Description
Understanding the Marvels of Medieval Technology. This course examines the remarkable innovations and technological advances of the Middle Ages that laid the foundation for the modern world. Presented by Stephen Ressler, a civil engineer and professor emeritus at West Point, the course analyzes engineering achievements from the 6th to 16th centuries in 24 half-hour lectures. Despite the popular perception of the Middle Ages as a dark age, this course shows that it was actually a time of profound innovation, with major advances in agriculture, architecture, industry, weaponry, and transportation. The engineering legacy of ancient Rome was never completely lost, and along with cultural exchanges with Asia and the Near East, it paved the way for a technological revolution. Using practical demonstrations of engineering principles and 3D computer models, Dr. Ressler examines the work and advancements of the period’s master craftsmen, including architects, blacksmiths, shipbuilders, and other artisans, and shows how these key inventions transformed society and paved the way for the Renaissance and later eras.
What you will learn
- Discover the secrets of Gothic Cathedrals.
- Analyzing the simple chemistry of gunpowder and considering its transformative power over civilization.
- An examination of how two seemingly impossible domes were built: the dome of the 6th-century Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (now Istanbul) and the dome of Florence Cathedral in the 15th century.
- Learn the many steps involved in printing a book and why the Gutenberg printing press started an information revolution.
- Exploring the clever mechanism that makes mechanical watches possible.
- An in-depth look at the fundamental achievement of eyeglasses in the Middle Ages.
- Enabling technologies: New systems for agriculture, textile production, ironmaking, and electricity generation that boosted the medieval economy, leading to population growth, increased trade, and the flourishing of cities.
- Military technologies: Military innovations such as the stirrup, the crossbow, gunpowder, siege engines, and the full-sailed warship, which had a profound impact on both the way warfare was conducted and the structure of society.
- Civil and Structural Engineering: The built world of the Middle Ages, with its magnificent cathedrals, castles, bridges, half-timbered houses, city walls, and other structures, is one of Europe’s enduring glories.
- Mechanical Systems: Medieval artisans were highly innovative and adaptable in using power sources such as water, wind, and other resources to perform a variety of tasks—from grinding grain and forging iron to sawing wood and measuring time.
- Amazing Legacy: One of the most important legacies of medieval technology may be something that sits on your nose: glasses. The modern world owes much to medieval efforts to improve life in fundamental ways.
This course is suitable for people who:
- Civil engineering and architectural enthusiasts who want to gain a deeper understanding of the construction methods of Gothic cathedrals and castles.
- History students and researchers seeking to understand the role of technological innovations in the transformation of the Middle Ages and the transition to the Renaissance.
- Anyone who wants to challenge the common perception of the Middle Ages as a period of stagnation and learn about the complexity and creativity of that era.
- People who are interested in the evolution of key technologies such as mechanical machinery, printing, and warfare.
- Engineers and designers who seek inspiration from ancient and medieval innovations and structures.
- Tourists and antiquities enthusiasts in Europe who want to gain deeper insight into enduring structures such as bridges, churches, and castles.
Course Description: Understanding the Marvels of Medieval Technology
- Publisher: TheGreatCoursePlus
- Instructor: Stephen Ressler
- Training level: Beginner to advanced
- Training duration: 13 hours and 32 minutes
- Number of lessons: 24
Course topics
- Technological Development in the Middle Ages
- Advances in Agricultural Technology
- Textile Technology: From Twill to Tapestry
- Metallurgy and Ironmaking
- Waterpower Systems
- Boat Mills, Tidal Mills, and Windmills
- Mounted Shock Combat: The Knight’s Panoply
- The Medieval Arms Race
- The Castle: A Story Written in Stone
- Siegecraft Technologies
- The Gunpowder Revolution
- Hagia Sophia: Byzantine Architectural Marvel
- From Romanesque to Gothic
- The Gothic Stone Skeleton
- Structural Marvels in Wood
- Roads and Bridges
- Monasteries: Tech Hubs of the Medieval World
- Brunelleschi’s Dome
- Marvelous Medieval Machinery
- The Verge-and-Foliot Clock
- Gutenberg and the Printing Press
- Early Mediterranean Shipbuilding: The Dromon
- Longship, Cog, and Carrack
- The Modern Legacy of Medieval Technology
Course images
Sample course video
Installation Guide
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Subtitles: None
Quality: 720p
Download link
Downloadly
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File size
11.3 GB
