If You Were Knocked Back Into Medieval Times…
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While reading Reddit yesterday I came across a rather interesting question. “If you were knocked back into Medieval times, what technology could/would you invent, keeping in mind the available materials?”
This question got me thinking and after going over some of the responses, and, for some reason I was also watching an episode of Little House on the Prairie, I came up with water powered woodworking. You know, the water powered wheel that powers woodworking tools like large bandsaws. This would allow for a major improvement in mass producing materials for buildings and other construction projects.
The responses to the question range from the silly like taking McGiver back with you to the practical like inventing potable water techniques and other sanitation measures.
I now put the question to the Gnomies.
Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Please keep in mind that some things might get you burned as a witch.
7 Comments
E2001
August 31st, 2008
at 1:20pm
It is commonly argued in intellectual circles that the modern world came into being with the invention of an accurate clock. So, depending on whether or not I wanted to start the technological world all over again, I may or MAY NOT wish to invent the chronometer.
GRPeng
August 31st, 2008
at 1:58pm
I think education (and the infrastructure to enable it) is the key to a successful society. It has been a while since I played Civilization, but I would start with a clean water supply system and might build a printing press before a water powered mill.
It really depends on the exact era and if my situation was secure enough to help society or I needed to develop control over the population to get anything done.
Buffet
August 31st, 2008
at 4:23pm
Being a bodybuilder, and in excellent physical condition, I would simply apply the principle of “Survival of the fittest” and soon become king.
Tbirdkiller
August 31st, 2008
at 5:10pm
I would try to discover electricity because many problems can be solved with it and depending on the epoch many of the components might be available.
Ejay
August 31st, 2008
at 8:09pm
I would have liked to introduce some sort of International language , whether it be oral or by signing , this may have speeded up technology as each country would share ideas rather than all of them working on similar ideas over a longer period of time , this may have also had an impact on wars with countries less likely to be hostile if technology was their main basis of communication and not religion or greed !
E2001
September 1st, 2008
at 5:31am
Ejay: I’ve got news for you. Technology IS THE religion of greed! Not only does it comprise all of the bombs, missiles, warplanes, etc… But it ALSO comprises all of the neat little cell-phones, mp3 players, sports cars, and-so-forth; which exist primarily so that the greater population (you) will be so hypnotized as not to ask such uncomfortable questions as: “Why aren’t Bush and Cheney being charged as war criminals?”
Urban Underbrink
September 2nd, 2008
at 5:13am
There are groups trying to put us back into the Stone Age right now. It would be one way to stop our Carbon footprint. Then you have the groups that want Humans to die off so the animals would have a better life. I think both of these groups should set the example so everyone else could see if they want this or not.