Book
Licensed
Unlicensed
Requires Authentication
The Medieval Military Engineer
From the Roman Empire to the Sixteenth Century
-
Peter Purton
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2018
About this book
Sheds light on the skills and techniques of the medieval military engineer, over a thousand year sweep.
The results of medieval engineering still surround us - cathedrals, castles, stone bridges, irrigation systems. However, the siege artillery, siege towers, temporary bridges, earthwork emplacements and underground mines used for war have left little trace behind them; and there is even less of the engineers themselves: the people behind the military engineering achievements. The evidence for this neglected group is studied here.
The author begins byconsidering the evolution of military technology across centuries, and the impact of new technologies in the context of the economic and social developments which made them possible. He looks at how military engineers obtained their skills, and the possible link with scholastic scientific awareness. With the increased survival of government records from the middle ages, engineers acquire names and individuals can be identified. And the fifteenth century -the age of polymaths such as Leonardo da Vinci - saw a new type of literate military engineer, part of a recognized profession, but with its roots in a thousand years of historical development.
PETER PURTON, D Phil (Oxon), FSA, has written extensively on medieval fortifications and siege warfare; his publications include the comprehensive two-volume history of the medieval siege (Boydell, 2010).
The results of medieval engineering still surround us - cathedrals, castles, stone bridges, irrigation systems. However, the siege artillery, siege towers, temporary bridges, earthwork emplacements and underground mines used for war have left little trace behind them; and there is even less of the engineers themselves: the people behind the military engineering achievements. The evidence for this neglected group is studied here.
The author begins byconsidering the evolution of military technology across centuries, and the impact of new technologies in the context of the economic and social developments which made them possible. He looks at how military engineers obtained their skills, and the possible link with scholastic scientific awareness. With the increased survival of government records from the middle ages, engineers acquire names and individuals can be identified. And the fifteenth century -the age of polymaths such as Leonardo da Vinci - saw a new type of literate military engineer, part of a recognized profession, but with its roots in a thousand years of historical development.
PETER PURTON, D Phil (Oxon), FSA, has written extensively on medieval fortifications and siege warfare; his publications include the comprehensive two-volume history of the medieval siege (Boydell, 2010).
Topics
|
Publicly Available Download PDF |
i |
|
Publicly Available Download PDF |
v |
|
Publicly Available Download PDF |
vii |
|
Publicly Available Download PDF |
ix |
|
Publicly Available Download PDF |
xi |
|
Publicly Available Download PDF |
xiv |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
1 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
20 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
76 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
107 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
151 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
202 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
234 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
274 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
280 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
285 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
289 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
304 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
337 |
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
February 5, 2024
eBook ISBN:
9781787442146
Original publisher:
Boydell Press
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9781787442146
Keywords for this book
Medieval military engineer; Roman Empire; Sixteenth Century; skills; techniques; cathedrals; castles; siege artillery; war; historical development
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
