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Machines can work 24/7, don't get sick, don't get lazy, don't need training, don't need to be fed, etc. Even in a world where slave labor was cheaper, machines
by Alupis 3y ago
Machines can work 24/7, don't get sick, don't get lazy, don't need training, don't need to be fed, etc.
Even in a world where slave labor was cheaper, machines were obviously better. Fewer people could produce the same output no matter how you look at it.
- bluGill 3y agoMachines break all the time. Particularly when you are faced with the metals available back then. They are a lot more reliable today, but we have had ~200 years of industrial revolution to learn how to make reliable machines. We also have a lot more population, and that means a lot more people thinking about how to make machines more reliable. Modern machines are clearly better than slave labor today. However 2000 years ago a lot of things were different.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- charliea0 3y agoThe machines need lots of fuel which either needs to be chopped from forests or dug out of coal mines. Both those tasks were labor-intensive and costly. Some water mills were cost effective though.