A number of topics in early medieval technology have been treated on the Web; the two sites below are good places to start:
Medieval Technology is a focused site put together by a chemistry professor(!) Most of the materials are quite reliable, and the illustrations are useful.
Medieval Archaeology is one of the topics treated in the large and very well designed "NetSerf" site compiled down the road at Catholic University.
Go to one of these sites and select a topic relevant to this week's text readings or lectures. Print out and add to your portfolio two or three of the most useful pages.
Alchemy is a large and complex topic, and the Web site offered here,The Alchemy Virtual Library, is very much a promotional, enthusiastic compendium of information and propaganda. Take a look at some of the basic explanations of alchemy, and attempt to come up with a critical evaluation of how this relates to other areas of medieval science.
When
you come to section, you should be prepared to discuss, in addition to your
text readings, the relationships among philosophy, technology,and daily life
in medieval Europe. Make reference to your Web explorations. Your portfolio
should include a short discussion of the relationship between science and technology
in this period, as well as material taken from one of the medieval sites.
