Technological Innovations in the Middle Ages

The Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was arguably the most important turning point in history. It transformed the manufacture of goods from craftsmanship to commercialism, exponentially increasing output and decreasing production cost leading to prosperity and an unprecedented supply of goods for the markets of the world. Industrialization and mass production was the fuel which ignited the flame of capitalism which was already established creating bringing sweeping changes in wealth and its distribution. Within a few generations the very fabric of society was virtually remade as millions left the farms and villages of the countryside for jobs in the cities. This monumental change did not immediately sweep

The year 1500 was a major turning point in history. Before 1500, other world powers played a major role in the shaping of world events and Europe played a limited role. These “Gunpowder Empires” applied a great amount of power in the world culturally, economically, and technologically. In Paul Kennedy’s article, “The Rise of the West”, it is shown how Europe came to power after 1500. Europe’s rise to power was greatly affected by the world powers that reigned prior to 1800.

When the plague struck lots of the population of slaves and peasants died, which meant that there was a huge struggle for landowners to find workers for their fields. This meant that peasants could demand higher wages and had lots of bargaining power. This is because if landowners didn’t have workers than they wouldn’t be making any money, which would lead to their loss in wealth. Another way the feudal system was changed is that usually skilled artisans and craftsmen handed down their family business to their sons. However if these descendants were dead then craftsmen and artisans had to employ new workers, which meant peasants and slaves acquired more important skills. And finally, because of these reasons there was a growth in the middle class. The middle class are not slaves, but not nobles. This meant the population became more equal and many different jobs arose for people. Changes to the feudal system allowed Europe to grow closer to what we know it as

The Industrial Revolution was a time period of rapid growth in society. Referring to the 1700’s century in England where the output of machine made goods greatly increased. Prior to the changes made during the Industrial Revolution, workers often manufactured products in their homes using handtools and basic machinery. However, industrialization marked a shift of labor from small farms in rural areas to large factories in cities and was a time of new products, inventions and methods of work.The results of the Industrial Revolution led to many positive outcomes because new cultivation methods spread rapidly around the world. The Industrial Revolution made a significant political, economical, and social change throughout Europe. The Industrial

| * disease caused for the decline in the middle ages * guilds develop to regulate laws of a particular occupation * growth of cities increased because of the need for more labor involved products

The Middle Ages were a major turning point in history. During the Middle Ages, Europe was run under a manorial system. People were self-sufficient and only traded within their own community, as they believed that the outside world was dangerous. However, the population increased in the 11th century and new agricultural technologies came about, such as the windmill, water mills and the iron plow (Document 1). The crusades allowed many people to view life outside of their villages. People left their villages to fight the wars, and even though the crusades were a failure, the end result was beneficial in an economic and in a social way. The crusades opened many trading routes between Europe and the Middle East. Europeans,

Towards the end of the Middle Ages era Europe made technological advances and continued to grow as a community. Gray C. Boyce in his excerpt from “The Medieval Period” describing the middle ages, argues, “Even at its worst it performed the function of guarding, frequently by accident and chance, the knowledge and treasures of what had come before, but even more it was creative and inventive, and transmitted to later ages great riches of its own,”. The author is proving that although Europe was indeed imperfect like most things, it was exceptional as well. The author is making the point that even during the worst times it was protective, creative, and knowledgeable. All of the attributes the author described are what made Europe so successful, and shows the reader that Europe was a prosperous, creative, and successful community.

The Industrial Revolution is a pivotal period in human history that allowed for the complete transformation of rural life. First coined in the 1830s, the Industrial Revolution was an eruption of inventions, technical adaptations, and economic expansion. The origins of the Industrial Revolution are traced back to Great Britain, the first pioneer in Westernization and technological change. Britain’s well-developed banks, large potential labor force, and abundance of raw materials made Britain the most industrialized country in the world during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Although the Industrial Revolution brought beneficial changes to Britain and the countries that followed Britain’s path, industrialization provoked reform

Technological advances during the period 1450-1750, or the Renaissance Era, were major influences to the way of life seen today. The ships, tools for traveling, especially the ones made Portugal and Spain all Impact society today, allowing for the age of exploration to emerge. All these tools proved prosperous but known more important than the printing-press independently developed in Germany by Johannes Gutenberg. Germany before this time was divided, in other words not a country yet, but divided into a city-state format, different provinces ruled by a king under an interregnum. Also, before this era Germany was still under the Holy Roman Empire, in other words Catholic in their Religion. The impact that this new technology produced in

While Industrialization led to a dramatic increase in the production of goods, created jobs, and generated a demand for natural resources, it brought about over-crowded cities, dangerous living conditions, and the unfair treatment of workers. Beginning in around 1760, Europe went through a massive development of industry, that started with the introduction of new technology to the production of goods. Seeking work, the masses began to gravitate towards towns and cities, leading to rapid urbanization, and an available workforce. There were many positive affects to the Industrial Revolution. Greater production of goods, employment, and the necessity of natural resources were all favorable consequences of Industrialization.

During those times, it was very hard to live, but it paved the way for modern day. 1450 brought about Renaissance, capitalism, the age of exploration, and the nation state. The Renaissance brought new attitudes toward the secular world and man's place in it. Capitalism brought new attitudes towards money and profit. The age of exploration brought new perspectives on Europe’s place in the world. The nation state brought ybw technology consisted of gunpowder, the printing press, better ships, and new navigation. There was also social change. Although it was tough for all classes, by 1500 peasants in Western Europe were free and had possession of their own land. The middle class was increasing through positions in the king's bureaucracy. Along with the change came new business techniques. The new business techniques consisted of joint stock companies, deposit banks and credit, and insurance companies. Joint stock companies granted people with low amounts of cash to participate in business enterprises such as merchant expeditions. The most important factor was that instead of people wasting their money, it was put into circulation with Europe's economy, which allowed it to grow more. Deposit banks and credit allowed bankers to invest more money in business ventures. Along with this, banking houses allowed branches to open, and it also extended a system of credit across Western Europe. Credit granted a businessman to use more

Even though the late middles ages saw unprecedented chaos, it was now becoming a time of creative fragmentation and rebirth of the view of human creativity and individuality. In addition Europe was recovering from the demographic and political crisis that it faced. There was also a unprecedented scholarly renaissance. Especially in educational and cultural reforms. Also, social engineering and political planning also began as centralized new governments put long-range economic policies into practice.

The Medieval Machine by Jean Gimpel, shows information about the technological accomplishments of the middle Ages. The basic idea is that during the two centuries from around 1050 Western Europe went through a kind of industrial revolution that was just as important as of the nineteenth century’s.

The Middle Ages, often referred to as the Dark Ages, was regarded to be a time of despair, disease, and death. Just as the name the “Dark Ages” suggests, this period of European history seemed to be surrounded by darkness and hopelessness. Unfortunately, the majority of people only see this side of the Middle Ages when, in fact, the Middle Ages was a much more important era. Especially during the late Middle Ages, one can find a change in orthodox social structure, political instability mostly concerned with succession to the throne, and economic changes and how those changes went hand in hand with the change in society. After certain demographical changes and turning points such as the Hundred Years’ War, Europe began to transform

The most important changes were brought in the economy and the way of earning income. Industrialization turned everything upside-down in this sector of human activity. In pre-industrial societies income and the economy as a whole, were based on agriculture and manufacturing in home. Wealth was not something to be pursued, the character and personality of the individual had greater value than his wealth: “the hard-working poor man is superior to the lazy rich man” (Vidich: 230). In modern economies everything is based on industrial mass production and white-collar jobs have increased. The pursuit for wealth is so high that if we compare it with traditional societies, modern ones would look corrupted (Macionis: 408).