INTRODUCTION
Medieval Europe was a time where religion and science were intertwined, and most scientific practises involved prayer or even rituals of sacrifice. As most people know, in the Middle Ages, witchcraft was a ‘prominent’ occurrence, with what is believed to be the reason of execution for a confirmed 57 000 people, but it is believed that the number may reach the hundred thousands. This is most likely why religion played such a large role in scientific research, due to the common occurrence of the use of ‘magic’. Apart from this, major scientific advances occurred in this 6 century time period, despite the significant interference of religion and the use of ‘enchantments’. These advances include alchemy, the creation of phosphorus, the early use of gunpowder, siege weaponry as well as astronomers proposing theories and firmly believing in the true relationship between Earth and the rest of the Solar System. It was these base plates that allowed the incredible advances made in the later appearing Renaissance Period.
SCIENCE
The introduction of advanced scientific research was key to the importance of the Middle Ages, from siege weaponry to Galleys, Medieval Europe was thriving, and the understanding of our own world was rapidly increasing. Things like alchemy were key aspects of scientific life in the Middle Ages, with the use of chemical weapons and poisons being introduced and used efficiently. Most alchemists practised in the medical field, attempting to create cures for disease and experimenting with the human body, allowing for basic, but impressive theories about how the body really worked. But, even with Alchemy’s major achievements, witch doctors were knocked out of the park with the revolutionary observations of engineers and astronomers, with individuals such as Plato Tiburtinus and Gregory Choniades introducing their own theories which disagreed with the almost dictated belief of Earth being the centre of the universe. In particular, the introduction of a solar system, a gravitational based cycle which involved the many different and known planets to orbit a single planetary object... the Sun. It was this, that allowed Newton, Galileo and Copernicus to change the world. As without it, they would not have even considered thinking outside the box.
TECHNOLOGICAL WARFARE
Warfare in the Middle Ages was becoming increasingly reliant on technology, with the introduction of siege weaponry and basic naval warfare, Medieval Europe was becoming a continent of brutality. The ruthlessness of siege warfare was popular in these troubled times, but as time passed, the technology became irreversibly violent. The classic Ballista was being phased out, and the Catapult, Trebuchet and Mangonel were becoming the key points of death in Medieval Europe. This is most likely due to the rapid and successful introduction of castles and armoured strongholds, which required the use of projectiles and scaling ladders to breach, as most foot soldiers had difficulty entering these headquarters. Apart from this, technologies such as water mills and the use of gears and rigs allowed Medieval Europe to revolutionise the way it worked. The trebuchet most definitely demonstrates the use of weight, gears and locks. This engine launched lethal projectiles into the air, destroying all in its path. Some uses even involved launching bodies infected with the plague into castles, to spread disease and destroy them from the inside. But war on the seas was just heating up. Engines of war were truly in the ocean, with galleys and assault ships being created to launch heavy assaults on the enemy by sea. Often, medieval barges would ram into each other and then board, this was the beginning of the age of piracy. Although it is not often referenced, people hijacking ships were common, although, the naval crafts of the time were not extraordinarily impressive, with inexperienced captains often grounding them or the ships in general losing structural integrity.
EDUCATION
Most individuals believe that Medieval Europe was nothing but a bunch of ruthless killers or knowledge hungry scientists, but in assurance, there were many different individuals to those stereotyped in major films. The field of education was particularily notorious, as many people dedicated their lives to teaching and explaining the ways of life to young children and even adults, allowing for a relatively sound education across the board, peasant or lord. The construction of universities also allowed for the extension and the more private use of direct teaching, a valuable system still used today. These key ways of teaching generally revolved around direct examples or the set out occupation for the individual, as people as young as 10 were instructed that they were to become knights or be a general peasant in their later years. If a child was to become a knight, they would instantly be taught the ways of combat, learning basic fencing and how to weild a weapon with damaging the ligaments. Apart from this, some children were even taught the elements of command, with learning how to deal with casualties and how to generally instruct a military force. These methods of teaching were primitive, but the often completed father/son mother/daughter teaching relationship is what kept the fools from the intellectuals of the time.
INTRODUCTION
Medieval Europe was a time where religion and science were intertwined, and most scientific practises involved prayer or even rituals of sacrifice. As most people know, in the Middle Ages, witchcraft was a ‘prominent’ occurrence, with what is believed to be the reason of execution for a confirmed 57 000 people, but it is believed that the number may reach the hundred thousands. This is most likely why religion played such a large role in scientific research, due to the common occurrence of the use of ‘magic’. Apart from this, major scientific advances occurred in this 6 century time period, despite the significant interference of religion and the use of ‘enchantments’. These advances include alchemy, the creation of phosphorus, the early use of gunpowder, siege weaponry as well as astronomers proposing theories and firmly believing in the true relationship between Earth and the rest of the Solar System. It was these base plates that allowed the incredible advances made in the later appearing Renaissance Period.
SCIENCE
The introduction of advanced scientific research was key to the importance of the Middle Ages, from siege weaponry to Galleys, Medieval Europe was thriving, and the understanding of our own world was rapidly increasing. Things like alchemy were key aspects of scientific life in the Middle Ages, with the use of chemical weapons and poisons being introduced and used efficiently. Most alchemists practised in the medical field, attempting to create cures for disease and experimenting with the human body, allowing for basic, but impressive theories about how the body really worked. But, even with Alchemy’s major achievements, witch doctors were knocked out of the park with the revolutionary observations of engineers and astronomers, with individuals such as Plato Tiburtinus and Gregory Choniades introducing their own theories which disagreed with the almost dictated belief of Earth being the centre of the universe. In particular, the introduction of a solar system, a gravitational based cycle which involved the many different and known planets to orbit a single planetary object... the Sun. It was this, that allowed Newton, Galileo and Copernicus to change the world. As without it, they would not have even considered thinking outside the box.
TECHNOLOGICAL WARFARE
Warfare in the Middle Ages was becoming increasingly reliant on technology, with the introduction of siege weaponry and basic naval warfare, Medieval Europe was becoming a continent of brutality. The ruthlessness of siege warfare was popular in these troubled times, but as time passed, the technology became irreversibly violent. The classic Ballista was being phased out, and the Catapult, Trebuchet and Mangonel were becoming the key points of death in Medieval Europe. This is most likely due to the rapid and successful introduction of castles and armoured strongholds, which required the use of projectiles and scaling ladders to breach, as most foot soldiers had difficulty entering these headquarters. Apart from this, technologies such as water mills and the use of gears and rigs allowed Medieval Europe to revolutionise the way it worked. The trebuchet most definitely demonstrates the use of weight, gears and locks. This engine launched lethal projectiles into the air, destroying all in its path. Some uses even involved launching bodies infected with the plague into castles, to spread disease and destroy them from the inside. But war on the seas was just heating up. Engines of war were truly in the ocean, with galleys and assault ships being created to launch heavy assaults on the enemy by sea. Often, medieval barges would ram into each other and then board, this was the beginning of the age of piracy. Although it is not often referenced, people hijacking ships were common, although, the naval crafts of the time were not extraordinarily impressive, with inexperienced captains often grounding them or the ships in general losing structural integrity.
EDUCATION
Most individuals believe that Medieval Europe was nothing but a bunch of ruthless killers or knowledge hungry scientists, but in assurance, there were many different individuals to those stereotyped in major films. The field of education was particularily notorious, as many people dedicated their lives to teaching and explaining the ways of life to young children and even adults, allowing for a relatively sound education across the board, peasant or lord. The construction of universities also allowed for the extension and the more private use of direct teaching, a valuable system still used today. These key ways of teaching generally revolved around direct examples or the set out occupation for the individual, as people as young as 10 were instructed that they were to become knights or be a general peasant in their later years. If a child was to become a knight, they would instantly be taught the ways of combat, learning basic fencing and how to weild a weapon with damaging the ligaments. Apart from this, some children were even taught the elements of command, with learning how to deal with casualties and how to generally instruct a military force. These methods of teaching were primitive, but the often completed father/son mother/daughter teaching relationship is what kept the fools from the intellectuals of the time.