History of Science &

Technology in the World

during Middle Age
• GROUP 3
GUTIERREZ, KEVIN CARLO
CAYANAN, KARYLL BAU
ILAGAN, LAN CARLO
GARCIA, JUSTINE
REYNANTE, DIVINE GRACE
MIDDLE AGE
• With its roots medi-, meaning "middle", and ev-, meaning "age", medieval
literally means "of the Middle Ages".
• The Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to
the late 15th centuries. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire
 a lot of the Roman culture and knowledge was lost. This included art,
technology, engineering, and history. Historians know a lot about Europe
during the Roman Empire because the Romans kept excellent records of all
that happened. However, the time after the Romans is "dark" to historians
because there was no central government recording events. This is why
historians call this time the Dark Age.
• The Middle Ages can be split into the Early Middle Ages (300-900), High
Middle Ages (900-1250), and Late Middle Ages (1250-1517).
THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY IN
THE MIDDLE AGE
• A large number of inventions came to be during the
medieval period. Given that the medieval period was
marked by warfare throughout the different parts of
Europe, most of the significant inventions of the
period were directly or indirectly related to
warfare. However, there were other which played a
critical part in shaping medieval Europe. Here are
some of the most important inventions from the
medieval period.
 Astrolabe
• Astrolabe was a key astronomical instrument during the
Middle Ages. It can be used to tell the time, measure the heights
of stars and buildings. Astrolabes have been traced to the 6th
century, and they appear to have come into wide use from the
early Middle ages in Europe and the Islamic world. By about the
mid-15th century, astrolabes were adopted by mariners and used
in celestial navigation. 
 Compass
• The compass, of today has its immediate roots in the Middle Ages. Yet, for
medieval historians of technology, it has been fodder for debate, especially as its
“true” origins have been quite difficult to verify with historical evidence. Yet,
almost all medievalists understand the compass to have Chinese roots.  Later
compasses were made of iron needles, magnetized by striking them with a
lodestone. Dry compasses begin appearing around 1300 in Medieval Europe and
the Medieval Islamic world.
 Eyeglasses
• Modern day eyeglasses have their roots that date back more
than 1000 years. In the middle ages Monks were known to use
reading stones that were glass spheres, sometimes filled with water,
that were placed on top of objects in order to magnify them. The first
documented use of eyeglasses was attributed to being developed in
Italy 1286.
Gunpowder
• First used for battle in China in about 900 A.D., gunpowder
spread throughout Eurasia by the end of the 13th century,
eventually revolutionizing warfare as a propellant in firearms
and artillery.
Mechanical Clock
• In 1309 a clock is recorded in a church in Italy. The
oldest working clock in the world is in Salisbury
Cathedral. It dates from 1386 and it has no dial. Instead,
it chimes the hours.
Printing Press
• Both the movable type and the paper printing machines were first used in
China. However, the printing press was actually advanced and mechanized by
the Europeans during the Middle Ages. The earliest mention of printing press
was done in a lawsuit in 1439, in Strasburg. This lawsuit revealed the history of
construction of press for Johannes Gutenberg and his associated .
 Tidal Mill
• The Tidal mills were first used during the seventh century in
the medieval Europe and they are considered as one of the
great examples of improving Middle Ages technology. A tidal
mill is a special type of water mill which is driven by the rise
and fall of tides.
Spinning Wheel
• The spinning wheel is an ancient invention that turned plant
and animal fibers into thread or yarn, which were then
woven into cloth on a loom no one knows who invented the
first spinning wheel, but it most likely originated in India
between 500 and 1000 A.D. By the 13th century, spinning
wheels appeared in Europe.
Resources
• https://www.faith.org.uk/article/may-june-2006-scien
ce-and-technology-in-the-middle-ages
• https://www.medievalchronicles.com/medieval-histor
y/medieval-inventions-list/mechanical-clock/
• https://www.slideshare.net/leizeldespi/middle-age-32
755661
• https://rfb.bildung-rp.de/fileadmin/_migrated/content
_uploads/Science_and_Technology_in_the_Middle_
Ages_01.pdf
• https://mfgsc-vic.libguides.com
• https://www.thefinertimes.com/technology-in-the-
middle-ages
QUIZ
• It is an ancient invention that turned plant and animal
fibers into thread or yarn, which were then woven into
cloth.
• It is a special type of water mill which is driven by the
rise and fall of tides.
• First used for battle in China in about 900 A.D. and
spread throughout Eurasia by the end of the 13th
century.
• Both the movable type and the paper printing machines
were first used in China.
• This clock has no dial instead, it chimes the hours.
• In the middle ages Monks were known to use reading
stones that were glass spheres, sometimes filled with
water, that were placed on top of objects in order to
• In the middle ages Monks were known to use reading
stones that were glass spheres, sometimes filled with
water, that were placed on top of objects in order to
magnify them.
• It was known to be used as navigation and helped people
from getting lost and made traveling much eaiser.
• . It can be used to tell the time, measure the heights of
stars and buildings.
• During this period, a large number of inventions came.
• It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire  a lot
of the Roman culture and knowledge was lost. This
included art, technology, engineering, and history.