Innovations in Medieval Society

Gun Powder Gunpowder was brought to Medieval Europe by warriors returning from the Middle East. Invented by the Chinese, it exploded unpredictably and injured knights who used it. By the 1400s, it had improved and many soldiers were now fighting with cannons and small guns. Bullets pierced armour, and castle walls couldn’t withstand these weapons, so they were no longer a place of safety.

Three-field farming New ways of farming developed during Middle Ages. Farmers began using a 3-field rotation for planting (1st field=wheat or rye in autumn, 2nd field=oats, beans, peas, vegetables, 3rd field=unplanted for a year). Helped people to be self-sufficient.

Printing Press In the early 1400s, Germans inventors began to experiment with ways to make books with machines rather than by hand. Johannes Gutenberg made a printing method called movable type that was similar to a system being used in China. It was made of individual blocks of wood into which letters and punctuation marks were carved.

A printer arranged the letters to spell the words on each page, the letters were coated in ink, and paper was pressed down onto the type. This meant more books could be printed, it was less expensive and way faster, and more accessible to people.

Some Problems with The Printing Press There were some reasons why books didn’t always spread quickly : low literacy rates; books were cheaper, but were still too expensive for most; books were produced in a wider range of topics, but many were still not relevant to many people’s lives.

Exploration to Other Lands Navigation is the science of guiding a ship. Before the 1500s, it was done by sight, hugging the coast, knowledge of routes, and landmarks. Many tools were invented or improved during the Middle Ages which changed navigation. New instruments included compasses, log lines, quadrants, astrolabes, and traverse boards.

By using celestial navigation (using the position of the stars and the sun), sailors had a more scientific approach. In order to effectively use new navigation techniques, more maneuverable ships were needed. Medieval explorers were able to travel further from home, visit new lands, and return with information about the world beyond Europe.

Schooling Originally, schools were for the children of the wealthy and were run by the church. Many were held in cathedrals, monasteries, or convents, and the church controlled what things were taught. Some priests ran schools for peasant children in the villages. Schools began to be run by nobles and merchants, not just the church. Books were easier to find, therefore learning spread.

Religious Reform During the Middle Ages in Europe, people began to question the power of the Catholic Church. Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German priest who nailed 95 arguments against the church on a Cathedral door and began the Reformation. Since the Church made the rules, taxes, and controlled much of medieval society, this shook things up!