Summary

The Middle Ages saw the first-the true- Industrial Revolution, a change much more far-reaching than the popularly accepted turning point of the 19th century.

The Middle Ages saw the first-the true- Industrial Revolution, a change much more far-reaching than the popularly accepted turning point of the 19th century. Surveying technology and invention, medieval scholar and social historian Jean Gimpel shows how energy resources, manpower, and sheer ingenuity revolutionized medieval agriculture, industry, construction, and mining-and he argues that the eventual economic and social decline that began in 14th century Europe parallels the feelings of modern industrial society, especially as seen in the United States today.