The middle ages were a time of constant war and fear. There were many new inventions involving war but there were also other inventions that have had a enduring impacts on future civilizations. This page will discuss the science and technology of the middle ages.
Castles were first made out of wood. These Bailey castles were easy to destroy by fire so the stone castle was invented. These are much harder to build, take longer and are more expensive but were stronger than wooden castles.
Now, imagine you are a knight standing on the castle wall as the enemy is nearing. You have to rely on these lines of defense to stay alive...
Many machines were invented to attack castles. These machines were heavy and cumbersome and were made at the scene of the battle so they wouldn't have to be moved far distances.
Now, imagine you are one of the attackers, you look around and see your army of war machines. You hope they are enough to take over the castle. You place your hope in these machines...
The trebuchet- A catapult like device that could fling rocks or other missiles at an almost straight trajector
Some defenders and Attackers had chain mail armor. It consisted of many metal rings linked together and it was made by a blacksmith. There are some advantages of using chain mail instead of regular plate armor. It is lighter, more flexible and cheaper that plate armor although plate armor offers more protection. It is an enduring impact because we still use it today. An example of it being used today is divers wear it to deflect the bites of sharks and other dangerous marine animals.
Other inventions included:
Link to top ten middle ages inventions.