05-22-2006, 07:11 PM
I've read in many books that technology marched on from roman times up through the rennaissance, but I remain somewhat unconvinced. They weren't called the Dark Ages for nothing I suspect. I get the feeling that for every invention of the period, 2 inventions or important ideas were lost. For one thing, it is clear that illiteracy was rampant, and use of a standard language almost completely dissappeared except in the Church. This in my mind does not assist much in the exchange of ideas.
I've recently began reading about the medeival economy, and I can hardly believe what I am reading. Trade had almost completely collapsed, and almost the entire population of Europe lived on self sufficient farms. After reading for years about the Greeks and Romans, I am shocked by what was lost. Polybius knew that if you went far enough south, the sun would appear on your opposite shoulder as you sailed east/west. That was nothing but an untested crackpot, if not heretical, theory in 1400 c.e. where it was common knowlege that anyone that sailed south of the horn of Africa would be incinerated by the heat!
I've recently began reading about the medeival economy, and I can hardly believe what I am reading. Trade had almost completely collapsed, and almost the entire population of Europe lived on self sufficient farms. After reading for years about the Greeks and Romans, I am shocked by what was lost. Polybius knew that if you went far enough south, the sun would appear on your opposite shoulder as you sailed east/west. That was nothing but an untested crackpot, if not heretical, theory in 1400 c.e. where it was common knowlege that anyone that sailed south of the horn of Africa would be incinerated by the heat!
Rich Marinaccio
