Historical Antecedents in Which Social Considerations Changed The Course of Science and Technology
Historical Antecedents in Which Social Considerations Changed The Course of Science and Technology
Historical Antecedents in Which Social Considerations Changed The Course of Science and Technology
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- The fertile black soil along the banks of the river Nile provided a
very hospitable environment for growing crops.
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages (or medieval period) lasted from
the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the fall of the Western Roman
Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery.
Magnetic Compass
- The knowledge of not only what hour was, but even what
minute and second it was, would change the way people
schedules their days and work patterns.
Printing Press
- Ironically, the quest for elixir, a potion to prolong life resulted to the
infection of gun powder in china around 850 AD.
- The first eye glasses were invented in the late 13th century in
northern Italy.
They consisted of two framed glass or crystal stones, and were
held up to the eyes using a handle. Their used soon spread
through out Europe.
The Society
• The Village was the central place where people lived, worked, socialized, married,
attended festivals and church, gave birth to and eventually died. Villagers rarely ever
ventured beyond its boundaries.
• People depended on the village for protection.
• Villagers wore simple dress and lived on a meager diet.
• Villagers were busy, living and working mostly outdoors.
• Villagers mostly worked the land, trying to grow enough food to survive another year.
People in Medieval villages were almost entirely farmers.
• Some villages were temporary. The society would move on if the land proved infertile
or weather made life too difficult.
• Every village had a Lord, even if he didn’t make it his permanent residence. After the
1100's, castles often dominated village landscapes.
• Some villages continued to exist for centuries.
People of Medieval Ages
Peasants- were the poorest people in the medieval era and lived primarily in the country. Serfs
were the poorest of the peasant class, and were a type of slave. Lords owned the serfs who lived
on their lands. In exchange for a place to live, serfs worked the land to grow crops for themselves
and their lord. In addition, serfs were expected to work the farms for the lord and pay rent.
Farmers- were a bit better off than peasants, as some owned their own farms. Most worked the
farm lands themselves or with the aid of peasants and serfs.
Carpenters- ere highly skilled and were elite tradesmen. One had to gain the knowledge of math,
woodworking and the use of tools so it was necessary to join a guild as an apprentice and learn
the craft to become a carpenter.
Kings and nobles used the finest carpenters and kept them employed on their staff as specialists.
After all, castles and estates needed to be decoratively furnished to show their great prestige and
status. A master carpenter was always in demand and could earn high wages.
The metalsmith- sometimes called blacksmith, had to first make his tools before he could make
metal parts such as horseshoes, nails and door hinges. A blacksmith was named because he was
a 'smith' who worked in the "black" metal, namely iron. The "white" metals were tin, silver or gold.
Modern Period (15th Century onwards)
Inventions: