Medieval Technology and Social Change 1st Edition

by Lynn White (Author)

52 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0195002669

ISBN-10: 9780195002669

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In Medieval Technology and Social Change, Lynn White considers the effects of technological innovation on the societies of medieval Europe: the slow collapse of feudalism with the development of machines and tools that introduced factories in place of cottage industries, and the development of the manorial system with the introduction of new kinds of plows and new methods of crop rotation. One invention of particular import, writes White, was the stirrup, which in turn introduced heavy, long-range cavalry to the medieval battlefield. The development thus escalated small-scale conflict to "shock combat." Cannons and flamethrowers followed, as did more peaceful inventions, such as watermills and reapers.

Review

"Excellent."--Louis P. Towles, Central Wesleyan College

"The most stimulating book of the century on the history of technology...a positive delight."--Isis

"At once an advance in the study of medieval technology and also the best introduction to the subject for the serious general reader."--The Economist

"Still essential reading for students of Medieval studies. A must for those interested in Medieval technology and its impact on the development of western society."--Cecile-Marie Sastre, Flagler College

ASIN : 0195002660
Publisher : Oxford University Press; 1st edition (December 31, 1966)
Language : English
Paperback : 224 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780195002669
ISBN-13 : 978-0195002669
Item Weight : 6.6 ounces
Dimensions : 8 x 0.46 x 5.31 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #526,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,668 in Religious Leader Biographies
- #3,928 in Historical European Biographies (Books)
- #5,049 in History (Books)

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52 ratings

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3 star		9%
2 star		6%
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Ken Wyatt

Occasionally hard to read, translations would have been nice.

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2013

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This was an absolutely fascinating document, that I can not recommend enough.

Covering technological advances such as the progression of plow technology, the invention of the stirrup and the town clock-tower, while connecting them all to absolutely radical changes in social outlook, conceptions of property limits and even (in the case of the stirrup) an argument for why it may be the advance that allowed for Feudalism, and in so doing, could be said to have caused it.

I couldn't put this book down, and have since reread it multiple times to refresh my memory.

The book is extensively referenced. And I mean EXTENSIVELY. Though a once or twice off case, I can't help chuckling at the memory of a page wherein the references (and elaborations on points) took up more space than the main text. If you have any inkling to follow up any single point in the text, you have immediate access to a plethora of titles to follow up. It really is something special.

The book also publishes all quotes in their original language, which is greatly appreciated, but also somewhat troublesome, as absolutely no translation is offered in either the main text, or the reference section down the bottom of the page. A translation for those of us that don't speak 4 languages (yet) would have been a nice feature.

Anybody interested in politics, history, sociology or technology should read this book. I have nothing but glowing praise for it.

10 people found this helpful

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Old But Not Out of Date

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2002

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Medieval Technology and Social Change was published in 1962. It is the production of a professor and it bears many of the characteristics of such works: huge numbers of footnotes, further Notes at the end (comprising about a third of the total book), and an extremely scholarly tone. Fortunately Professor White writes much better than many academics, and the book contains a number of interesting speculations about the effect of Europe of the technological changes which took place in the Middle Ages.
The book concentrates almost completely on Europe, so that you will have to look elsewhere for technological changes in the rest of the world, but what is here is fascinating. There is speculation on the role of the stirrup in revolutionizing warfare and feudalism, an examination of the effects of the three field system on the health of the medieval Europeans, and some intriquing hypotheses on the development of various power sources and machine designs. Worthwhile, particularly in combination with a broader work such as Technology in World Civilization by Arnold Pacey.

23 people found this helpful

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Robert J. Crawford

thought-provoking, vivid, recondite, necessary

Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2013

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This is an excellent, brief history on how technological change impacted medieval society.

The historical backdrop to the technological revolution takes place around the beginning of the Gothic era, when the Dark Ages had given way to a period of rapid change. This is when stable cities began to flourish in relatively greater safety, vast ranges of forest were cleared in a kind of internal colonization for purposes of farming, and, allied to the castle fortresses that were springing up, a knightly culture was born with new norms and modes of warfare.

White argues that three fundamental inventions spread at this time. First, there was the stirrup. This simple device enabled riders to better balance themselves, completely changing what they could do while mounted. As such, they were able to use heavier weapons, like sabers and battering rams for striking without fearing they would lose their balance or get knocked off by the force of the blow. Because the technology was very expensive, it offered further advantage to the rich, reinforcing their mastery over peasants. In addition to the unifying force of a rejuvenated and more uniform Christian ideology, this formed the basis of knightly culture.

Second, there was a revolution in agricultural techniques, the necessary adjunct to the man-driven deforestation that was taking place at the time. This is very technical stuff about how plows were altered so that they turned over the earth in new ways, enhancing fertilization and hence productivity, fuelling the urban boom underway. I will need to review the details many more times to remember them.

Finally, White examines the sudden fascination with mechanical devices, in particular the crank. This section was, in my opinion, the least developed and its results the most ambiguous. There were new, more complex devices made, much of it related to the search for a perpetual motion machine. This led to experimentation and the creation later of more sophisticated locomotive devices. It is like the mechanical equivalent to alchemy and its relation to chemistry.

While I am not competent to evaluate White's conclusions, this is a valuable addition to medieval studies and technological history. I found it thoroughly enriching, an excellent overview of a period I knew from a different angle, and a quick read.

7 people found this helpful

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sbergeon

Medieval Technology and Social Change

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2020

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One of the best history books ever written.

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Amanda Jamison

I consider myself to be well versed enough in English language so it wasn't a super hard read for me

Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2016

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This book is a very interesting read. I had to read it for my World Civilizations class. Along with it, I had to write an essay. It was difficult to write on this book because it's really confusing. The language of the actual text is in multiple languages so obviously, it isn't vernacular. There's really no actual plot or outline of the book except for the 3 chapters with tons of information packed into it. There is so much history jam packed into one chapter that it seems a little bit jumpy/overwhelming. I'd say read this book if you're a history lover or a history major (I'm a biology major so this book is definitely no where near my interest)...If not, you might get lost through the jargon and confusing jumps. I consider myself to be well versed enough in English language so it wasn't a super hard read for me, but for maybe 75% of my class, this was an extremely tough read. You will 100% learn something if you put in the effort. -IF-.

3 people found this helpful

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bevfraser

This was not a hardback book but a paperback. Very inappropriate for the $49 charge used.

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2020

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This not what I expected and will hopefully return it. This was a Christmas gift so I guess I have to give it
but it is pitiful present. Very Disappointed.

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Amazon Customer

happy with this book

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2014

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I love this book! I had to read it for my history class and I loved is so much I am reading it again :).

2 people found this helpful

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Sherry B.

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2015

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Book arrived in very good condition (as advertised) and on time. Very satisfied with my purchase.

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Mrs. RM KLEPPMANN

Good stuff

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 15, 2012

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White certainly refutes the idea of the Middle Ages being all darkness, ignorance and brutality. The technological developments during that period were stunning, but we normally do not appreciate them because they are the foundation of our world and we take them for granted.

She explains the evidence for e.g. stirrups, horseshoes, the crank etc in its historical context e.g. early findings in China, which is helpful but more helpful (for me) is the aspect of social change. For example, the heavy plough was better than the scratch plough for most soil types north of the Alps, but it needed more power (oxen) which then necessitated more cooperation in a village but the result was a better harvest. Later, horses had their advantages (faster workers) and disadvantages (oat consumers).

With this kind of explanation a lot of history makes eminent sense.

Weaknesses:
The footnotes take up far too much space - up to 1/3 of a page.
White assumes that all her readers understand latin and doesn't translate any of the quotes which are presumably relevant.
She also assumes that her readers already understand the construction of cranks, treadles etc. There is not a single drawing anywhere and the pictures showing engravings etc are tucked away at the back ... after the index.

3 people found this helpful

Pierluigi

Classico della letteratura scientifica

Reviewed in Italy on November 9, 2015

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Un classico della letteratura scientifica sulla tecnica e tecnologia del Medioevo.
L'autrice giustamente ricorda Marc Bloch, ponendosi con questo testo in continuità con le teorie del primo e sviluppando in maniera generale e documentata grandi tematiche della tecnica medievale come la forza e la potenza dei risorse naturali quali il vento e l'acqua.

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Amazon カスタマー

西欧中世の技術発達を概観できる

Reviewed in Japan on August 31, 2019

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数年前より西欧中世社会の発展に興味を持ち、技術と生産活動の関係について論じる本を探していた。日本語訳もあったが高価であるため、いっそのこと英語原本を読むことにして正解だった。私自身が機械屋でもあり英語技術文献を読みなれていることもあったが、幾つかのKey Wordsさえ調べれば、ホワイト氏の文章はとても明快なので理解しやすかった。

One person found this helpful

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