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Medieval Inventions Facts & Worksheets

During the Medieval Period, many inventions were made. Given that the Medieval Period was distinguished by battle in various areas of Europe, most of the period's notable inventions were directly or indirectly bound to fighting.

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During the Medieval Period, many inventions were made. Given that the Medieval Period was distinguished by battle in various areas of Europe, most of the period’s notable inventions were directly or indirectly bound to fighting. The Spinning Wheel, Tidal Mills, Stirrups, Astrolabe, Eyeglasses, Compass, Gunpowder, and Printing Press were all key inventions throughout the Medieval Period.

See the fact file below for more information on Medieval Inventions, or you can download our 27-page Medieval Inventions worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BIGGEST MEDIEVAL INVENTIONS

  • The Medieval Period in European history spanned roughly from the late 5th to the late 15th century, analogous to the post-classical period in global history. 
  • This era began with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the year 476 CE and lasted with the fall of Constantinople in 1453 CE. 
  • It was followed by the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. This period is the middle time of Western history’s three standard divisions: classical antiquity, medieval, and modern. 
  • The Medieval period is split into the Early, High, and Late Medieval Periods.

    Astrolabe

  • The astrolabe was a significant Medieval innovation that was used by navigators and astronomers to study the movement of celestial bodies.
  • The Astrolabe is a device used to precisely estimate the location of the Sun and other stars in the sky. 
  • The first astrolabes were made in Moorish Spain during the 12th century. 
  • The astrolabe spread throughout Europe from Spain and eventually became one of the most important astronomy instruments. 
  • Given the importance of astronomy in many other sciences, the astrolabe is regarded as one of the most important scientific inventions of medieval times.

Compass

  • A compass is a device that aids in the identification of the Earth’s cardinal points, which are North, South, East, and West. Since ancient antiquity, mariners, navigators, diviners, and ecclesiastical authorities have relied on their ability to predict these directions.
  •  Although certain primitive varieties of compass existed in China and presumably Mesoamerica prior to the Medieval Period, the earliest prototypes of the modern compass as we know it were created in medieval Europe.
  • The necessity for navigators, sailors, and merchants to securely navigate the Mediterranean waterways led to the invention of the compass in medieval Europe.

Eyeglasses

  • Until the late 13th century, there was almost no remedy for persons who were nearsighted or farsighted. 
  • In reality, it was assumed that as a person grew older, he or she would have poor eyesight, and because there was no cure, the sufferer of the ailment was forced to give up reading and other eye-intensive pursuits.
  • The first eyeglasses were created only in the latter decade of the 13th century. 
  • While early versions of spectacles were more primitive and had to be kept in place by hand, following models around the end of the Medieval Period made eyeglasses more readily available and easier to use.

Gunpowder

  • The most important military innovation of the Medieval Period is gunpowder. The introduction of gunpowder into Europe transformed the character of combat dramatically, having a significant influence on the social and political outlook of late medieval Europe.
  • In many respects, the arrival of gunpowder aided Europe’s shift from the medieval to the Renaissance periods.
  • Prior to the introduction of gunpowder, fighting in the Medieval Period was essentially the same as combat in the antique period. 
  • Although armor and weaponry advanced greatly, warfare still needed soldiers to ride on horseback or close in for on-foot battle, handle various weapons, shield themselves with armor and fight an adversary at close quarters.
  • With the introduction of gunpowder, all of this changed. 
  • Gunpowder was created in China as early as the 9th century, but it did not become widely used in Europe until the 13th century, owing to combat engagements with the Mongols. 
  • Gunpowder weapons were being utilized by European militaries by the 14th century, and by the 15th century, these weapons had effectively superseded most traditional armament.

Tidal Mills

  • Tidal mills were a significant medieval innovation that dates back to the eighth century. 
  • They were often used near natural water sources such as rivers and were propelled by the water body’s high tides.
  • Such mills were commonly employed in the countryside to do various mechanical chores, with the force of the water itself used to propel the water wheel on its own. 
  • Such early uses of mechanical energy can be considered as forerunners to the present usage of electricity.

Stirrups

  • Stirrups are a type of frame that firmly holds a horse rider’s feet. 
  • The stirrup essentially lets a rider hold both of his feet in the flexible frame, allowing him to carry a weapon or ride successfully while on the horse.
  • Stirrups first appeared in Eastern Europe around the 7th century and quickly spread to Western Europe. 
  • Stirrups are said to have had an important part in the development of medieval military combat.
  • They most likely made cavalry the supreme unit of a typical medieval army, weakening or diminishing the importance of infantry divisions. 
  • The stirrups enabled cavalry riders to hold weapons, battle on the move, and even shoot arrows while riding their horse with little fear of falling off.

The Spinning Wheel

  • The spinning wheel was created prior to the Medieval Period, although it was not commonly utilized in Europe until the Medieval Period. 
  • Compared to prior spinning processes employed in Europe, the spinning wheel was significantly more efficient, allowing a spinner to spin more thread in less time. 
  • This enabled well-spun clothing to be worn by an increasing proportion of the population in medieval Europe.

Mechanical Clock

  • Many various time-keeping devices were utilized in the early Medieval Period. 
  • Almost all of these devices had been taken from the classical antiquity period, with little to no innovation in time-keeping devices occurring throughout the early Medieval Period.
  • Water clocks, candle clocks, the use of astrolabes to determine time, and sundials were among the conventional time-keeping technologies employed during the period. 
  • During the High Medieval Period, new techniques of maintaining time were devised, as were new tools for the purpose.
  • Around this period, Christian monks with a strong understanding of astronomy developed the first mechanical clocks.

Printing Press

  • Bi Sheng (990-1051), the developer of the world’s first moveable type printing method for paper books, created it around CE 1040 in China during the Northern Song dynasty.  
  • During the Song dynasty, the first printed paper money with moveable metal type to print the identifying code of the money was developed in 1161. 
  • In 1193, a Song dynasty book revealed how to employ metal moveable type. 
  • Jikji, the first existing book printed using moveable metal type, was produced in Korea under the Goryeo period in 1377.
  • To some extent, the growth of both movable-type systems was restricted to East Asia. 
  • The abandoned house had main vacant for years, slowly deteriorating with time.
  • Various irregular tales of moveable type technology brought back to Europe by returning business people and missionaries from China may have affected the development of the printing press in Europe. 
  • Some of these medieval European stories are still preserved at the Vatican and Oxford University library archives, among many others.
  • The modern printing press was founded in the 15th century when Johannes Gutenberg of Germany created his own printing machine. 
  • He developed new methods and equipment to speed up and automate the printing process by leveraging the popular printing mechanism.
  • Books that had to be printed before his press was invented needed a lot of labor and took a long time to manufacture, basically restricting the use of books to the powerful and wealthy. 
  • The Gutenberg press was a predecessor of cheaper printing presses that were constructed throughout Europe, and it was one of the fundamental technologies that enabled the European Renaissance.

Medieval Inventions Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Medieval Inventions across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Medieval Inventions. Given that the Medieval Period was distinguished by battle in various areas of Europe, most of the period’s notable inventions were directly or indirectly bound to fighting.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

  1. Medieval Inventions Facts
  2. Crossword Puzzle
  3. Let’s Put  Label
  4. Medieval Inventions
  5. Then and Now
  6. Printing Press Master
  7. Modern Inventor
  8. Medieval Architecture
  9. Life Without Innovations
  10. My Top Medieval Invention
  11. Create your Own Print

Frequently Asked Questions

What were some notable inventions during the medieval period?

The medieval period, spanning roughly from the 5th to the 15th century, saw several notable inventions. Some of them include the mechanical clock, the printing press, the windmill, the compass, and eyeglasses.

How did the mechanical clock work?

The mechanical clock, developed during the late medieval period, used a series of gears and weights to keep time. It relied on the consistent movement of weights or springs to power the mechanism, which turned the gears and moved the clock hands. The mechanical clock played a significant role in standardizing timekeeping and became crucial for various aspects of medieval life.

What impact did the printing press have on society?

The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century, revolutionized the spread of knowledge and information. It enabled the mass production of books and other printed materials, making them more accessible and affordable. This innovation greatly facilitated the dissemination of ideas, the preservation of knowledge, and the advancement of education during the medieval period and beyond.

How did windmills contribute to medieval society?

Windmills were widely used during the medieval period for various purposes. They harnessed the power of wind to grind grains, saw wood, pump water, and perform other tasks. Windmills greatly increased productivity in agricultural and industrial activities, allowing for more efficient processing of crops and materials. They played a vital role in shaping the economy and improving the quality of life in medieval communities.

When were eyeglasses invented, and what impact did they have?

Eyeglasses were invented in the late 13th century. They consisted of lenses mounted in frames and were used to correct vision problems, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. The invention of eyeglasses had a profound impact on medieval society, particularly in the fields of science, art, and education. It enabled scholars to read and study more comfortably, artists to create detailed works, and craftsmen to perform precise tasks. Eyeglasses significantly improved the quality of life for individuals with visual impairments and became a symbol of intellectual pursuits.

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These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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