THIS TECHNOLOGY BUILT KINGDOMS 

"What good really, in the long run, are any of these new-fangled technological toys?" I am continually asked. Let me tell you about a toy of the past and how it affected civilization.

Picture a stirrup. Not much really. A piece of twisted brass. It has also been made of wood or steel. But with it a man could maintain stability on a horse, and consequently control the shift of heavy armour on himself and his horse. With that armour and lance he could charge into the lines of skilled bowmen that until then had dominated and supported the military strategy of the day. At the end of his charge many of the bowmen had fallen victim to his spear. That had never happened before. It began the start of fuedal kingdoms.

With such horsemen a tribal chief could be a King. With this support he could conquer and maintain domination over even wider territories. By appointing them knights and ensuring their loyalty he could be stronger than any other tribal chieftain. He would award them large tracks of land necessary to provide the wealth to support their lifestyle, horses and expensive armour.

Eventually, as his "kingdom" grew by such judicious appointments, the new kings wealth increased proportionately, as he collected onefifth of all the monies derived from the properties owned by each of his knights. A new way of life evolved. A code of chivalry and honor developed. An aristocracy came into being. Along the way the Magna Carta was written, giving certain rights to all.

A type of civilization unknown during the millennia of previous history started to grow. Within 500 years we have arrived where we are today. Without the stirrup it probably wouldn't have happened. An oak can grow from an acorn. A kingdom can emerge from the stirrup. What will evolve from our current technological toys?

* * *

< previous | chapter index | next >
back to Main Chapter Listing
back to Home Page