Back to Results
Cover image of Technology in Mediterranean and European Lands, 600–1600
Preorder
Cover image of Technology in Mediterranean and European Lands, 600–1600
Share this Title:

Technology in Mediterranean and European Lands, 600–1600

Pamela O. Long

Publication Date
Binding Type

How medieval and Renaissance technology shaped Mediterranean and European society across a millennium.

In Technology in Mediterranean and European Lands, 600-1600, Pamela O. Long explores the intricate web of technological advancements that shaped Mediterranean and European societies during the medieval and early modern periods. From the essential crafts of ploughing and tailoring to the sophisticated hydraulic systems and monumental building constructions, Long illuminates how ordinary people harnessed and transformed their world.

Drawing on recent scholarship on environmental history and the...

How medieval and Renaissance technology shaped Mediterranean and European society across a millennium.

In Technology in Mediterranean and European Lands, 600-1600, Pamela O. Long explores the intricate web of technological advancements that shaped Mediterranean and European societies during the medieval and early modern periods. From the essential crafts of ploughing and tailoring to the sophisticated hydraulic systems and monumental building constructions, Long illuminates how ordinary people harnessed and transformed their world.

Drawing on recent scholarship on environmental history and the history of technology—as well as materials, object biographies, and the circulation of objects—Long examines the circulation of ideas and technologies in Europe and the Mediterranean. The book covers the evolution of food production, transportation, and communication, as well as the crafting of pottery, weapons, and machines. This in-depth historical analysis shows how these technological advancements had profound social and economic impacts on everyday life. Long's meticulous research and engaging narrative bring to light the interconnectedness of various crafts and their contributions to the broader tapestry of human history.

By integrating archaeological findings, historical texts, and modern scientific methods, the book offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the technological practices of the pre-modern world. Perfect for scholars, students, and history enthusiasts, Technology in Mediterranean and European Lands, 600-1600 emphasizes the ingenuity and resilience of past civilizations and the enduring legacy of technological innovation.

Reviews

Reviews

What doesn't Pamela Long know about how things were made and done in the past? Like her other volumes on technology, society, and culture, this one is a treasure trove of information on the way things work, how controversies about technological change have played out, and who has written what on the history of technologies, large and small. We can only be deeply grateful for her meticulous scholarship.

About

Book Details

Release Date
Publication Date
Status
Preorder
Trim Size
6
x
9
Pages
296
ISBN
9781421451220
Illustration Description
67 b&w photos, 12 b&w illus.
Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements
On Dates and Calendars
Introduction: Technology, a Human Practice
1. Food Production
2. Hydraulic Technologies
3. Building Construction, Urbanism, and Urban Water Supplies
4

Preface and Acknowledgements
On Dates and Calendars
Introduction: Technology, a Human Practice
1. Food Production
2. Hydraulic Technologies
3. Building Construction, Urbanism, and Urban Water Supplies
4. Transportation and Communication
5. Crafts and Industries
6. Instruments and Machines including Weapons
Conclusion: Why Premodern Technology Matters
Notes
Bibliography

Author Bio
Featured Contributor

Pamela O. Long

Pamela O. Long is an independent historian and the author of many books, including Engineering the Eternal City: Infrastructure, Topography, and the Culture of Knowledge in Late Sixteenth-Century Rome and Openness, Secrecy, Authorship: Technical Arts and the Culture of Knowledge from Antiquity to the Renaissance. She was a Rome Prize Fellow at the American Academy in Rome, is a member of the...