Medieval Europe Achievements
Castles
Longbow
Knights
+ info
+ info
+ info
Printing Press
Gunpowder Cannons
Glasses
+ info
+ info
+ info
CASTLES
Castles are probably the most famous invention of the Middle Ages. Medieval people continued to make them progressively deadlier to attackers and safer and more pleasant for those who lived there. The Normans built the first castles in England. The earliest were cleverly planned for rapid construction - simple earthwork mounds and ditches, defended by palisades of sharp timber stakes. Next they switched to tower-studded outer walls or the two circuits of inner and outer walls which made some of them the strongest fortress in England. Originally castles were made of wood and timber. Later they were replaced with stone to make them stronger. Castles were often built at the top of hills or where they could use some natural features of the land to help with their defense. After the Middle Ages castles weren't built as much, especially as larger artillery and cannon were designed that could easily knock down their walls. Although castle design varied widely throughout Europe, there were some similar features that many castles incorporated.
Click on the video to watch!
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
PRINTING PRESS
Until the end of the Middle Ages, all books were produced by hand - there was simply no alternative. The finest books were (literally) written by monks, and most large monasteries. All this changed when the printing press - using movable type of individual letters which could be arranged to form words - was invented in Germany in about 1439. Printed books could be produced many times cheaper, far more quickly and in infinitely greater numbers than hand-written manuscripts. The 'information revolution' which transformed the world had begun.
Click on the video to watch!
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
KNIGHTS
Knights - armored men on horseback - were the most iconic invention of the Middle Ages. The arrival of Norman knights in 1066 signaled the start of the medieval period, and over the next 450 years their armor and weapons were ingeniously updated to make them more powerful and less vulnerable fighting machines. Medieval Knights were soldiers who fought on horseback and occasionally on foot for their lord. To be a knight, you’d need resources to pay for horses and armor. To join the order of knighthood, a man had to be taught. Because becoming a knight was extremely pricey, these horsemen were generally the sons of wealthy and well-known individuals in society. Being a knight was one method to become rich. A knight might receive money or land as payment for his services if he fought in successful battles and campaigns.
Click on the video to watch!
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
LONGBOW
The most feared English weapon of the Middle Ages was the longbow. With a range of well over 200, they could shoot at least six arrows a minute. Since bows date from prehistoric times, it wasn't exactly a new invention. But really powerful longbows apparently developed on the Welsh borders from the late 12th century. The longbow's success depended on strength and training. Few people today could even draw a medieval 'war bow', something medieval archers regularly practiced from early boyhood.
Click on the video to watch!
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
GLASSES
Until the late 13th century, there was virtually no cure for people who suffered from nearsightedness or farsightedness. In fact, it was a given that once a person grew old, he or she would suffer from weak eyesight and since there was no cure, the victim of the condition had to give up reading and other eye-intensive activities. During the Middle Ages, people began to use lenses to help those who suffer from nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Click on the video to watch!
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
GUNPOWDER CANNONS
The gunpowder-powered cannon which developed in the later medieval period could be more dangerous to users, since they regularly exploded. They were also very difficult to move about. Although used in some sieges, early cannons were more effective inside castles. Steadily growing safer for users and deadlier to enemies, cannons were the weapons of the future.
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
Medieval Europe Achievements
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Medieval Europe Achievements
Castles
Longbow
Knights
+ info
+ info
+ info
Printing Press
Gunpowder Cannons
Glasses
+ info
+ info
+ info
CASTLES
Castles are probably the most famous invention of the Middle Ages. Medieval people continued to make them progressively deadlier to attackers and safer and more pleasant for those who lived there. The Normans built the first castles in England. The earliest were cleverly planned for rapid construction - simple earthwork mounds and ditches, defended by palisades of sharp timber stakes. Next they switched to tower-studded outer walls or the two circuits of inner and outer walls which made some of them the strongest fortress in England. Originally castles were made of wood and timber. Later they were replaced with stone to make them stronger. Castles were often built at the top of hills or where they could use some natural features of the land to help with their defense. After the Middle Ages castles weren't built as much, especially as larger artillery and cannon were designed that could easily knock down their walls. Although castle design varied widely throughout Europe, there were some similar features that many castles incorporated.
Click on the video to watch!
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
PRINTING PRESS
Until the end of the Middle Ages, all books were produced by hand - there was simply no alternative. The finest books were (literally) written by monks, and most large monasteries. All this changed when the printing press - using movable type of individual letters which could be arranged to form words - was invented in Germany in about 1439. Printed books could be produced many times cheaper, far more quickly and in infinitely greater numbers than hand-written manuscripts. The 'information revolution' which transformed the world had begun.
Click on the video to watch!
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
KNIGHTS
Knights - armored men on horseback - were the most iconic invention of the Middle Ages. The arrival of Norman knights in 1066 signaled the start of the medieval period, and over the next 450 years their armor and weapons were ingeniously updated to make them more powerful and less vulnerable fighting machines. Medieval Knights were soldiers who fought on horseback and occasionally on foot for their lord. To be a knight, you’d need resources to pay for horses and armor. To join the order of knighthood, a man had to be taught. Because becoming a knight was extremely pricey, these horsemen were generally the sons of wealthy and well-known individuals in society. Being a knight was one method to become rich. A knight might receive money or land as payment for his services if he fought in successful battles and campaigns.
Click on the video to watch!
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
LONGBOW
The most feared English weapon of the Middle Ages was the longbow. With a range of well over 200, they could shoot at least six arrows a minute. Since bows date from prehistoric times, it wasn't exactly a new invention. But really powerful longbows apparently developed on the Welsh borders from the late 12th century. The longbow's success depended on strength and training. Few people today could even draw a medieval 'war bow', something medieval archers regularly practiced from early boyhood.
Click on the video to watch!
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
GLASSES
Until the late 13th century, there was virtually no cure for people who suffered from nearsightedness or farsightedness. In fact, it was a given that once a person grew old, he or she would suffer from weak eyesight and since there was no cure, the victim of the condition had to give up reading and other eye-intensive activities. During the Middle Ages, people began to use lenses to help those who suffer from nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Click on the video to watch!
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk
GUNPOWDER CANNONS
The gunpowder-powered cannon which developed in the later medieval period could be more dangerous to users, since they regularly exploded. They were also very difficult to move about. Although used in some sieges, early cannons were more effective inside castles. Steadily growing safer for users and deadlier to enemies, cannons were the weapons of the future.
Sources: historyforkids.org, ducksters.com, www.english-heritage.org.uk