In Praise of Medieval Tinkers

The subject of technology, it has long been agreed, is of vital interest to the economic historian, as well as to the historian of science. the latter connection my ignorance is such that I can do no more than make a few hesitant observations, largely inspired by a very competent adviser. In the former connection I should presumably speak with greater assurance, because my own research for a good many years has been concerned with medieval society. But with regard the difficult problem of technological advance and its significance, must confess that I can ask many more questions than I can answer—as will be seen from what follows. Such questions must be faced by anyone who considers history more than an antiquarian hobby. For what phase of historical investigation can be more important than the development of the industrial society in which we live ? Precisely where is taking mankind nobody knows. We historians—medievalists and others—must at least remark its novelty and try better to understand it by explaining its origins.