No technological advancement in Westeros?

[zonkie]

Has there really been no technological advancement in Westeros over the thousand of years since the Age of Heroes? I mean the earliest scenario in which we can start is 'The Bleeding Years' and houses like the Starks has ruled for thousand of years before that scenario as Kings of the North. How different is the timeline of the books from the bleeding years or even way before that? Surely some innovations must have been made but how much has life changed in Westeros over the many milleniums?

 

[yezhanquan]

First of all, there are disputes over the "8000 years" figure. However, technological advances are non-existent from the time of Aegon I to the current era.

 

[SovereignGrave]

The AGoT universe is really stagnant in a lot of ways, and I'm pretty sure that technological advancement is one of them.

 

[L Lawliet]

The only reference to technological progress I found in the books was that at some point round towers were introduced over square ones so that catapult stones can bounce off easier. A fort Jamie visited "predates that bit of builder's wisdom"

 

[locustgate]

The only reference to technological progress I found in the books was that at some point round towers were introduced over square ones so that catapult stones can bounce off easier. A fort Jamie visited "predates that bit of builder's wisdom"

That and wildfire (maybe), it only became really popular after the last dragon died, but MAY have existed before.

 

[zonkie]

From my understanding the Andals brought new innovations to Westeros like the use of steel, but it just seem to have put Westeros on the same level of technology as the rest of the world. But besides from steel, their faith, tournaments and knights what else did the Andals contribute with? How many years has it been since the Andal Invasion to the current timeline? Maybe having multiple kingdoms fighting eachother hindered technological progress? Also, Aegon united the whole continent under one kingdom but that didn't advance society at all?

 

[Anenu]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MedievalStasis

 

[Ezumiyr]

The question is: is technological advancement relevent in Westeros? There is nothing about how new technologies gave an advantage to someone (except Valyrian steel, wildfire, things like that). It doesn't mean that there is no technological advancement in Westeros, it means that it does not change anything.

 

[Furion Matsuya]

Does Westeros and indeed the SOIAF world in generally even need to technologically advance at all ?. Sure things aren't exactly great and things can be down right horrible but for the most part the world and society seems orderly and stable "the timeframe of the books been an exception" while technological advancement and social upheaval are change which. The latter is can be good or and depending on what it is and how it's used while the latter is very rarely good, almost always violent and chaotic and easily subverted.

So as horrible as the highborns 'games' can be they are a hell of a lot better then the massive industrialised wars caused by mass produced machine guns and the like, not the mention that the ideology's that accompany industrialisation are pretty horrible "fascism and communism" or ridiculous inefficient, easily swayed and corrupted waste of time "democracy fairly often".

After all absolute power doe's not corrupt absolutely or more accurately power corrupts is not a universal rule.

 

[das]

Does Westeros and indeed the SOIAF world in generally even need to technologically advance at all ?. Sure things aren't exactly great and things can be down right horrible but for the most part the world and society seems orderly and stable "the timeframe of the books been an exception"

Not my impression. The Targaryen kingdom at least never had any shortage of internal conflicts.

But also it's kind of irrelevant. Technological progress does not occur because it is good or bad or because it "needs" to happen. It occurs because it offers obvious short-term advantages. Technology not advancing at all in the game is a setting conceit. One that largely fits the mood of the setting well enough, though one might argue that the Citadel does have a lite technocratic agenda of sorts. They'd definitely want to keep technological advancement out of the hands of the lords, though, which wouldn't be hard in Westeros given their near-monopoly on worldly knowledge.

I think it would be cool if there were more Maester-related events and decisions, like special projects you could have them undertake.

 

[yezhanquan]

On maesters, there is some speculation that they had something to do with the dragons dying and magic leaving the world.

 

[locustgate]

From my understanding the Andals brought new innovations to Westeros like the use of steel, but it just seem to have put Westeros on the same level of technology as the rest of the world. But besides from steel, their faith, tournaments and knights what else did the Andals contribute with? How many years has it been since the Andal Invasion to the current timeline? Maybe having multiple kingdoms fighting eachother hindered technological progress? Also, Aegon united the whole continent under one kingdom but that didn't advance society at all?

The andals came over thousands of years ago, they may of brought round towers and maesters, or maesters rose after they settled. The rhoynar came hundreds of years ago, only brought equal rights. Valyria had alot of technology and magic("?") but kept most of it inside their own land so when the doom happened there was nothing left.

On maesters, there is some speculation that they had something to do with the dragons dying and magic leaving the world.

And might be trying to secretly take over the world.

 

[yezhanquan]

Yes, Valyrian magic remained mostly in the Freehold. Stuff like the eponymous steel, dragon taming, glass candles.

 

[das]

They certainly are big on covering up everything magical, at least - or rather, their dominant faction is. It is rather a pity that it would be hard to put those inter-maester squabbles into the game.

 

[Tabellarius]

And might be trying to secretly take over the world.

With how often they sleep with various Lord's wives and daughters, they just might. Don't trust those Grey Rats!

 

[ragot]

I think it has more to do with our perception than actual stagnation. There are no reliable sources about history of Westeros.

 

[locustgate]

I think it has more to do with our perception than actual stagnation. There are no reliable sources about history of Westeros.

It is pretty well confirmed that they have had steel and plate armor for thousands of years and rounded towers, as square towers are only present in ancient castles.

Overall the technology has remained mostly medieval for all of recorded history, thousands of years, while they do have some technology that is closer to reinisance, i.e. bride building, road (post rome), cathedral (Balor).

 

[Galle]

You try developing advanced technology when your entire economy is dedicated to surviving ten-year-long winters.

 

[locustgate]

You try developing advanced technology when your entire economy is dedicated to surviving ten-year-long winters.

Pretty much although it's more 1-100 year long winter.

 

[Ivashanko]

You try developing advanced technology when your entire economy is dedicated to surviving ten-year-long winters.

This.

Also, logically we can assume that the 'humans' of that world and the humans of ours are genetically different (as are all animals in our world and their's) due to the extremely variable seasons- assuming that evolution applies in that world, rather than creation. Otherwise extremely little would survive above a certain latitude due to some extremely long winters that would starve out humans in our world. These genetic changes might have lead to other differences, such as in creativity or intelligence- though this is of course speculation.