About origins of tech rev, for your book. In case you aren't aware, Francis Bacon in New Organon recommended the scientific study of heat. In New Atlantis he describes his imaginary super-society as containing a showcase of engines! Up to this time, engines would have been driven by horses or wind or water, and be immovable. By implication, the engines in the showcase must be movable, to where they'd be used. The combination of these two ideas points forward to mobile heat engines, an astonishing prophecy.
Great piece. I'm looking forward to the next instalment! There were big trade deficits between England and Italy, which saw ships sometimes go back half empty and often got Italian banks' London branches into trouble. Given this, I've often wondered why English or Scots didn't use the coal to make salt and sell it or salt fish into the Med market - you'd have thought it would make life easier for the Italian traders even at low profit margins. No doubt all will be explained...
Great article, Anton
Thanks!
About origins of tech rev, for your book. In case you aren't aware, Francis Bacon in New Organon recommended the scientific study of heat. In New Atlantis he describes his imaginary super-society as containing a showcase of engines! Up to this time, engines would have been driven by horses or wind or water, and be immovable. By implication, the engines in the showcase must be movable, to where they'd be used. The combination of these two ideas points forward to mobile heat engines, an astonishing prophecy.
I was waiting for the line “so for the Dutch at this time, grain and butter was their bread and butter.” I’m glad you took the high road.
Gutted I missed this, just like I forgot to work in "gutted" somewhere to do with herring
It is quite proper to keep one’s mind out of the gutter.
New subscriber here. Can't help recalling a recent fictional book about a society based on salt as wealth.
https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Barbarians-Book-J-Lowell-ebook/dp/B09C6PZS3J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1C8EGL0A36BBW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZzesshsZuxRsPF4krZCTlv2zrl7ICo4VPynJlfpE3nEvwn7gyJJnkhElcBttMf-NHguQng8QkpKtqUVGmqn3K5eqGB3usmvSGNZ1-7n0SHktVGMi171Pm7IA3s67WiMGHlLEf7cN_n7O5SUhbaLp1qd6HxXAGUEGEP0yuWdyxII.PYDaTh1WMVjex5eKRwgpVP2tNhuiQ02osTYfwFjbLJ8&dib_tag=se&keywords=nathan+lowell+salt&qid=1728170702&sprefix=nathan+lowell+salt%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1
Great piece. I'm looking forward to the next instalment! There were big trade deficits between England and Italy, which saw ships sometimes go back half empty and often got Italian banks' London branches into trouble. Given this, I've often wondered why English or Scots didn't use the coal to make salt and sell it or salt fish into the Med market - you'd have thought it would make life easier for the Italian traders even at low profit margins. No doubt all will be explained...