3 Middle Ages

GEC08-SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY IN MIDDLE AGES
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY IN

MIDDLE AGES
Overview
Why is it called the Middle Ages? Why are Middle Ages sometimes
called dark ages? Were dark ages really dark? Why is it the age of
Faith? So, join me as I discuss with you the events during the
middle ages and its contribution to science and technology.
The Middle Ages is

between 5th and 15th Overview
centuries of European Objectives
history. It is called
Middle ages because it
is the time between the Early, High &
Late Middle Ages
fall of Roman Empire
and the beginning of
the Early Modern
Europe. It is also called The Technology
Revolution
as Dark Ages due to loss
of technology
of the Romans and Europe was dominated by superstitions. It is
The Revival of
said that there were no great leaders no emerged, scientific
Science in
accomplishments were made and no great art produced. During Europe
the first centuries after the Fall of the Roman Empire, the standard
of living in Europe returned to levels comparable to those just after The Islamic
the Agricultural Revolution. Poverty was endemic and people Golden Age
suffered from wars, piracy, famine and epidemics.
There were no single state of form of government that united the

people of European continent after the fall of Rome and because
of that, the Catholic Church became the most powerful institution
during this period, kings, queens, nobles and the other leaders
acquire their power from their alliances with and protection of the
church. At that time, Muslim armies conquered large parts of the
Middle East, ruled by a single caliph because of this medieval
Islamic world was more than three times bigger than all of
Christendom. The rise of Christianity and Islam is the reason this
period was also called the Age of Faith.
For SLSU use only 23

Greek was the language of philosophy, encountered Greek philosophy for the first
and therefore of science, in the time, and a systematic effort to translate
Mediterranean world from the time of the Greek works received royal support and
Greek city states through the period of late encouragement. The wide variety and
antiquity. In the 7th century A.D., however, large number of Greek texts that were
a new world power emerged. The rise of translated proved to be of lasting
the Islamic Empire brought Muslim culture significance.
to North Africa, Spain, Persia and India.
During this period of expansion, Arabs
Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to
➡ identify the causes of, and developments during the Islamic Golden Age and its
contribution to science and technology.
➡ discuss the causes, main events and consequences of the Crusades, Great Famine,
Black Death and the Hundred Years of War.
➡ identify various technologies that were developed during the middle ages in Europe.
Lecture Notes
Early Middle Ages (500-1000). This era is Bulgars, Alani, Suebi and Franks because
often considered, to begin with the “fall of they hated the regime of Roman Empire.
Rome” and end sometime in the 11th
century. It encompasses the reigns of Epidemic diseases also strike in this period
Charlemagne who is known for being first like smallpox that began to affect the
Holy Roman Emperor. This era is Western Europe, caused by “variola virus”.
sometimes referred as Late Antiquity Bishop Gregory of Tours described the
because this is a time where the transition symptoms of smallpox. Plague of
from classical antiquity, ancient Greek (Era Justinian, a disease from black rats, struck
of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle), to Middle during the reign of King Justinian who
Ages in both mainland of Europe and the trying to rebuild his empire in the middle
Mediterranean world. It is also called as of 6th century. It was the first documented
Migration Period a movement of barbarian pandemic in history that originated from
people including Goths, Vandals, Huns, China and Northeast India.

Inventions that developed in Early Middle

Ages improved the quality of life of every
human. Some of these are watermill
which generates electricity where can
apply in different things like grinding grain
to make a flour and important staple food;
stirrups help warriors to maintain their
balance while fighting; heavy plough is
commonly known as “ard”/ scratch-plough.
Plough is drawn by working animals like
oxen and horses and it helps to loosen the
soil or surface for preparation in planting. Water Mill. https://www.treehugger.com/important-things-
that-were-invented-during-the-middle-ages-4868682
High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Many

scholars called it "Medieval Period", which
means going to the Renaissance period.
The history of high middle ages is also a
birth of the new ideas, thinkers,
philosophers, writers and artist. After the
fall of Rome, there is no single state or
government united who lived in European
context, because it is the time where
Europe is just only began to stand
because of the dark ages.
The Catholic Church and the Monarchs

(Kings and Queens) became the most
Stirrups. https://www.quora.com/Was-the-stirrup-so-
powerful institution in this era. It is the time important-in-battle-invented-during-the-Middle-Ages-or-by-
in high Middle Ages that only literate the-Anglo-Saxons-who-fought-absorbed-the-Vikings-of-
people are those in the church. the-8th-and-9th-centuries
Inside the
church, the
hierarchy was
according to
their rank. First is
the Pope, he is
Church Hierarchy. https://
the supreme
www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/ leader
medieval-farming-technology- Heavy Plough. https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/
transforms-europe/ medieval-farming-technology-transforms-europe/

of the church, and who came from a very

rich family or from a royal family. He is not
only a leader of the church but also a
king, a natural king with a papal state.
Second is the Cardinal, he is known as
the prince of the church, and has a chance
to become Pope. A cardinal is also from
the elite or royal family. Third is the
Archbishop and Bishop. They also The Crusades; Causes and Goals. https://
come from the elite family. Last is the www.ancient.eu/img/c/p/1200x627/8983.jpg?
priest, monks and nuns. v=1569519724
The highest in hierarchy in the European variety of reasons. These included fighting
society are the Monarchs which are the pagans, the suppression of heresy and the
Kings and Queens, Dukes, and other royal resolution of conflict between Catholic
who is a member in the ruling class. This groups.
followed by the nobles and barons. They
are the members of counts, prince and What are the impacts of these crusades?
princesses or also known as the aristocrats. Some of the impacts of the crusades may
Next are the knights, the military forces in thus be summarized in general terms as
the middle ages. Their first priority and follows:
responsibility is to protect the nobles. Last
in the rank is peasant. They composed of • an increased presence of Christians
farmers, laborers, artisans, slave in which in the Levant during the Middle
they serve in their landlord’s land in Ages.
exchange for their protection in times of
wars and other benefits. • the development of military orders.
The Crusades. These were a series of • a polarization of the East and West
religious wars in western Asia and Europe based on religious differences.
initiated, supported and sometimes
directed by the Catholic Church between • the specific application of religious
11th and 17th century. The crusades goals to warfare in the Levant,
differed from other religious conflicts in Iberian peninsula, and Baltic region,
which participants considered them as a in particular.
penitential exercise that brought
absolution. Historians contest the
• the increased role and prestige of
definition of the term with some restricting
the popes and the Catholic Church
it to armed pilgrimages to Jerusalem. The
in secular affairs.
most well known crusades are those
fought against the Muslims of the eastern
• the souring of relations between the
Mediterranean for the Holy Land between
West and the Byzantine
1096 and 1271. Crusades were also fought
Empire leading, ultimately, to the
from the 12th century against the Iberian
latter’s destruction.
Moors, the Ottoman Empire and for a
• an increase in the power of the royal

houses of Europe.
• a stronger collective cultural identity

in Europe.
• an increase in xenophobia and

intolerance between Christians and
Muslims, and between Christians
and Jews, heretics and pagans.
• an increase in international trade and

exchange of ideas and technology.
• an increase in the power of such

Italian states as Venice, Genoa, and
Pisa.
Eyeglasses. https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-
• the appropriation of many Christian dQfqDbUBhDI/V5UQcnF2C1I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/
81XNWAFXVHYoJvJkchsJPhEkVybe-ryEQCLcB/
relics to Europe.
s1600/glasses.jpg
• the use of a religious historical
precedent to justify colonialism,
warfare and terrorism.
There are some technology in the high

middle ages, the hourglass, invented by
Monk Liutprad, the tidal mill, the
eyeglasses or spectacles invented by Friar
Roger Bacon for correcting the vision of
eyes, and the windmill invented by
Terence Paul Smith.
Late Middle Ages (1300-1500). The

European prosperity and growth came to Hourglass. https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/
16th-century-hourglass.html
a halt. A series of famines and plagues,
such as the Great Famine of 1315-1317
and the Black Death, reduced the
population by as much as half according
to some estimates.
The Great Famine. Have you ever been

really hungry for a day? Imagine what it
would feel like to be hungry for days,
weeks, months, and even years. This is
what happened to the people in Europe The Great Famine. https://www.historicuk.com/
assets/Images/peasantsfields1310.jpg?
during The Great Famine of 1315-1317. It
1392637992

is from the Russian Plains to the east, bite of infected fleas and rats. Many
Ireland to the the Alps to the south. One of people believed that the Black Death was
the reason of the famine is the climate in a kind of divine punishment and also they
Europe that was constantly changing. believed that the only way to overcome
Besides the weather issues, the way the plague was to win God’s forgiveness.
society was organized made it difficult to
handle the famine. In a feudal society the
nobility was responsible for the care of the
peasants (serfs) on their land; however,
some of the nobility did not manage their
land very well. Most of the nobility did not
properly care for the soil that made it hard
to grow food.
During famine, food inflation hit the towns.

The agriculture is destroyed. The grains
could not ripen, straw and hay for the The Black Death; Symptoms, https://
images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/
animals could not be dried and there was 2007/08/dn12393-1_420.jpg?width=300
difficulty to produce salt which was used to
preserve meat. Price of food especially
bread began to rise. Situations were The Hundred Years of War. This was fought
worsened in 1316 during the spring. between England and France and lasted
People resorted to eating dogs and from 1337 to 1453. The war was a series of
horses, incidences of cannibalism (rumor) battles with long periods of peace in
and infanticides. Many people became between. Two factors lay at the origin of
beggars and thieves. They believed that the conflict: First, the status of the duchy of
famine was a punishment from God. Guyenne (or Aquitaine)- though it
belonged to the kings of England, it
The Black Death. It was a devastating remained a fief of the French crown, and
global epidemic of bubonic plague that the kings of England wanted independent
struck Europe and Asia in the mid-1300s. possession. Second, As the closest
The plague originated in China and relatives of the last direct Capetian king
arrived in Europe in October 1347, when (Charles IV, who had died in 1328), the
12 ships from the Black Sea docked at the kings of England from 1337 claimed the
Sicilian port of Messina. Over the next five crown of France.
years, the Black Death would kill more
than 20 million people in Europe – almost After a series of battling, eventually, the
one-third of the continent’s population. French gave in and King Charles VI named
The symptoms were strange swellings, Henry as the heir to the throne. Many
then followed by other unpleasant people in southern France did not accept
symptoms such as fever, chills, vomiting, English rule. In 1428 the English began to
diarrhea, terrible aches and pains and then invade southern France. They began a
death. This Black Death was caused by a siege of the city of Orleans. However, a
bacillus called Yersina pestis. It can be young peasant girl by the name of Joan of
transmitted from rodents to human by the Arc took leadership of the French army.

She claimed to have seen a vision from Middle Ages Catholic theology taught that
God. She led the French to a victory at unnecessary work was unworthy of the
Orleans in 1429. She led the French to dignity of man, and so great efforts were
several more victories before she was made to develop labor-savor machinery.
captured by the English and burned at the The monasteries were centers of
stake. The French were inspired by Joan of technological innovation.
Arc's leadership and sacrifice. They
According to many historians, the first
continued to fight back. They pushed the
important technological revolution took
English army out of France taking
place during these years. It was a
Bordeaux in 1453 signaling the end of the
revolution mainly because of two favors:
Hundred Years War.
(1) several technologies from Antiquity
that had been forgotten were used again
on a large scale and a series of new
inventions brought medieval technology
to a more advanced stage that of the
Romans, and (2) many of the tools and
machines developed during these times
remained practically unchanged until the
Industrial Revolution.
Hundred Years of War. https://www.history.com/
topics/middle-ages/hundred-years-war Despite the acquisition of many
techniques from the East, the Western
world of 500–1500 was forced to solve
The Technology Revolution
most of its problems on its own initiative.
The Middle Ages were one of the most In doing so it transformed an agrarian
outstandingly inventive periods in the society based upon a subsistence
whole of human history. It was then that economy into a dynamic society with
the foundations of modern sciences were increased productivity sustaining trade,
laid and the same time saw what had been industry, and town life on a steadily
justly called the first industrial revolution. growing scale. This was primarily a
Much of this process involved recovering technological achievement, and one of
the knowledge and achievements of the considerable magnitude.
ancient world. The history of medieval
Horseshoe, horse collar & stirrup. With no
technology is thus largely the story of the
large slave labour force to draw on,
preservation, recovery, and modification of
Europe experienced a labour shortage
earlier achievements. Both were made
that stimulated a search for alternative
possible by the beliefs on the material
sources of power and the introduction of
world and on the mutual responsibilities of
labour saving machinery. The first
men towards each other that are inherent
instrument of this power revolution was
in Catholic theology. In ancient civilization,
the horse. By the invention of the
there were plenty of slaves carry out
horseshoe, the padded, rigid horse collar,
laborious work, and so there was no
and the stirrup, all of which appeared in
incentive to build machines, but in the
the West in the centuries of the Dark Ages,

the horse was transformed from an Norse mill requires a good head of water
ancillary beast of burden useful only for to turn the wheel at an adequate grinding
light duties into a highly versatile source of speed without gearing for the upper
energy in peace and war. Once the horse millstone (the practice of rotating the
could be harnessed to the heavy plough upper stone above a stationary bed stone
by means of the horse collar, it became a became universal at an early date). Most of
more efficient draft animal than the ox, and the Domesday water mills were used for
the introduction of the stirrup made the grinding grain, but in the following
mounted warrior supreme in medieval centuries other important uses were
warfare and initiated complex social devised in fulling cloth (shrinking and
changes to sustain the great expense of felting woolen fabrics), sawing wood, and
the knight, his armour, and his steed, in a crushing vegetable seeds for oil. Overshot
society close to the subsistence line. wheels also were introduced where there
was sufficient head of water, and the
competence of the medieval millwrights
in building and earthworks and in
constructing increasingly elaborate trains
of gearing grew correspondingly.
Horse Collar: dragging the plough with a Horse

https://player.slideplayer.com/12/3559123/data/
images/img14.jpg
Even more significant was the success of

medieval technology in harnessing
water and wind power. The Romans had
pioneered the use of water power in the
later empire, and some of their techniques
probably survived. The type of water mill 1400’s Norse Mill. https:/www.locallocalhistory.co.uk/
that flourished first in northern Europe, brit-land/power/images/b-land-1400-norse-mill-s.jpg
however, appears to have been the Norse
mill, using a horizontally mounted Windmill. The sail had been used to
waterwheel driving a pair of grindstones harness wind power from the dawn of
directly, without the intervention of civilization, but the windmill was unknown
gearing. Examples of this simple type of in the West until the end of the 12th
mill survive in Scandinavia and in the century. Present evidence suggests that
Shetlands; it also occurred in southern the windmill developed spontaneously in
Europe, where it was known as the Greek the West; though there are precedents in
mill. It is possible that a proportion of the Persia and China, the question remains
5,624 mills recorded in the Domesday open. What is certain is that the windmill
Book of England in 1086 were of this type, became widely used in Europe in the
although it is probable that by that date Middle Ages. Wind power is generally less
the vertically mounted undershot wheel reliable than water power, but where the
had established itself as more appropriate latter is deficient wind power is an
to the gentle landscape of England; the attractive substitute. Such conditions are

found in areas that suffer from drought or possible this fusion, with the result that the
from a shortage of surface water and also molten metal could be poured directly
in low-lying areas where rivers offer little into molds ready to receive it. The
energy. Windmills have thus flourished in emergence of the blast furnace was the
places such as Spain or the downlands of result of attempts to increase the size of
England on the one hand, and in the the traditional blooms.
fenlands and polders of the Netherlands
on the other hand. The first type of
windmill to be widely adopted was
the post-mill, in which the whole body of
the mill pivots on a post and can be turned
to face the sails into the wind. By the 15th
century, however, many were adopting
the tower-mill type of construction, in
which the body of the mill remains
stationary with only the cap moving to turn
the sails into the wind. As with the water
mill, the development of the windmill
brought not only greater mechanical Blast Furnace. https://c8.alamy.com/comp/
power but also greater knowledge of D89H6G/blast-furnace-1-D89H6G.jpg
mechanical contrivances, which was

applied in making clocks and other Magnetic Compass. It provided a means
devices. of checking
navigation on the
open seas in any
weather. The
convergence of
these improvements
in the ships of the
later Middle Ages,
Compass. https://
together with other
medievaltimes1400s.files.
Farmers taking Grain to the Windmill. http:// improvements in wordpress.com/2016/03/
4.bp.blogspot.com/mGtOy1hT_UY/UJusbPoH8LI/ construction and image2.jpg?w=656
AAAAAAAABzE/lepx4kmTtQE/s1600/windmill.jpg
equipment—such as
better barrels for carrying water, more
Blast Furnace. The manufacture of cast
reliable ropes, sails, and anchors, the
iron is the great metallurgical innovation of
availability of navigational charts (first
the Middle Ages. It must be remembered
recorded in use on board ship in 1270),
that from the beginning of the Iron Age
and the astrolabe (for measuring the angle
until late in the Middle Ages the iron ore
of the Sun or a star above the horizon)—
smelted in the available furnaces had not
lent confidence to adventurous mariners
been completely converted to its liquid
and thus led directly to the voyages of
form. In the 15th century, however, the
discovery that marked the end of the
development of the blast furnace made
Middle Ages and the beginning of the

expansion of Europe that has was that

characterized modern times. established at
Mainz by Johannes
Mechanical Clock. While transport
Gutenberg, which
technology was evolving toward these
was producing a
revolutionary developments, techniques
sufficient quantity
of recording and communication were
of accurate type to
making no less momentous advances. The
print a Vulgate
medieval interest in mechanical
Bible about 1455.
contrivances is well illustrated by the
It is clear, however,
development of the mechanical clock, the
that this invention
oldest of which, driven by weights and
drew heavily Gutenberg ‘s’ Printing Press.
controlled by a verge, an oscillating arm
upon long http://
engaging with a gear wheel, and dated
previous mrclarkskipp.weebly.com/
1386, survives in Salisbury Cathedral, uploads/
experience with
England. Clocks driven by springs had 6/3/4/5/63455079/21337
block printing— 62_orig.jp
appeared by the mid-15th century, making
using a single
it possible to construct more compact
block to print a
mechanisms and preparing the way for the
design or picture—and on developments in
portable clock.
typecasting and ink making. It also made
heavy demands on the paper industry,
which had been established in Europe
since the 12th century but had developed
slowly until the invention of printing and
the subsequent vogue for the printed
word. The printing press itself, vital for
securing a firm and even print over the
whole page, was an adaptation of the
screw press already familiar in the wine
press and other applications. The printers
found an enormous demand for their
product, so that the technique spread
rapidly and the printed word became an
Mechanical Clock. https://cdn.britannica.com/ essential medium of political, social,
40/60540-050-6A37C812/Reconstruction-clock-
religious, and scientific communication as
direction-Su-Sung-Joseph-Needham.jpg
well as a convenient means for the
dissemination of news and information. By
Printing Press. Even more significant than
1500 almost 40,000 recorded editions of
the invention of the mechanical clock was
books had been printed in 14 European
the 15th-century invention of printing with
countries, with Germany and Italy
movable metal type. The details of this
accounting for two-thirds. Few single
epochal invention are disappointingly
inventions have had such far-reaching
obscure, but there is general agreement
consequences.
that the first large-scale printing workshop

The Revival of Science in Europe. How was of church for the

science in Europe being revived? It revival of art,
happened during the 9th century known as culture and
the Carolingan Renaissance under the learning. Only the
Frankish Empire. It was called as the member of the
reversal of the decline of Western science church and
and technology where knowledge from monastic orders
ancient Greek started to returned in were literate. Let us
Europe. Islam played a very important role say that they are
because many works of ancient time have the only people
been preserved and translated into Arabic that Charlemagne
even before the Dark Ages. Trade and food can trust to
production started to increase and water establish the
was more abundant than in the system of Scholasticism. http://
Mediterranean countries and soil was more education in www.sheppardsoftware.com/
Europeweb/factfile/Unique-
fertile. Europe. He took
facts Europe35.htm
a serious interest
Frankish empire was
in his and others'
under the rule of
scholarship. He gathered finest scholars
Charlemagne also
from other places and later on it was called
known as Charles
as“scholasticism”.
the Great. He was
born on 742 and Alcuin of York (732-804) from England, a
died on 814 CE. He monk, poet, educator. He wrote number of
is a ruthless and works on education, theology and
brutal man. philosophy. Charlemagne met him in Italy
Charlemagne on 778 and invited him to Aachen where
learned to read became the head of Palatine school.
Latin only when Aachen is the place where Charlemagne
Charlemagne. http://
he was already an www.nndb.com/people/ gathered the leading Irish, English and
adult and 180/000085922/ Italian scholars of that year and became the
unsuccessfully to charlemagne-1-sized.jpg center of discussion and exchange of
learn to write. He knowledge. According to him, his fear of
realized that Charlemagne was as great as his love.
education is the key of maintaining unity
and peace. One of his great contribution
was he reunited Western Europe for the
first time since the Roman Empire and built
an empire greater than any known since
Ancient Rome. He founded the Holy Roman
Empire, stimulated European economic
and political life, and fostered the cultural
revival known as the Carolingian
Alcuin. https://www.bl.uk/people/alcuin-of-york
Renaissance. Western Europeans tried re-
systematized education through the help
In 13th century Christian philosophers Muslims translated most of the famous

establish a university called Scholastic works of antiquity - Plato, Aristotle and
School. St. Thomas Aquinas is one of the Socrates to Arabic that save their works
founder of this school. Many contemporary when the Great Roman Empire has fallen.
philosophers are unsure how to read him.
The Arab translated and preserved not only
He was a primary theologian but find in his
the scientific works of the ancients, but also
writings and works could recognize as
contributed much to several scientific
philosophical. He argued that knowledge
fields. The Arab mechanics and
can be obtained through both religious
engineering technology thrived between
faith and natural reason. He explained the
8th and 16th centuries. Machines were
difference between believer (religion) and
designed and developed for irrigation and
(philosophy). A philosopher started to ask
industrial works such as the cylinder pump,
question based from what he observe and
the hydro powered perpetual flute and the
generating reasons and started to explain.
automated boat. The unsurpassed work on
While the believer ultimately deciding to
Arab mechanical engineering gave a true
believe what is true on the basis of faith
insight into Arab mechanical technology.
and by the revelation of God. However,
Even more than mechanical engineering,
according to him, there are in fact elements
Arab also made advancement in
of what God has revealed that is subject to
Mathematics, as they developed different
philosophical analysis.
mathematical concepts such as irrational
numbers, algebra, analytical geometry and
trigonometry, and development of Arabic
numerals and decimal systems.
In Astronomy, the Arab astronomers led to

great advancements in this field and made
a large number of accurate observations of
the heavens and earth. The major
astronomical instruments that were
Thomas Aquainas: Teaching the Faith. https://
www.hprweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ employed and developed during Islamic
Teaching-the-Faith-St.-Thomas-Aquinas-Contributions- period are mural quadrant, armillary
collage-2.jp sphere, parallactic ruler, celestial sphere,
portable quadrants, sundial and qibla
The Islamic Golden Age (750-1500). finders. Using these instruments, Arab
During the Middle Ages, Muslim Cities astronomers calculated the circumference
such as; Baghdad, Cairo, Tripoli, Cordoba of the Earth, based from the assumption on
became the center of intellectual and an ancient Middle Eastern hypothesis that
cultural where theologians, scholars, the Earth is round, to be 32, 833 km and its
scientists, artists, writers, philosophers, diameter is 10, 465 km; almost coinciding
mathematicians and others convened for with the modern measurements (C=40,075
scholarship, experimentation and km; D=12,742 km).
discovery. This led the naming of the
period “the Islamic Renaissance or the
Islamic Golden Age”.

The Arab institutions were medical schools, medical

scientists did so libraries and pharmacies.
much research However, the science of anatomy did not
work of different progress because dissection of corpses
formula and is not allowed by Islamic Law. One of the
experiment on medical giants in Islamic world is Abu Bkr
how to convert Muhammad bin Zakariya al-Razi, now for
baser metal into his great authority in infectious and medical
gold. This is encyclopedias. He was a prolific author
called alchemy who wrote more than 100 books on
in the early in medicine, astronomy, logic, philosophy and
https:// the early times physical sciences.
www.newworldencyclopedia.or
that later
g/entry/Jabir_ibn_Hayyan
became Around the year
Chemistry. The 1,000 AD the
scientist Abu Must Jabir Ibn Hayyan (Geber distinguished
in the West) was the most famous Arab in surgeon Abu Al-
the early chemical research and was called Qasim Khalaf Ibn
as the “Father of Chemistry”. He wrote more Al-Abbas Al-
that 100 treatise, of which 22 deal with Zahrawi (936-1013
alchemy and Chemistry. He introduced AD), also known in
experimental investigation into alchemy, the West as
and did much work with metals and salt, Abulcasisi, who
which led to the invention of alembic and practiced in
the discovery of antimony, aqua regia Cordoba, published
(mixture of concentrated nitric and a 1,500 page
hydrochloric acids) and sulfuric and nitric illustrated https://hekint.org/
acids. 2017/01/22/abulcasis-
encyclopedia of
the-pharmacist-surgeon/
surgery. It was
In the field of hugely influential in
medicine, the Europe, and many of his instruments are
Arab highly still used today. He is credited with
developed and inventing the scalpel, syringe, the forceps,
continued to the surgical hook and needle, the bone
improve the saw, and using dissolving catgut to stitch
healing arts and wounds. In addition to his knowledge of
practices of the medicine and surgery he was skilled in using
ancients. simple and compound remedies and therefore
Numerous was also known as the “Pharmacist Surgeon.”
hospitals were
established with The influence of Arab medicine encompassed
https://www.researchgate.net/
codified in the early 13th century, the establishment of
figure/Portrait-of-Abubakr-
administration Muhammad-ibn-Zakariyya-al- one of Europe’s leading medical schools at
Razi-or-Rhazes-865-925- Montpellier in Southern France, along the lines
and wards, then
CE_fig1_236331515 of Arab medical schools.
added to these
an
inverted
image
of what
lay
outside
onto a
wall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gx5OdXDALc https://www.famousinventors.org/
inside
alhazen
the
Muslim poet, astronomer, musician and
chamber.
engineer Abbas Ibn Firnas is the Leonardo
In the 1800’s, photographic plates were
Da Vinci of the Islamic world. The 9th
added to the camera obscura to capture
Century inventor was 65 when he made his
images permanently. The result? The
famous attempt at controlled flight in a
camera. All modern cameras—and indeed
rudimentary hang-glider he built. He
the eye itself—use the same physical
launched himself off the side of a mountain
principles as the camera obscura.
and according to some accounts remained
airborne for several minutes before landing
Islamic scholar Badi al-Zaman Abu al-Izz
badly and hurting his back. This was
Ismail ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari was born in
probably the world’s first parachute jump.
1136 in Diyarbakır in what is today central-
Ibn Firnas lived for another 12 years after
southern Turkey. He was a brilliant inventor,
this event. In these final years he reflected
who made a significant contribution in
on what went wrong on that faithful day
engineering in 1206 by devising the
and he reached the conclusion that his
world's first crankshaft - the most important
design did not include a mechanism to
single mechanical device after the wheel.
slow his descent. A bird uses its tail and
This conceptually simple device transforms
wings in unison to slow its speed and stall
continuous rotary motion into a linear
just above the ground before touching
reciprocating motion, but it is now used in
down. Ibn Firnas realized that he forgot to
a huge number of modern machines,
design a tail.
including automobiles.
The scholar Alhazen or Abu Ali al-Hasan
ibn al-Hasan ibn al-Haytham from Basra
was the first person to describe how the
eye works. He carried out experiments with
reflective materials and proved that light
enters the eye, rather than leaving it, as
Greek scientists had believed. In addition,
https://ismailaljazariblog.wordpress.com/crankshaft/
Alhazen identified the principles that
underpin photography when he built what
could amount to the first camera obscura
on record. This enclosure consisted of a
“dark room” into which light entered
through a pinhole-size aperture, projecting

Arabic Numerals. Arabic numbers, or more Hygiene. History lives in everything, and
precisely Hindu-Arabic numbers, were personal hygiene is no exception. When it
invented sometime in fifth century in India. comes to hygiene in the Arab and Middle
From India they spread westwards, Eastern culture, there is a long and rich
together with the spread of Islam, reaching history that is often forgotten. The Arab
the Mediterranean around the eighth hamman (public bathhouse)
century. is greatly believed to have inspired
Europeans to readopt the culture of
Europe picked up these numbers from the bathing during the twelfth and thirteenth
Arabic civilization, that is why we call them centuries. So, what did Arabs use to
‘Arabic’. But it took a long time before maintain personal hygiene in the past?
Europeans widely adopted Arabic numbers
in their practice due to difficult Toothbrush. Islam was the first global
relationships with Islam, and also to the low religion that promoted bodily hygiene. The
levels of literacy and numeracy in Europe at Prophet Mohammed popularized the first
the time, together with a more general toothbrush around the 7th century (600).
cultural backwardness in comparison with Using the twig of Miswak tree, he cleaned
the Arabic civilization. However, with the his teeth and freshened his breath.
development of international trade in Substances similar to Miswak are used in
Europe from the eleventh century to modern toothpaste.
thirteenth century, several key financial and
organizational innovations were
introduced. This is when the first
international companies appear, together
with the earliest examples of banking and
international finance. This new economic
complexity raised the need for a higher
level of computing power, especially to
solve calculations of interest and exchange
rates. It is at this stage that merchant-
bankers, who were already literate and
numerate, realized that Hindu-Arabic
numerals suited their needs better than
Roman ones. Arithmetic with Hindu-Arabic
numerals became part of the required
training for merchant-bankers. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Miswak-tree-and-
Miswak-teeth-cleaning-twig-are-
shown_fig1_334610314
Soap. Arabs went on to develop their soap

production, making liquid and hard soaps
that were often perfumed and colored.
They did so by using vegetable oils,
https://www.archimedes-lab.org/numeral.html including olive oil, or some aromatic oils,
such as thyme oil.

The medieval time period played a large to new technologies--or new uses--or new
role in social evolution. Without the social modes. It is this interplay of
inventions and discoveries of the Middle technology and society throughout the
Ages, today’s technology would not be Medieval Age that it so interesting. By now,
nearly as advanced as it is. Science would you should see why the older term "Dark
still be based on the Church’s ideas and Ages" is inappropriate. All the foundations
ideals, travel and transportation would be for our modern society were laid in the
slower, agriculture would be harder, Medieval Age.
architecture wouldn’t be as diverse as it has
been throughout time. Even the simple But, technology did not develop solely in
invention of linen undergarments allowed Europe. Many technologies, instead, were
people to design more comfortable and the result of inventions that were
suiting clothes and fabric. transferred from the East such as China,
India, and the Muslim world.
The impact of a technology on society is
always unexpected because technologies -END OF THE LESSON-
are rarely "the end of the story." They lead
Reflection: If you were one of those who lived in the late middle ages where the people
suffered from the the effect of bubonic plague and you have the capacity to do something
in controlling the epidemic, how and what are you going to do to help out the government
and the community?
Self Assessment #3: The result of this test will reveal how much you understand the lesson
and will be recorded as part of your performance. Go to your Google Classroom; click the
link to redirect you in the Google Form to answer this test. Say aloud your promise of
honesty (below) before taking the quiz.
In taking this quiz, I (your name) understand that I may not work with anyone else,
including conferring with others (student, or anyone else); exchanging information, answer
or ideas; or in aiding or being aided by others in the completion of this test. I understand
that failure to follow this rules is considered cheating, and may subject me to a significant
reduction in my grade at the discretion of the professor. I certify that I have personally
prepared the answers to this test in accordance with the above stated rules.
1. What period of time is covered by the Middle Ages? (A) 500 BC to 500 AD (B) 1 AD to
1500 AD (C) 500 AD to 1500 AD (D) 1000 AD to 2000 AD
2. Which is not the acceptable name for the Middle Age time period? (A) Renaissance
(B) Dark Ages (C) Medieval Times (D) None of these

3. Which event marks the beginning and end of medieval time period? (A) The split of
Roman Empire to the Black Death (B) The Siege of Constantinople to Hundred years of
War (C) The Fall of Roman to the Renaissance (D) The Viking raids to Voyage of Columbus
4. Which of the following did NOT Charlemagne do during his rule? (A) Promoted education
(B) Spread Christianity (C) Promoted Scholasticism (D) Provided unity and a government
5. Which of the following is true of the Black Death? (A) The virus was carried by rats and
transmitted by fleas. (B) It was also known as the Bubonic plague. (C) It sometimes started
with tumors that would grow under the armpit and groin (D) All of these.
6. Which of the following statements about The Great Famine is INCORRECT? (A) It was one
of the longest-running famines in European history. (B) It occurred because of adverse
weather conditions and poor economic planning with the communal way of farming.
(C) Parents sold their children to save them from hunger. (D) Cannibalism became wide
spread.
7. Which of the following is INCORRECT about the High Middle Ages? (A) The revival of
commerce led to higher standard of living and the population increased. (B) The series of
holy wars against Muslims weakened. (C) More castles and churches were built. (D)
Trading between cities helped rejuvenate Europe; new merchants and craftsmen were
created.
8. Europeans acquired "new" learning during the late middle ages. – What is meant by the
word new in this sentence? (A) Most knowledge learned during this time was entirely new
to the whole world. (B) Many of the ideas had been lost to Europeans, but were well
known to Muslim civilizations that were willing to share this knowledge. (C) Only certain
segments of the population in Europe were learning this new knowledge. (D) Muslim
civilizations would not share their knowledge, so Europeans had to discover it on their
own.
9. How were the Islamic scholars able to preserve many classical works of antiquity from
Greece? (A) After learning how to speak Latin, they gave several lectures in Greece, which
led to the preservation of many classical works of antiquity from Greece (B) They started
their own university, which resulted in the preservation of many classical works of antiquity
from Greece. (C) They tried to gather and translate most of the world's knowledge into
Arabic, which resulted in the preservation of many classical works of antiquity from
Greece. (D) Islamic scholars traveled the Silk Road, spreading classical knowledge Greece.
10. Which statement about the Golden Age of Islam is a fact rather than an opinion?
(A) Muslims were the best early mathematicians. (B) Islamic art was more abstract than
Greek art. (C) Islamic society preserved Greek and Roman culture. (D) Muslim artists had
more talent than European artists.

Project #3: Three-minute Vlog
Create a group vlog about the current pandemic that the world is facing including the
Philippines; relate this to the epidemic happened during the Middle Ages. Discuss in the
vlog the origin, causes and effects, action of the Philippine government (from LGU to
National Government) to reduce (if stopping the spread of the virus is not yet possible) the
number of infected people. Log in to Google Classroom for further instructions.
Rubric for a video blog
Criteria/
4 3 2 1
Ratings
Content It covers all the It includes basic It includes essential The content
topics in depth with knowledge of the information about includes minor
details and topic. The content the topic but it has details and it has
examples. The seems to be good. 1-2 mistakes in the several mistakes in
knowledge of the facts. the facts.
topic is excellent.
Originality The product shows The product shows The product uses The product uses
great originality. certain originality. It ideas from other ideas from other
The ideas are shows the use of people (quoting people without
creative and witty. new ideas and of them), but there is quoting them.
shrewdness. little evidence of
original ideas.
Use of There are no any Three or fewer Four mistakes in More than four
Language mistakes in spelling mistakes in spelling spelling or mistakes in spelling
or grammar and or grammar and grammar and or grammar and
punctuation punctuation. punctuation. punctuation.
Videography A lot of different Several (3-4) and One or two Little effort has
(Interest) shots, camera different shots, different shots, been made to
angles, sound camera angles, camera angles, provide variety to
effects, and an sound effects, and/ sound effects, and/ the video.
adequate use of or an adequate use or an adequate use
zooming providing of zooming of zooming
variety in the video providing variety in providing variety in
the video the video
Videography The overall quality Most of the quality The quality of the The quality of the
(Clarity) of the video and of the video and video is not very video and the focus
the focus were the focus were good but the focus were not very good.
excellent. excellent. was excellent.

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GEC08-SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY IN MIDDLE AGES

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY IN

The Middle Ages is

There were no single state of form of government that united the

For SLSU use only 23

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to

For SLSU use only 24

Inventions that developed in Early Middle

High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Many

The Catholic Church and the Monarchs

For SLSU use only 25

of the church, and who came from a very

• an increase in the power of the royal

• a stronger collective cultural identity

• an increase in xenophobia and

• an increase in international trade and

• an increase in the power of such

There are some technology in the high

Late Middle Ages (1300-1500). The

The Great Famine. Have you ever been

For SLSU use only 27

During famine, food inflation hit the towns.

For SLSU use only 28

For SLSU use only 29

Horse Collar: dragging the plough with a Horse

Even more significant was the success of

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mechanical contrivances, which was

For SLSU use only 31

expansion of Europe that has was that

For SLSU use only 32

The Revival of Science in Europe. How was of church for the

In 13th century Christian philosophers Muslims translated most of the famous

In Astronomy, the Arab astronomers led to

For SLSU use only 34

The Arab institutions were medical schools, medical

For SLSU use only 36

Soap. Arabs went on to develop their soap

For SLSU use only 37

For SLSU use only 38

For SLSU use only 39

Project #3: Three-minute Vlog

Rubric for a video blog

For SLSU use only 40

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