Middle Ages Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Technological and military developments=== [[File:Crescenzi calendar.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left|alt=Pictures depicting agricultural activities, such as sowing, harvesting, and wine making|[[Labours of the Months]], agricultural calendar {{Circa|1470}}, from a manuscript of [[Pietro de Crescenzi]]'s manual on farming]] In cloth production, the second main employer after agriculture,{{sfn|Singman|1999|p=36}} the increased usage of [[Merino|sheep with]] long-fibred wool allowed a stronger thread to be spun,{{sfn|Epstein|2009|pp=193β194}} and the use of buttons as closures for garments enabled better fit.{{sfn|Singman|1999|p=38}} Popular tailoring designs were quickly spread by pedlars, and trends in [[1400β1500 in European fashion|fashion]] were dictated by the Burgundian dukes' court in much of 15th-century Europe.{{sfn|Arnold|2009|pp=6, 51}} In metalworking, the [[blast furnace]] increased the quantity of iron produced, also improving its quality.{{sfn|Epstein|2009|pp=203β204}} The first [[Patent|patent law]] in 1447 in Venice granted a ten-year monopoly to inventors for their inventions.{{sfn|Epstein|2009|p=213}} As increased tax revenues allowed the employment of [[mercenary|mercenaries]] in growing numbers,{{sfn|Watts|2014|p=221}} wars were mainly fought by professional soldiers almost all over Europe from the mid-14th century.{{sfn|Wickham|2016|p=212}} Initially, mercenaries were hired for periods of war but a [[standing army]] was created in France in the late 1440s.{{sfn|Vale|2001|p=323}} From around 1438, [[devΕirme|child tribute]] from the Christian population supplied the Ottoman army with professional foot soldiers known as [[Janissary|Jannisaries]].{{sfn|Sedlar|1994|pp=241β242}} In Bohemia, religious enthusiasm, stern discipline and the use of [[wagon fort]]s were the key factors in the Hussites' victories.{{sfn|Sedlar|1994|p=233}} The earliest references to [[cannon]]s were recorded in the early {{nowrap|14th century}}; the use of cheap [[handgun]]s quickly spread from around 1360.{{sfn|Nicolle|1996|pp=294β298}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page