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Also the notion that humans in the past were just so vastly different than humans today is another myth we like to tell ourselves. We look at stonehenge and the

Also the notion that humans in the past were just so vastly different than humans today is another myth we like to tell ourselves. We look at stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza and assume there must be some great philosophical plan behind it, not that people did things for the same reasons we do things today: to impress people, to leave our mark, to challenge ourselves, or just to try something new. The implication here is that if our ignorant savage ancestors endeavored to put the effort into building something, there must be a great spiritual or philosophical reason. It doesn't cross our minds that they sat around and pondered this stuff just like we do. I feel like this plays into the popular idea that everything in medieval times was poorly built and covered in shit. We seem to want to think that because they lived in a largely illiterate, Church dominated feudal society that all the peasants were too stupid to function. That these savages would be too dim to possess the critical thinking skills to realize that if they used well built tools, that they could accomplish their work faster. That after thousands of years of human advancement, we hit this period where everyone not just lost accumulated knowledge, but forgot how to be a human in the process.

Retric 12y ago
While not exactly covered in shit, things where far more dirty than we are used to. First off dirt floors where fairly common, though this quickly became dry hard pact dirt which is better flooring than you might think. Second running water was uncommon let alone vacuums and dish washers. Even bathing was far less common as getting a warm bath together was difficult in the winter and bathing in freezing water is unpleasant. Add to that indoor fireplaces added quite a bit of smoke and soot into people’s homes. That said, some things where higher quality back then. For example modern fast growth wood is far lower quality let alone things like particle board.
- icebraining 12y ago
  You don't need to go to medieval times for that, though. My grandparents grew up in those conditions, here in Europe.
- Mobiu5 12y ago
  Of course, high quality wood items still exist just as they did then. But now there are cheaper alternatives for those on a budget.
  - abakker 12y ago
    I don't disagree that modern, high-quality wood items exist, but the actual wood available today is inferior. The hardwoods that came from old-growth forests are fundamentally different, as the wood from a tree that has survived hundreds of years is different than the wood from a tree that is only 50-60 years old. One reason for this is that in larger trees, the rings themselves play less of a role in causing warping. Another is that many trees that make it to 50 years in a modern forest wouldn't have made it to 400 years if left alone. Old-growth forests have much greater spacing between trunks as the overgrowth trees that were successful outcompeted their neighbors; to have survived 400 years indicates a tree that was given superior placement and nutrition. Finally, when trees are much older, they are much larger. This means that relatively more of the wood comes from the center of the tree, where there are fewer knots, voids, inclusions, etc. The moisture bearing part of the tree is on the outside, and in many species is unusable, so you have a much higher uniformity and yield in board feet from a bigger tree.
    - panzagl 12y ago
      Old-growth wood would have been rare in much of medieval Europe as well.
- mcguire 12y ago
  One of the more surprising things that I found in Claude Fisher's Made in America[1] is the idea that as late as the American colonial period, chairs were a luxury item. Presumably stools and benches were available, but sitting on the ground is the default choice. [1] https://madeinamericathebook.wordpress.com/ https://madeinamericathebook.wordpress.com/

Retric 12y ago

While not exactly covered in shit, things where far more dirty than we are used to. First off dirt floors where fairly common, though this quickly became dry hard pact dirt which is better flooring than you might think. Second running water was uncommon let alone vacuums and dish washers. Even bathing was far less common as getting a warm bath together was difficult in the winter and bathing in freezing water is unpleasant. Add to that indoor fireplaces added quite a bit of smoke and soot into people’s homes. That said, some things where higher quality back then. For example modern fast growth wood is far lower quality let alone things like particle board.

icebraining 12y ago
You don't need to go to medieval times for that, though. My grandparents grew up in those conditions, here in Europe.
Mobiu5 12y ago
Of course, high quality wood items still exist just as they did then. But now there are cheaper alternatives for those on a budget.
- abakker 12y ago
  I don't disagree that modern, high-quality wood items exist, but the actual wood available today is inferior. The hardwoods that came from old-growth forests are fundamentally different, as the wood from a tree that has survived hundreds of years is different than the wood from a tree that is only 50-60 years old. One reason for this is that in larger trees, the rings themselves play less of a role in causing warping. Another is that many trees that make it to 50 years in a modern forest wouldn't have made it to 400 years if left alone. Old-growth forests have much greater spacing between trunks as the overgrowth trees that were successful outcompeted their neighbors; to have survived 400 years indicates a tree that was given superior placement and nutrition. Finally, when trees are much older, they are much larger. This means that relatively more of the wood comes from the center of the tree, where there are fewer knots, voids, inclusions, etc. The moisture bearing part of the tree is on the outside, and in many species is unusable, so you have a much higher uniformity and yield in board feet from a bigger tree.
  - panzagl 12y ago
    Old-growth wood would have been rare in much of medieval Europe as well.
mcguire 12y ago
One of the more surprising things that I found in Claude Fisher's Made in America[1] is the idea that as late as the American colonial period, chairs were a luxury item. Presumably stools and benches were available, but sitting on the ground is the default choice. [1] https://madeinamericathebook.wordpress.com/ https://madeinamericathebook.wordpress.com/