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Understanding the Marvels of Medieval Technology

A civil engineer tackles the medieval innovations that paved the way for our modern world.
 
 
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great lectures This is one of the best things I have ever watched!
Date published: 2025-07-10
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Exceptional Took my time with this series because it is so good. This gifted professor is amazing in so many ways: he makes the models for his interactive lectures, poses interesting questions and is very engaging with demonstrations and terrific language. This course takes your through technology and history that may connect the dots for you on our arrival into this modern age. It has been so enjoyable and enlightening taking two of Dr. Ressler's courses so far. They are both excellent.
Date published: 2025-07-03
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Engineering as an Art Form Back in the 1960s, when I was a Psychology and Philosophy major at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, my world was quite radically partitioned among Humanities, Sciences, and Engineering. There was more interaction between science and engineering, but those of us in the humanities felt somewhat removed into more lofty realms of the soul. We were the guardians of truth and beauty. Dr. Ressler has shown me a side of engineering that I would never have discovered had he not responded to my already existing curiosity about how things were built, how they worked. Having travelled the world as a humanitarian worker, I have seen the marvels of ancient and modern architecture and technology. But I had not the slightest clue how they worked or how they were constructed. The course on Understanding Greek and Roman technology got me hooked. I have devoured every one of his courses since then. I was excited when the Marvels of Medieval Technology was first announced. I decided to watch no more than one lecture per week, because I didn't want the pleasure of novelty to dissipate too quickly. (A measure of my enjoyment.) Even my wife – a nursing professor with technophobic tendencies – started to enjoy the lectures. Who could have imagined the intricacies of the spinning wheel and loom? The greatest gift that Professor Ressler has given me is an insight that runs contrary to what I used to believe. It became apparent to me that the world of engineering is not as far removed from the world of humanities as I had imagined. Humanities do not have a monopoly over truth and beauty. This course in particular has convince me that engineering is actually an exquisite art form.
Date published: 2025-06-19
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Wonderful Course Content, Wonderful Instruction! I have studied and enjoyed others of Dr. Stephen Ressler’s Great Courses besides this newest offering on “Understanding the Marvels of Medieval Technology.” Once again, I’ve been impressed by the fascinating information shared by a master teacher and the clarity of his lectures. Even though I’d previously felt moderately well informed about the European Middle Ages, Dr. Ressler has filled in many “gaps” in my awareness, for which I’m grateful. It has been a breath-taking realization for me to grasp how very intelligent the thought processes of Medieval designers, builders, and inventors must have been, especially since they were proceeding by intuition, trial-and-error, and common sense, rather than by polished principles of modern science. As an example of a “gap” in understanding filled for me by this Medieval Technology course, I will cite the professor’s detailed discussion of Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press. Past courses I’ve attended at universities or studied in video format certainly did mention the printing press as a major human achievement. I’d still thought of it as “an” invention, though, whereas Dr. Ressler has explained how a whole “suite” of inventions, innovations, and adaptations of previous knowledge were necessary components of Gutenberg’s great accomplishment. I now realize that an integrated technological system must often be at the heart of many a famous breakthrough development. Dr. Ressler’s present course seems itself to be an integrated system. His manner of speech is engaging, candid, and vibrant. That lecture style merges well with the careful sequencing of the material covered. Further supportive components include purpose-built structural models, active demonstrations and experiments, and well-chosen visual extras. Even humour and music enhance the comprehensive package. This is the 156th course by The Teaching Company that I’ve reviewed. Many have also deserved high praise, but none more so than the present course.
Date published: 2025-06-13
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Understanding the Marvels of Medieval Technology When I read the reviews for this course and the others by Steve Ressler, it seems that he has gathered around him a group of sophisticated learners with much more background in what he talks about than I have. I admit to being in the group but not to having the background. I also admit to having only a vague image of European history in the middle ages and even less around the rest of the world at that time. Still, this course is fascinating and is "for dummies" in the sense that Steve provides all the background you need to follow along. It appeals to the 6 year old in all of us who wants to know "How do they do that?" How do you use water power to mill grain? How do you print stuff? How do you defend a castle? How do you storm one? How do you get the wind to do useful work? If you wonder about these questions (even after someone else prompts you to raise them), this course will provide you with answers. It will also take you down the road to further questions and answers. Why did people want to print? Why were defenses against sea invaders so important? And further still to the constraints under which the problems were set. Stone and wood are very different materials. Recommended for anyone with a modicum of curiosity, pretty much about anything.
Date published: 2025-06-08
Rated 5 out of 5 by from A deeply technical yet entertaining series This comprehensive review of medieval technology was surprisingly entertaining for what might have been an otherwise dry topic. The physical and virtual models that Dr. Roessler used to illustrate key points in his lecture series were very effective in bringing his examples to life. I completed the whole series about 6 weeks ago and have just started watching it again a second time…so I guess a series about medieval technology really can be compelling!
Date published: 2025-05-28
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Yet another awesome Professor Ressler course!!! This course is yet another high-quality, entertaining, expertly-lectured, highly-educational adventure produced by Great Courses. As an information junkie, I've purchased 300+ courses from Great Courses (including all of Professor Ressler's), and his are the only ones I've watched over and over several times --- which is to say he's clearly my favorite lecturer!!! It's not only that he keeps lecturing about such fascinating topics, but it's also his awesome teaching style and meticulous commitment to intricate details. Add to that Great Courses' excellent studio and production, and we the students walk away with a delightful experience. A big thank you to Professor Ressler for so many hours of fun, engaging education + entertainment! I look forward to his next 10 topics!!!
Date published: 2025-05-14
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Engaging & Informative, With Room to Improve Another amazing course by Stephen Ressler. Having greatly enjoyed his series, Epic Engineering Failures, I knew I was in for another treat. Not only does Ressler do a magnificent job translating complex engineering for the lay person, his teaching models only continue to improve. Take for example, in lecture 14 on Gothic architecture, the 3D models he printed were so detailed that he could accurately simulate rain being diverted from a cathedral roof, through stone gutters and out through a gargoyle’s mouth! While I applaud Ressler’s enthusiasm for technology, I would have like to see him grapple more with the ethical and moral impacts of these same technologies. One person’s voyage of discovery and exploration is another person’s descent into subjugation and exploitation. Native people of the America’s and the Caribbean weren’t “discovered” by Christopher Columbus, but instead they were enslaved, exploited and murdered. Instead of quoting from Francis and Joseph Gieses’ book, Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel, I’d like to see Ressler quote from Howard Zinn’s book, A People's History of the United States, or Chris Harman’s book, A People's History of the World. To be fair, Ressler does briefly touch upon the harmful effects of medieval technology. Unfortunately, this was not broached until the final lecture. I feel that this series could be improved by including details on the harmful effects of the technologies discussed throughout the lectures—not just at the very end. I think we have reached a tipping point with how we view history, and it’s no longer possible to view history agnostically, without recognizing the impact of technology on its audience.
Date published: 2025-05-05
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Understanding the Marvels of Medieval Technology

Trailer

Technological Development in the Middle Ages

01: Technological Development in the Middle Ages

Visit Trim Castle, a 12th-century fortress in Ireland that has an ingenious fortified gateway called a barbican—a feature emblematic of the surprising sophistication of medieval technology. Starting with this intriguing structure, Professor Ressler introduces the wide range of technologies covered in this course. As background, he gives a virtual tour of the Middle Ages.

36 min
Advances in Agricultural Technology

02: Advances in Agricultural Technology

Explore four, celebrated agricultural innovations of the Middle Ages: the heavy plow, the open-field system, three-field crop rotation, and the horse collar. Did they, in fact, lead to a surge in food production, as often argued, resulting in population growth, increased commerce, and general prosperity? Professor Ressler explains these technologies and critically examines their effectiveness.

34 min
Textile Technology: From Twill to Tapestry

03: Textile Technology: From Twill to Tapestry

Textile manufacturing helped drive the commercial revolution of the High Middle Ages from 1000 to 1300. Delve into the technologies that made this thriving industry possible. Most medieval techniques for spinning, weaving, and finishing were inherited from the ancient world and Asia, but incremental improvements increased their efficiency and produced high-quality fabrics on an unprecedented scale for rich and poor alike.

36 min
Metallurgy and Ironmaking

04: Metallurgy and Ironmaking

The production of inexpensive, high-quality iron was essential to nearly every form of medieval technology. Discover how medieval artisans produced the three basic forms of iron: wrought iron, cast iron, and steel. Weigh the advantages and drawbacks of each and chart the evolution of processes for smelting iron ore at ever higher temperatures, culminating in the development of rudimentary blast furnaces.

33 min
Waterpower Systems

05: Waterpower Systems

Arguably, the chief glory of the Middle Ages was waterpower, harnessed via waterwheels to grind grain, saw wood, hammer iron, pump water, and replace human labor in countless other ways. Study the physics of flowing water and its conversion to mechanical energy. Then examine three, key waterwheel designs—horizontal, undershot, and overshot—each with distinctive strengths and limitations.

32 min
Boat Mills, Tidal Mills, and Windmills

06: Boat Mills, Tidal Mills, and Windmills

Learn how medieval engineers harnessed waterpower in challenging environments with boat mills and tidal mills. Then explore the windmill, a true medieval invention that masterfully merged nautical technology with milling machinery. Focus on two types of windmills: the post mill, called the medieval era’s most original contribution to power-production technology, and the sturdier tower mill.

31 min
Mounted Shock Combat: The Knight’s Panoply

07: Mounted Shock Combat: The Knight’s Panoply

Turn to medieval warfare, epitomized by the armored knight—a marvel of technological ingenuity. His horse, armor, weapons, and equipment formed a cohesive and highly effective system. Discover the craftsmanship behind chain mail and sword forging, and examine the pivotal roles of the saddle, stirrups, and lance in shaping the knight’s most formidable tactic: mounted shock combat.

35 min
The Medieval Arms Race

08: The Medieval Arms Race

Trace the medieval arms race that spurred innovations in protective armor and the parallel development of offensive weapons—like swords, pikes, and crossbows—designed to overcome it. Analyze the physics behind longbows and crossbows and consider how tactics and technology often outweighed numerical superiority in determining the outcome of battles, as at Bannockburn and Crecy.

34 min
The Castle: A Story Written in Stone

09: The Castle: A Story Written in Stone

Delve into the engineering marvel of medieval castles, each uniquely shaped by its historical context and topographic constraints. Focus on Carrickfergus Castle in Northern Ireland, which evolved from a simple stone enclosure into a formidable, multilayered defensive system, complete with thick crenellated walls, towers, a gatehouse, and other characteristic features of medieval military architecture.

32 min
Siegecraft Technologies

10: Siegecraft Technologies

Due to the strategic value of castles, medieval warfare was dominated by sieges rather than open battles. Sieges were inherently technological, with outcomes often decided by the sophistication of weapons like catapults, battering rams, and siege towers, as well as the effectiveness of countermeasures. Explore the main types of siege machines, which could determine the fate of embattled citadels.

32 min
The Gunpowder Revolution

11: The Gunpowder Revolution

Medieval stone castles met their match with the introduction of gunpowder artillery in the 14th century. As these weapons improved, engineers were forced to rethink fortification design. Likewise, handheld firearms rendered armor-clad knights obsolete. Professor Ressler explains how the mixing of three natural materials to produce gunpowder led to a military and social revolution in Europe.

36 min
Hagia Sophia: Byzantine Architectural Marvel

12: Hagia Sophia: Byzantine Architectural Marvel

In the first of seven lectures on the great structures of the medieval world, visit Hagia Sophia in present-day Istanbul. Built in the sixth century, it stood as the world’s largest church for over a thousand years. Examine the simple yet ingenious structural elements that create its elegant and awe-inspiring interior, especially the mammoth dome—a miracle of structural engineering.

34 min
From Romanesque to Gothic

13: From Romanesque to Gothic

Explore the trends that paved the way for Gothic architecture. Trace the roots of Gothic to the Romanesque style, characterized by semi-circular arches and thick stone walls, which were needed to support heavy vaulted ceilings. Discover the structural characteristics of Romanesque churches and uncover the origins of the pointed arch and ribbed vault that later defined the Gothic style.

37 min
The Gothic Stone Skeleton

14: The Gothic Stone Skeleton

Built in the mid-13th century, Amiens Cathedral exemplifies the ethereal beauty and startling innovation of Gothic architecture. Professor Ressler guides you through the cathedral’s construction, phase by phase, showing how medieval master builders and craftsmen achieved wonders through meticulous planning and a deep qualitative understanding of geometry, structural mechanics, and the properties of stone and timber.

35 min
Structural Marvels in Wood

15: Structural Marvels in Wood

Much of the medieval world was built of wood. Study the elegant wooden roof of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, largely destroyed by fire in 2019 and then restored to its original design. Then look at Byloke Hospital in Ghent, one of the most important early examples of the medieval timber-roofed hall. Finally, marvel at the Borgund Stave Church in Norway, built entirely of pine.

32 min
Roads and Bridges

16: Roads and Bridges

Ground transportation advanced significantly during the Commercial Revolution of the High Middle Ages, spurring the construction of improved roads and, most notably, a proliferation of bridges made of both wood and stone. Explore key examples of medieval bridges to appreciate their construction techniques and the essential role they played in connecting communities and fostering trade.

31 min
Monasteries: Tech Hubs of the Medieval World

17: Monasteries: Tech Hubs of the Medieval World

Medieval monastic communities helped drive technological innovation, because labor-saving machines and well-planned facilities helped the monks fulfill their spiritual responsibilities more effectively. Study the influential “Plan of St. Gall,” a 9th-century architectural drawing that depicts the layout of an idealized monastery. See how these principles lived on three centuries later when Rievaulx Abbey was established in Yorkshire, England.

32 min
Brunelleschi’s Dome

18: Brunelleschi’s Dome

How would you design a monumental dome for a building whose original architect left no plans—and with no way to rely on traditional construction methods? That was Filippo Brunelleschi’s dilemma in the early 15th century for the unfinished Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. Professor Ressler reveals Brunelleschi’s ingenious solutions to a bewildering series of challenges.

35 min
Marvelous Medieval Machinery

19: Marvelous Medieval Machinery

Drawing on their experience with waterwheels, which were originally used for milling grain, medieval engineers adapted mechanical devices like the camshaft and crank to use waterpower for a wider range of tasks, from fulling cloth to forging iron. Also, look at construction cranes, pile drivers, and other labor-saving devices that helped mechanize the medieval world, setting the stage for the Industrial Revolution.

35 min
The Verge-and-Foliot Clock

20: The Verge-and-Foliot Clock

Before the arrival of the mechanical clock in the late 13th century, time was measured using inconvenient devices like water clocks and sundials. The breakthrough came with the verge-and-foliot escapement, which made weight-driven mechanical clocks possible. This innovation, combined with intricate gearsets that translated the escapement’s steady tick-tocks into a readable display, transformed daily life.

33 min
Gutenberg and the Printing Press

21: Gutenberg and the Printing Press

Considered one of the most influential people who ever lived, Johannes Gutenberg didn’t just invent the printing press; he created a groundbreaking system combining paper, ink, movable type, and a mechanical press that eventually led to unprecedented dissemination of information and learning. Trace the steps that led him to this revolutionary technology—but didn’t save his firm from bankruptcy.

35 min
Early Mediterranean Shipbuilding: The Dromon

22: Early Mediterranean Shipbuilding: The Dromon

In the first of two lectures on medieval shipbuilding, discover how the world-circling sailing ships of the Late Middle Ages evolved, in part, from Byzantine galleys built for Mediterranean waters. Learn how the swift dromon, with its streamlined form, advanced hull structure, and innovative armament transformed ancient naval tactics and paved the way for future maritime innovations.

35 min
Longship, Cog, and Carrack

23: Longship, Cog, and Carrack

Continue your study of medieval nautical technology, focusing on the sleek, robust design of the Viking longship; the commercial advantages of the cargo-carrying cog, the workhorse of the Hanseatic League; and the versatility and seaworthiness of the full-rigged carrack. Chart the influence of hull design, propulsion systems, and steering technology on the evolution of medieval shipbuilding.

32 min
The Modern Legacy of Medieval Technology

24: The Modern Legacy of Medieval Technology

Finish the course by considering how our modern world has been influenced by medieval technology, from eyeglasses to printed books, power generation, and the modern conceptual approach to design. Professor Ressler provides a medieval bucket list of must-see technological attractions in Europe and weighs the plusses and minuses of the Europeanization of the world, which commenced in the Middle Ages.

38 min

Overview Course No. 10540

The word “medieval” often evokes stagnation and backwardness, yet it signifies an era of profound innovation that bridged the ancient and modern worlds. Between the 6th and 16th centuries, regions stretching from Ireland to Constantinople saw major progress in agriculture, architecture, industry, warfare, transportation, and the spread of learning—changes that reshaped society and paved the way for the Renaissance and beyond. Among the key inventions were the heavy plow that enabled cultivation of vast tracts of previously untillable land; gunpowder artillery that could breach castle walls, heralding the end of feudalism; and the printing press that sparked an information revolution that is still ongoing. Other examples range from mechanical clocks to ocean-going sailing ships, from windmills to Gothic cathedrals. In the 24 half-hour lectures of Understanding the Marvels of Medieval Technology, acclaimed engineering educator Stephen Ressler brings this exciting era to life as he analyzes medieval engineering achievements, providing hands-on demonstrations of engineering principles and detailed 3D computer models. A registered professional engineer, Dr. Ressler is Professor Emeritus at the United States Military Academy at West Point and an inspiring teacher. In this fascinating course, he shows how medieval artisans immeasurably enriched the world.

About

Stephen Ressler

In over two decades as a teacher, I've never experienced anything quite like commitment of The Great Courses to rigor in the course development process and uncompromising production quality in the studio.

INSTITUTION

United States Military Academy, West Point

Stephen Ressler is a Professor Emeritus from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he taught for 21 years. He holds an MS and PhD in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University and is a registered professional engineer in Virginia. He served in a variety of military engineering assignments in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Central Asia. He has focused his scholarly and professional work on engineering education and has won numerous national awards for his teaching, leadership, and service.

By This Professor

Understanding the World's Greatest Structures
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Everyday Engineering: Understanding the Marvels of Daily Life
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Understanding Greek and Roman Technology
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Do-It-Yourself Engineering
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Understanding the Marvels of Medieval Technology
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Epic Engineering Failures and the Lessons They Teach
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