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In the Middle Ages, gunpowder, invented in China, was a mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur that was first used as an incendiary agent in weapons such as arrows and fire lances, and also in fireworks. Its use spread throughout Europe during the 13th and 14th centuries, transforming warfare by enabling the development of artillery, such as cannons, which could destroy fortifications, and individual firearms. -
A mechanical watch works thanks to the energy of a spring (mainspring) that, when unwound, moves a system of gears. -
In the Middle Ages, the magnetic compass evolved from a floating needle in water to a needle pivoting on an axis inside a box, incorporating a "compass rose" to mark directions. -
Glasses in the Middle Ages were two convex lenses joined by a rivet that rested directly on the nose, made in wooden or antler frames. -
Before the invention of the movable type printing press by Gutenberg in the Middle Ages (mid-15th century), printing was manual and mainly used methods such as xylography (wood engraving), which involved carving text and images into wooden tablets, requiring a plate for each page and limiting the number of copies.