Science and technology in the Middle Ages flourished due to the need for inventions to make life easier. In Europe, from the 5th century to the 16th century there was a radical change in the inventions created. It was between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the beginning of the modern era. This was a time to explore new ideas and ways of doing things. Europe invented many things for warfare, timekeeping, and everyday use. These inventions can still be used today. They range from a huge mortar to a small set of glasses. Europeans found that life was easier due to new, better inventions that helped them with everything. There are a number of inventions about warfare due to nearby wars with neighboring civilizations or even within Europe. War was important for civilizations to expand. First, the kings needed a good army with the best weapons they could get. To win battles, they used cavalry and a larger army near the city limits. In ancient times the sword was a famous weapon because there were not enough mortars and cannons then. Some invented swords are the claymore, the traditional longsword with a long handle used for more powerful attacks. For example, the saber was popular because it had a single-edged curved blade and was long. It would be used in heavy cavalry. There were also bows that could be used like a ballista which has a long, strong arrow with enough force to destroy an army. Reloading was a pain, so it was greater in large numbers. Knights first used chain mail and then moved on to plate armor which was strong enough to withstand a sword blow. With the need for war also came the need for protection. Castles surrounded the king for his protection against enemies. Also,...... middle of paper......y other inventions that were discarded like swords and plate body. These were discarded due to the invention of the first portable gun. The gun was good for long range and penetrated through the steel or iron of the plate body. Chain mail was discarded because the plate body was more durable and later became a symbol of honor and royalty. Works Cited Alchin, Linda. “The Middle Ages”. 2006 Alchin, Linda. September 20, 2009Howarth, David. 1066: The year of the conquest. New York: Penguin Group, 1981. Findon, Joanne. Science and technology in the Middle Ages. New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2004. Various/anonymous. "Middle Ages". 2009. Wikipedia. December 9, 2009.Anonymous. “The Middle Ages”. 2009. The Middle Ages. 2009 .