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Here is an original, timely, and fascinating revelation of
Western medieval society, a book with a provocative double thesis: that the Middle
Ages experienced the first true Industrial Revolution, in some ways more significant
than the properly accepted turning point of the nineteenth century, and that the
decline of the Middle Ages bears extraordinary parallels to the failings of modern
industrial society, especially in the United States. The author concentrates on
technology and invention, aspects largely neglected up to now in more humanistically
oriented studies of medieval times. Through marvelously vivid details and graphically
selected source material, he reconstructs the commercial life of the period, giving
us a vital appreciation of how energy resources, manpower and sheer ingenuity
were applied to such fields of medieval endeavor as agriculture, light industry,
the construction trades, and mining. Throughout he extracts clear and acute analogies
to modern-day phenomena and institutions, while also bringing to life some of
the great men of the period -- the architect-engineers and other technicians whose
genius anticipated many of the innovations credited to Leonardo and other Renaissance
luminaries. A generous variety of illustrations demonstrates particular aspects
of industrial life and reinforces the author's theme of dynamic invention as a
central and characteristic force of the Middle Ages. Jean
Gimpel is a medieval scholar and social historian, whose previous book, The
Cathedral Builders, was highly praised here and abroad. He has lectured at
Yale and other U.S. universities, and at present lives in London. |
