对中世纪“工业革命”论题的考察与评价

An Investigation into and Evaluation of the Thesis of Industrial Revolution of the Middle Ages

中世纪工业革命论者认为,以水磨为主的动力机器在中世纪后期被广泛使用,带来了显著的进步。而反对者指出,证据不足以支持革命论,动力磨的数量较少,产生的实际影响也有限。工业革命概念与18世纪英国产业运动联系紧密,并不适合说明中世纪的成就。综合考虑,本文认为最好放弃使用中世纪工业革命的说法。

The advocators of the industrial revolution of the Middle Ages considered that power machines, represented by water-mills, were widely utilized in the High Middle Ages, which facilitated some notable progress. But the opponents argued that evidences did not support such a statement, because the number of mills was relatively small and their actual effects were limited. The concept of industrial revolution has an inseparable connection with the industrial development in the 18th century UK, so it is not suitable to be used to explain the medieval accomplishment. It is better to reject the parlance of industrial revolution of the Middle Ages.