The wheels were powered by water
Water mills were used to harness the energy of water to turn water wheels which would then turn huge stones that would grind wheat to make flour, corn to make corn meal and other grains into staples.
Windmills!
In water wheels, the kinetic energy of moving water is transformed into mechanical energy as the water flow turns the wheel. The mechanical energy can then be used to drive machinery or generate electricity through a generator attached to the water wheel.
Early mills were powered by water wheels, harnessing the energy of flowing water to turn machinery and grind grain or perform other tasks. This energy was used to drive the mechanical components of the mill, such as grindstones or saw blades, to process raw materials into finished products.
wind
The use of moving water as a source of energy dates back to ancient times when civilizations used water wheels to grind grain and power machinery. In the 19th century, the invention of the water turbine revolutionized hydropower generation, leading to the construction of hydroelectric power plants. Today, hydropower is a significant renewable energy source, providing electricity to millions of people worldwide.
Water wheels or turbines turning generators.
To generate hydroelectricity. But water energy (the potential energy in a head of water) has also been used to turn water wheels for industrial mills and flower mills.
Driving machinery:flour milltextile millwoodworking shopmachine shopthe bellows of a blacksmith shopelectricity generationetc.
The force responsible for generating energy in a watermill is the kinetic energy of flowing water. As water flows over the water wheel, it causes the wheel to turn, converting the kinetic energy of the water into mechanical energy that can be used to grind grain or power machinery.
Water power was the first energy source used to power textile manufacturing plants during the Industrial Revolution. Factories were built near rivers and streams to harness the power of water to operate machinery such as water wheels and water mills.