What was the Most significant advances in the Late Middle Ages?

Answer 1

In government, the Early Medieval period saw the development of established countries, such as France and the Holy Roman Empire, from smaller and less well fixed nations, such as the kingdoms of the Lombards, Visigoths, and Merovingian Franks.

Also in government, the Early Middle Ages saw the introduction of the medieval commune, which developed into independent republican city states during this time. Venice is an example of such a republic. The medieval communes became even more important after the Early Middle Ages ended.

Legal codes developed greatly, as memorized Germanic law and written Latin law were merged and reconciled.

The general illiteracy that had come with the decline of Roman civilization, beginning with the crisis of the third century, reached its depth about the time the Middle Ages began, or soon after. The rise of literacy and learning began fairly early on, as Visigoths were opening schools as early as the first half of the 6th century, and the English just before the beginning of the 7th. The rise of learning and literacy was very much promoted by Charlemagne, beginning in the 8th century.

The rise in literacy is reflected by a rise in communication. From a time when trade and travel were very much diminished, at about the beginning of the Middle Ages, there was a slow, gradual increase in trade, travel, and pilgrimage, as the Early Middle Ages went on.

Socially, Early Middle Ages began in many parts of Western Europe with Germanic and Roman groups segregated; for example, it was illegal for a Visigoth to marry a Roman. This segregation vanished as time went by.

Languages changed, with the dominant languages of the kingdoms of Western European ruling groups changing from Germanic to Romance languages.

Feudalism arose, and with it came the age of the mounted knight.

Agriculture underwent a number of important changes, including the introduction of the horse collar, horse shoe, heavy plow, three field system of crop rotation, and a number of new crops.

The increase in agricultural development made it possible for towns and cities to grow. This trend began in the Early Middle Ages, and was also associated with the increase in trade.

Answer 2

1st Answer:

There were no real advances in this time. For a 1000 years there was no real science, 90% of the population couldn't read or write, and there was few outside influences into Europe.

2nd Answer:

The advances in technology of the Late Middle Ages were profound and numerous.

Rather than list many of them here, I will suggest anyone interested use the link below to an article on medieval technology. The list at the article is incomplete, as it does not include my favorite invention of the time, the chimney, which was invented in the 11th or 12th century, and made real fireplaces possible for the first time in history. Although that is not Late Middle Ages, it does give an indication of what might be missing.

Answer 3

Inventions and technologies introduced to Europe during the High Middle Ages include the following:

• Chimneys and fireplaces
• Wine presses
• Artesian wells
• Distilling liquor
• Treadwheel cranes
• Stationary harbor cranes
• Paper mills
• Functional buttons
• Horizontal looms
• Spinning wheels
• Vertical wind mills
• Water hammers
• Clocks
• Blast furnaces
• Magnets
• Dry compasses
• Nautical compasses
• Stern mounted rudders
• Spectacles
• Paper
• Mirrors
• Segmental arch bridges
• Ribbed vaults used in Gothic architecture
• Arched saddles
• Spurs
• Trebuchets
• Massed archers using English longbows
• Combined arms tactics

One important introduction was Arabic numerals.

The Arabic numerals gave rise to abacus schools, which were intended to teach the children of business families reading and writing in their own languages and mathematics using the Arabic numerals. These were widespread, coeducational, secular schools.

Polyphony was introduced in music during the High Middle Ages.

Minstrels became important during this time, and theater became more important.

Parliamentary government rose during the High Middle Ages.

Medieval republican cities called communes, which had existed during the Early Middle Ages, grew in political power, and dominated some parts of Europe, such as parts of Italy.

Gothic art and architecture became important, and with it stained glass became more widely used.

The old divisions of the Catholic Church lead to the East-West Schism, which divided the Church into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox parts.

The first western universities were founded.

The crusades were fought.

Dante started writing, and Giotto began his artwork.

There was a huge increase in trade.