albert wrote about geology, chemistry, botany and zoology. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING THE MEDIEVAL AGES Another medieval scholar who experimented in science was Roger Bacon, an English Franciscan monk and philosopher, who criticized professors for neglecting science. He studied Muslim writings on light rays, performed experiments in optics, and observed that light travelled faster than sound. In his writings he gave a good description of the eye and discussed the causes of tides and the appearance of rainbows  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING THE MEDIEVAL AGES Printing Press Johann Gutenberg was able to invent the printing press, a more reliable way of printing using a cast type. He utilized wooden machines that extracted juices from fruits, attached to them a metal impression of the letters and pressed firmly the cast metal into a piece of paper, which then made an exact impression on paper. The printing press was invented to address the need for publishing books that would spread information to many people at a faster rate  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING THE MEDIEVAL AGES Microscope Another invention in the Middle Ages is the microscope. To develop the proper medicines for illnesses, experts must understand the sickness through an investigation. Thus, they needed a device that could magnify things invisible to the eye. Guided by the principles used for the invention of eyeglasses in earlier years, Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the first compound microscope. With this device, people were able to observe organisms that were normally unseen by the naked eye. The microscope was key in discovering new means in preventing and curing various illnesses  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING THE MEDIEVAL AGES Telescope The invention of the telescope, an optical instrument that helps in the observation of remote objects was a great help for navigators during this time. T ogether with the telescope, the invention of the compass, oars, and rudders made sea travelling easier and safer  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DURING THE MEDIEVAL AGES War Weapons Since wars were widespread during the Middle Ages, great development in the weaponry technology also occurred. For open-area battles, people developed cross bows and long bows so that they could attack the enemies at long ranges, keeping themselves safe with the protection of walls and fortresses. Additionally, in close-range hand-to-hand combat, soldiers should wear something to protect themselves, a need addressed by the creation of iron body armors  PULLEY A SIMPLE MACHINE MADE OF A WHEEL WITH A ROPE OR BELT WRAPPED AROUND IT. It used to lift things up, this are used for retrieving water from wells, hauling heavy bags up to the castle doors and even lifting knights up onto their horses.  LEVER AND GEARS Lever is a stiff rod that rotates around a pivot point, downward motion at one end results in upward motion at the other end like a see saw Gears are wheels with teeth, used to slow things down or speed them, to change direction or to control several things at once. Very important in the medieval period as they helped create a winch. A winch helped to pull in or let out, adjust the tension of a rope  CATAPULTS used as a powerful weapon in the Medieval Era to break down the walls of castles.  ASTROLABE is a device which is used to measure the position of the Sun and different stars in the sky accurately. It was invented during the medieval ages with the earliest astrolabes appearing in Moorish Spain during the 12th century. considered one of the most important scientific inventions of the medieval period.  STIRRUPS sort of frame that can securely hold the feet of a horse rider. The stirrup essentially allows a rider to keep both his feet securely in the flexible frame, thereby allowing him to wield a weapon or otherwise ride effectively when on the horse. stirrups played a critical role in developing the military warfare of the medieval period. EYE GLASSES invented until around the 13th Century,  MECHANICAL CLOCK t was only in the 14th century that innovations in Church bell-ringing mechanism evolved to give birth to the earliest mechanical clocks. The first of these dates back to 1344 being used in a cathedral in Padua. In subsequent decades and centuries, clocks began to become more accurate, sophisticated and compact. In time, these clocks would give birth to pocket watches and in more recent times, to wrist watches.  Physicians began to more freely MEDICAL FIELD experiment with different practices and medicines. For example, described as the study of eye disease and disorders, ophthalmology is a key branch of the medical field with serious implications on the success of society. In the latter part of the Medieval Period, Islamic researchers began studying ophthalmology more closely, likely with the goal of improving their medical practice, as well as solving the prevalent problem of blindness due to cataracts and trachoma  MEDICAL FIELD Overall general health was a significant part of medieval community standards. Medicines and hygienic techniques were able to be practiced more freely during this time period, allowing for experimentation and new ideas to flourish. Although not all of the hygiene practices worked, those that did resulted in beneficial outcomes. Certain substances cured wounds and served as the first forms of antibiotics. One example that worked as a type of antibiotic was penicillin, found in certain types of moss.  MEDICAL FIELD Another substance that held medicinal factors was honey, used throughout the Medieval era for its beneficial health properties. Although not known at the time, honey has natural antibacterial properties to it, and when applied to an open wound, could save a life.  MEDICAL FIELD another huge success in the world of hygiene during the Medieval period was dentistry. Archeologists have found that those living in this time period have on average 20% tooth decay in comparison to 90% ofhose who came before the medieval period (O’Neill, 2017). As a societal norm, having fresh breath and attractive teeth was imperative. As a result, rough linens and mixtures with cow bones were used to keep teeth clean. If a tooth began to rot or deteriorate, it was simply removed to decrease further decay.  MAKE UP the Middle Ages experimented with new creations of makeup and other unique beauty trends n example of beauty attempts can be found in The Trotula: A Medieval Compendium of Women’s Medicin One of the biggest makeup “failures” of the Middle Ages was the use of lead and other harmful substances. The recipes found in this book called for many local and healthy ingredients, like herbs and animal products, as well as imported substances like frankincense, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, galangal. However, many of the recipes required several harmful mineral substances including arsenic, quicksilver, sulfur, natron, and lead.  MEDIEVAL AGE The religious and political systems of the medieval world allowed for periods of stability in many regions where advancements in science and technology could be made. People developed new ways to handle agriculture, medicine, and hygiene. Being able to warm homes during the winter months with chimneys and tracking time with a mechanical clock were also products of technological advancements made throughout the medieval era. Science and technology during this period had a great influence on society then and its influence is still relevant today.