SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY

AND SOCIETY IN THE

MIDDLE AGES
 The period from 450 A.D. is commonly
called the middle ages.

 This
is usually divided into the so called
Dark ages, from 450 A.D. to 1450 A.D.

 Classical culture slowly died out.

 Only the Christianized Empire in

Constantinople was able to guard the
classical heritage.
 The economy of the Middle ages from the 5th
century may bee described as feudal.

 The economic basis of the feudal system was

land marked by its independence on local
agricultural production mostly consumed on the
spot and on handicraft industry.

 By the 11 th century towns were well established

and by the 12th they were growing in Northern
France , England and Germany.
 By the 11th century towns were well established
and by the 12th they were growing in Northern
France , England and Germany.

 The establishment, of these towns was crucial

importance because it was from them that
eventually were to come the bourgeois class to
found capitalism.

 European universities were established in the

1100’s, the science and mathematics were given
emphasis.
 THE IMPACT OF GREEK AND ARAB
KNOWLEDGE

Itwas in the avid intellectual

activities in the Universities that
there came the bulk of Arab and
Greek knowledge that had been
preserved in the Dark ages
translated into Latin mostly from
Arabic and some directly from
Greek.
 MEDIEVAL SCIENCE

 The totality of the Medieval natural science

achievement can be summarized as:

A few notes on minerals and natural history by

St. Albert Magnate;

A treatise on sporting birds by Emperor

Frederick II;

Some improvements in Alhazen’s optics by

Dietrich or Witelo and Freiburg, including an
account of the rainbow and
 Criticism
of Aristotle’s theory of motion by Buridan
and Oresme.

 Groseteste thought science basically as a means of

illustrating theological truths.

 Believingthat the light was analogous to the divine

illuminations, he studied optics.

 Atthe common level however life in medieval times

was full of irrational beliefs, mysticism, and
superstitions.
 TECHNOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE AGES
EUROPE

 New horse harness-the horse-collar pulling on the

shoulders of the horse instead of a band hugging his
breast, allowed the horse to increased its
“attractive” effort five times.

 The water-mill and Windmill-watermill was invented

in the stone age. By a using suitable mechanism, its
rotary motion could be converted to reciprocal
motion making it a source of general power.

 Windmill from Persia reached Europe about 1100A.D.

It was primarily for blowing bellows, filling
cloth, forging iron, sawing, weaving and threashing.
 Clock and Watch -just like the horsecollar, the clock and
watch seemed to have
come from China, though it was developed
into the present form in Europe. In the 11 th
century an ingenious mechanism was devised
which imparted a to-and fro motion, thus the
mechanical clock was born.

 The Mariner’s magnetic compass –the ability

of a natural magnet to show direction was
known to the Chinese several centuries ago
or about the 6th century.
 The sternpost rudder – the sternpost rudder apparently
came also from china. This led to the development of the
sail that could be adjusted such that ship voyages could
be made in rougher weather.

 Lenses with spectacle – the discovery of lenses resulted in

the invention of spectacles in Italy around 1350 A.D. this
gave impetus to the study of light or optics.

 Gunpowder and cannon – of all the inventions introduced

to Europe in the middle ages gunpowder of chinese origin
was to have a greatest effect scientifically, politically,
and economically. Their use and was initiated a technical
revolution in warfare comparable only to what happened
at the start of the Iron Ages.
 Paper - paper and paper-making originated from
china based on vegetable fibers. It was already
widely used in China as a cheap writing material in
the 1 st century B.C.

 Printing – like paper, printing originated in China

using movable wooden type. It was introduced in
Europe in the middle of the 15th century A.D. and
spread extraordinarily and rapidly for books.

 Distillation and Alcohol - the first preparation of

strong spirits of wine was made in Europe in the 12th
century. As the distillation of perfumes and oil was
already known, alcohol was probably produced by
accident in the course of the some medical
preparation.
 MEDECINE IN THE MIDDLE AGES

 Astrology ruled prognosis, diagnosis was largely

limited to inspection of the urine.

 Medical learning was devoted to the study of

ancient authoritative texts.

 Therapy was through

prayer, magic, charms, amulets and faith
healing.

 Various herbs were used widely.

 The medical school of Salermo that flourished

from the 10th to the end of the 13th century was
the first organized medical school in Europe.
 THE INTERACTION OF MEDIEVAL TECHNOLOGY
AND MEDIEVAL ECONOMY

 Bythe middle of 13th century, the rich merchants and

town oligarchies acquired monopoly position and
cooperated for the common exploitation of less
territories.

 Thenew bourgeoisie was initially were interested in

profit than belief. When they found that church an
obstacle to their increasing wealth and power, they
became most ardent advocates of reform.
 The increase in the wealth of merchants and
bourgeoisie resulted in the following:

 Interest in mathematics which they used in

commercial accountancy, astronomical tables
and maps.

 A new impulse to art technology and science, art

becoming more secular and more naturalistic. In
pottery, textiles, glass and metal work there was
incentive and opportunity for practical research
on the properties of matter, chemical and
physical or providing the material basis for the
revival of science.
 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN CHINA

The first civilization in China emerged

independently in the fertilized river valleys
of Huang Ho(yellow river) and Yangtze rivers.

Farming communities existed along the

Huang Ho and Yangtze Rivers where rice was
first cultivated in 5000 B.C.

Silk production was developed about 2500

B.C.

 Bronze productions around 1700 B.C. were

more perfect and sophisticated, a result of
long experimentation.
 The first Chinese writing was on flat shoulder bones
of cattle and tortoise shells.

 During this period China became the most

technically advanced Country in the world.

 Paper- paper making started in 140 B.C. but was

officially used in writing starting in 105 A.D.. Paper
was also used for clothing, wall décor, art work and
even in toilet.

 Seismograph- a bronze vessel with pendulum

sensitive to vibration was invented to detect
earthquakes in the 2nd century A.D.
 Physics - motion of solid objects was thought
to be caused by force and cessation of
motion due to obstacle. Studies of magnets
and magnetism were done in China long
before the same was initiated in Europe.

 Physical theories - events and phenomena

are due to the interaction between feminine
principle YIN and the male principle YAN.

 Science – It was qualitative and dynamic.

 WorldView
Organicist views are which every
phenomenon was connected with
hierarchical order.

 Mathematics
The ancient Chinese expressed
numbers decimally and analytically. Decimal
place-value and a blank space for zero had
began in earlier than anywhere else in the
ancient world together with the metrology.
They knew how to extract square root and
evaluate the value of n, equations and sum
of various series.
 Astronomy
They developed calendars
with 365 and ¼ days in a year and
divided a circle similarly in to 365
and ¼ degrees.

They plotted names and

catalogue stars , describe and
predicted eclipses. They kept
records of comets , meteors , novae
and eclipses.
 Medicine and Biology
 the ancient Chinese believe that
disease are caused by 6 chhih (Breath) :
heat, cold, wind, rain, light and darkness,
physician described exercise, hydrotherapy
and wine anesthesia.
 They tried to describe the size of
organs, blood circulation between heart and
organ.
they compared body to a state , heart
to a king, lungs to ministers and liver to a
commander in chief. They were the greatest
pioneer of inoculation(acupuncture)
 Engineering
Mechanical Engineering was field in
which ancient and classical Chinese
triumphs, harness of animals and water
power for grinding and operation of
metallurgical bellows were invented.

Mastery of iron casting was made

some 15 centuries before its use Europe.
Mechanical clock work began in Tang
China.
  Iron chain suspension bridges,
and segmental arch structures were
built around 610 A.D..Hydraulic
engineering such as control of water
ways, irrigation and tax grain
transport were prominent. The
wheel barrow was invented in 100
A.D
 Gun Powder
 appeared around 9th century
A.D., vigorous development of explosive
weapons from 1040 A.D., about three
centuries before it appeared in Europe.

From fire-lance using a rocket

combination and bamboo tube a close
combat weapon, all barrier guns and cannon
were constructed at the beginning of the 12th
century A.D.
 Printing
Press
 wooden block printing was
done in China around 700A.D.. In
1020 A.D. the first movable-type
printer made from pottery was
developed. Mass printing of paper
money and Confucian work were
made around 1200 A.D..
 Magnetic Compass and SternPost Rudder
 Magnetic of loadstones a
naturally occurring magnetic iron
led to magnetizing floating needle a
prototype of magnetic compass. The
magnetic compass and the invention
of stern-post rudder in 6th century
A.D. predated modern ships by
centuries.