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13 Mar 17
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18 Feb 13
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The heavy wheeled plough with a mouldboard first appears in the 5th century in Slavic lands,[citation needed] is then introduced into Northern Italy (the Po Valley) and by the 8th century it was used in the Rhineland. Essential in the efficient use of the rich, heavy, often wet soils of Northern Europe, its use allowed the area's forests and swamps to be brought under cultivation.
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heat travelled through underfloor channels from the furnace room
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Hourglass (1338)
Reasonably dependable, affordable and accurate measure of time. Unlike water in a 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).
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Tidal Mills (6th)
The earliest tide mills were excavated on the Irish coast
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Water hammer (12th latest)
Used in metallurgy on forging the metal blooms from bloomeries and Catalan forges
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Stern-mounted rudders (1180s)
First depiction of a pintle-and gudgeon rudder on church carvings dating to around 1180. First appeared with cogs in the North and Baltic Sea, 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.[26]
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Spectacles (1280s)
European innovation. Florence, Italy. Convex lenses, of help only to the far-sighted. Concave lenses were not developed prior to the 15th century.
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20 Jul 12
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Military technologies
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Military technologies
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Military technologies
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Agriculture
Heavy plough (5th->8th)
The heavy wheeled plough with a mouldboard first appears in the 5th century in Slavic lands, is then introduced into Northern Italy (the Po Valley) and by the 8th century it was used in the Rhineland. Essential in the efficient use of the rich, heavy, often wet soils of Northern Europe, its use allowed the area's forests and swamps to be brought under cultivation.
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Hops (11th)
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Added to beer, importance lay primarily in its ability to preserve beer and improve transportability for trade.
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Horse collar (6th->9th)
Multiple evolutions from Classical Harness (Antiquity), to Breast Strap Harness (6th) to Horse collar (9th). Allowed more horse pulling power, such as with heavy ploughs.
Horseshoes (9th)
Allowed horse to adapt to non-grassland terrains in Europe (rocky terrain, mountains) and carry heavier loads. Possibly known to the Romans and Celts as early as 50 BC.
Wine press (12th)
First practical means of applying pressure on a plane surface. The principle later used for printing press.
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Clocks
Hourglass (1338)
Reasonably dependable, affordable and accurate measure of time. Unlike water in a 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).
Mechanical clocks (13th->14th)
A European innovation, these weight-driven clocks were used primarily in clock towers.
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Military technologies
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Armour
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Apex of pre-industrial personal armour in terms of body protection and metallurgical skills involved. Large and complete full plates of armour appear by the end of the 14th century.
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Cavalry
Arched saddle (1050s)
Enabled mounted knights to wield lance underarm and prevent the charge turning into an unintentional pole-vault. This innovation gave birth to true shock cavalry, enabling the knights to charge on full gallop, thus exceeding the shock value of the cataphracts.
Spurs (11th)
Invented by the Normans, appearing at the same time as cantled saddle. Enabled the knight to control his horse with his feet instead of hands, 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.
Stirrup (6th)
Invented by the steppe nomads in what is today Mongolia and northern China in the 4th century and transmitted west. Appeared in Byzantium in the 6th, in the Carolingian Empire in the 8th century. Allowed mounted knight to wield sword and strike from a distance leading to a great advantage for mounted cavalry.
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Gunpowder weapons
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."[1]]]
See Ribauldequin.
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Counterweight trebuchet (12th)
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 Crusader states by the 1120s, Byzantium by the 1130s and in the Latin West by the second half of the century.[33]
[edit] Missile weapons
Longbow with massed, disciplined archery (13th)
Having a high rate of fire and penetration power, the longbow contributed to the eventual demise of the medieval knight class. Used particularly by the English to great effect against the French cavalry during the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453).
Steel crossbow (14th, late)
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European innovation. Came with several different cocking aids to enhance draw power, making the weapons also the first hand-held mechanical crossbows.
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02 Mar 08
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24 May 07
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15 Apr 06
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