Revival of European cities and countryside

13 January 2009

Moulin d’eau morte actionnant une meule et une pompe à eau Antonio di Puccio da Cereto (dit Pisanello) musée du Louvre © Photo RMN - Michèle Bellot





In the 12th century, cities and countryside experienced a period of prosperity. The population increased. Cities developed and new villages appeared. They also developed industrial architecture.



Windmills and water mills experienced an unparalleled boom. They took over the hills and the rivers. Their sails and wheels worked cogs, pistons and millstones. And to protect them, they were also fortified, as they were a source of energy as important as oil nowadays and they contained precious flour and other staples.



Drawings, illuminations and mural paintings represent this new growth industry.


Le Livre des Conquestes et Faits d’Alexandre, Une ville fortifiée, musée du Petit-Palais © Photo RMN - Agence Bulloz


Keywords
Read also

Meanwhile, on the building site, the Grand Palais is back in full colour

Article - 15 November 2023
A monument of stone, glass and metal, the Grand Palais blends into the urban landscape. However, on closer inspection, it is in fact bursting with colour, and one of the challenges of the restoration work currently underway is to restore all its chromatic ranges.
Browse magazine