The Greek’s lofty attitude toward scientific research--and the scientists’ contempt of utility-was not a long time dying. For a millennium after Archimedes, this separation of mechanics from geometry prevented fundamental technological progress and in some areas restrained it altogether. But there was a still greater obstacle to change until the very end of the Middle Ages-the organization of society.
The social system of fixed class relationships that prevailed through the Middle Ages itself made improvement impossible. Under this system, the labouring masses, in exchange for the bare necessities of life, did all the productive work, while the privileged few--priests, nobles, and kings--concerned themselves only with ownership and maintenance of their own position. In the interest of their prerogatives they did achieve considerable progress in defence, in war making, in government, in trade, and in the arts of leisure, but they had no familiarity with the pro
A. natural resources.
B. inventive ability.
C. people's desire for the" better things of life".
D. proper social organization.
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