One thing I appreciate from this article is that none of these developments were planned. They evolved out of small, local choices. It is in retrospect that we can see the forces that shaped the world. (That's not the best way to say it, but I think my meaning is clear.)
Just wanted to say thank you. This read was a blast. Really liked the easy explanation of the Dark Age transition to High medieval age and how new technology was indeed important, especially for growth in regions that were not relevant during the Roman age, but later on even more (like Northern Germany - I am from Western Germany and we have great land for agriculture here).
Remarkably accurate, good job! In the early Middle Ages, though, the point of Feudalism was military service, such taxes as existed were things like customs, or fees paid for various permissions.
A knight owed personal service to his Baron, who was expected to bring his troops to his Earl, or Duke. The homage was quite specific about the number of Milites, their equipment, and their length of service
Of course, military service is very different from taxation. The guys with the weapons are the ultimate determinations of Power, and using them can result in their own deaths.
Much of late Medieval/Renaissance humor is based on the essential difference between wealth and combat. It's really an underlying theme of Don Quijote.
Gunpowder weapons did a lot to resolve this. An oaf with a Musket could serve well enough, particularly if buttressed by a murderous Aristocrat urging him forward.
My goodness, do I enjoy these discussions. Sorry to see Pax Americana go. Fun while it lasted, but I guess its demise was inevitable. Wonder what Pax is a'brewin' now...
Question: the ~5 centuries of technological advancement (500-1000AD), was that to recover what was lost with the fall of the Roman Empire, or to go above it? In other words, the population line has a dip in that period. But the technology line?
I find it interesting that the Roman Empire was big and seemingly advanced, in some respects, but then we regressed so much.
Thank you for this brilliant article. Your ability to relate the daunting complexity to simple, concrete steps the reader can understand easily and highlight what is important - antidote to my ADHD discursive brain fascinated by history and befuddled by seemingly arbitrary particulars. You show me that it is possible to resolve this confusion by well-principled critical inquiry.
That heavy plough was pulled in the long direction of the field stripe, not orthogonal. The plough would be worked clockwise around each land, ploughing the long sides and being dragged across the short ends without ploughing. You don't want to turn around every 20 meters or so. Hence the stripes and not squares.
Have you ever looked into how history developed over the last 2-3 thousand years in China compared to developments in Europe over the same time period?
One thing I appreciate from this article is that none of these developments were planned. They evolved out of small, local choices. It is in retrospect that we can see the forces that shaped the world. (That's not the best way to say it, but I think my meaning is clear.)
Yes I agree! Some of these they could see (like Antonio de Nebrija), but the entire arc? Near impossible!
Just wanted to say thank you. This read was a blast. Really liked the easy explanation of the Dark Age transition to High medieval age and how new technology was indeed important, especially for growth in regions that were not relevant during the Roman age, but later on even more (like Northern Germany - I am from Western Germany and we have great land for agriculture here).
Glad to hear! My pleasure 😊
Remarkably accurate, good job! In the early Middle Ages, though, the point of Feudalism was military service, such taxes as existed were things like customs, or fees paid for various permissions.
A knight owed personal service to his Baron, who was expected to bring his troops to his Earl, or Duke. The homage was quite specific about the number of Milites, their equipment, and their length of service
Of course, military service is very different from taxation. The guys with the weapons are the ultimate determinations of Power, and using them can result in their own deaths.
Much of late Medieval/Renaissance humor is based on the essential difference between wealth and combat. It's really an underlying theme of Don Quijote.
Gunpowder weapons did a lot to resolve this. An oaf with a Musket could serve well enough, particularly if buttressed by a murderous Aristocrat urging him forward.
Yes! This will come in the 4th article or 5th in this series! Thx for pointing out.
My goodness, do I enjoy these discussions. Sorry to see Pax Americana go. Fun while it lasted, but I guess its demise was inevitable. Wonder what Pax is a'brewin' now...
Unclear Pax Americana will disappear immediately!
Endlessly fascinating, thanks Tomas. Speaking of the network effect, how is the online business going?
Which one?
This?
It’s going.
It was the shopping business, similar to Amazon.
Interesting. So what can we conclude about how Internet and globalization are disrupting this ? :)
Hahha you gotta understand the past before you can project into the future!
I agree. So my question stands ah ah ;)
Another great and very interesting article : )
My education for the day! I skipped history in college so every chance I get to fill in the void I relish!
Nice article.
Very interesting thanks.
Question: the ~5 centuries of technological advancement (500-1000AD), was that to recover what was lost with the fall of the Roman Empire, or to go above it? In other words, the population line has a dip in that period. But the technology line?
I find it interesting that the Roman Empire was big and seemingly advanced, in some respects, but then we regressed so much.
Thank you for this brilliant article. Your ability to relate the daunting complexity to simple, concrete steps the reader can understand easily and highlight what is important - antidote to my ADHD discursive brain fascinated by history and befuddled by seemingly arbitrary particulars. You show me that it is possible to resolve this confusion by well-principled critical inquiry.
That heavy plough was pulled in the long direction of the field stripe, not orthogonal. The plough would be worked clockwise around each land, ploughing the long sides and being dragged across the short ends without ploughing. You don't want to turn around every 20 meters or so. Hence the stripes and not squares.
Ah it's in fun fact footnote 6 already 😆
Great connections between new technology, societal hierarchy, trade, and emergence of nation states!
Have you ever looked into how history developed over the last 2-3 thousand years in China compared to developments in Europe over the same time period?
Small correction: Portugal's Reconquista finished in 1249, not the 1400s... That was Spain.
Please continue. I enjoyed the post and look forward to the next.