As title says.
I'm writing an alternate history (with some fantasy) book and i need some ideas to have the late middle ages look more modern. I need a list of advancements that could have been made without resorting to an industrial revolution.
So, what are some pre-1750 inventions that could have been developed in the high middle ages? I'm thinking about the 1000-1300 period, the so called little Renaissance, in Italy or the Low Countries.
I already have a list of inventions from 1400 to 1700, but i need to know which are feasible with the technology of the high middle ages.
Wow, a rare new and interesting idea.
OK, I was thinking on a different post of a mass introduction of Quinine for malaria treatment. It had been theoretically around for centuries in Peru (I think). But it had never been really mass marketed by inept Spanish authorities, as I suspect it would have had the vaccine been available in a French, British or Dutch colony. There may have been vast plantations of quanine producing trees.
This would have a major, major effect on the American south, the West Indies and parts of Latin America.
Granted other diseases like Yellow Fever would still be around but a severe reduction in Malaria would lead to significant population growth (survivability rates = higher reproduction).
Slavery might last longer, be expanded and be more profitable as owners lose fever slaves to fevers.
One fewer disease might also lead to higher European immigration to these areas.