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Question by : How did advances in technology influence 15th and 16th century Europe?
What were some major inventors/inventions/advancements in technology in the 15th and 16th century that influenced European trade and exploration?

Best answer:

Answer by poornakumar b
1. Printing: after the first Gutenberg bible things were not he same (like people now unable to recall what it was like before the cell-phones, a mere two decades ago). Information dissemination, free access at affordable cost led to hunger for more knowledge which the Church (standing in the way to true knowledge) failed to control although they too benefited with many bibles at cheaper cost.
2. Telescope: Initially the ‘religious’ didn’t want to apply their eye to the telescope for the fear of being tricked by the ‘devil’. But many could see the Jovian satellites (‘Moons’ if you prefer) in orbit and modeled the Solar system of planets accordingly. A common man could visualise it without the need to consult a ‘preceptor’. What he saw is actually what is there before the eyes.
3. Though the Mariner’s compass was in use, its application was not to its full potential. Navigation as a science took off in those years following the expeditionary voyages, with no more mumbo-jumbo of the edge of the world and keep falling off the Earth.
I just named three. But these technologies spurred ‘Science’ the fruits of which we reap today.
Also a major technology is a turning point in sociological sense. The younger set would question the staid views of the older men. While it is difficult for the older to jettison their cozy beliefs, they can’t cope with the young ones’ attitudes and change in values. Tolerance, open mindedness and adaptability are demanded of them. The stagnant pool must be channeled to allow free flow of freshness. This paves way for further progress. Newer methods yield to increased productivity, cheaper goods and services as promised by technology. The hunger increases.
A major technological break-through causing social change (milder to upheaval) happens after a certain interval with lesser such changes having no such effect. So in the ancient times a hundred generations lived without change. But later the changes gained momentum leading to recasting of the societal value systems across a few generations. Now the pace is faster and in ‘a life time’ there are three (I saw my nonagenarian father’s life) and it is too fast for comfort in change.
In 15th &16th century when the technology overthrew all shibboleths in Europe particularly, it laid the foundation and prepared the ground for the ensuing industrial revolution two centuries later. There are many cultures, civilizations from the earliest times but harnessing the technology for society’s needs came about only in that period in Europe, thus reducing other claimants to zero. Technology is what affects the commoner by putting power in his hands. It may be a printing press, camera, car’s steering or cell phone. Science can’t do that unless it becomes a technology. BTW no aristocracy or feudal lord can stop it.

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