Technology and Civilization
The Savage Age is less technologically advanced than what is the norm in most "medieval" fantasy. Transportation in particular is limited, and long voyages across wide oceans are unheard of. The dreaded unfathomable sea, concealing within it's murky depths a myriad ancient secrets, alien monstrosities and strange blasphemies Men are not meant to learn, remains a menacing and mysterious frontier even to the most sea-going peoples of the world. Any experienced sea captain, lest he has sacraficed his sanity to the gods of wine, will stick to established routes along coasts or hopping from island to island.
Overland travel is hardly easier or safer, for good roads (or in some places, any roads at all!) are luxuries found where tides of war have been quelled by the iron grip of tyranny. Travelers most anywhere must face the perils of banditry, wild beasts and the forces of nature. It is thus not surprising that the true extent of the world - or even just the inhabited parts of it - is not known to any of it's mortal denizens. Even the the most learned cartographers advicing the rulers of wide-spanning trade empires are only aware of limited portions of the world.
This dearth of communications and exploration has led to a great disparity between different peoples of the world. While the most advanced cultures are well into the Iron Age, there are many who are still living in almost Stone Age conditions. On one end of the spectrum are great cyclopean cities whose histories span over millenia, the shadow of innumerable generations saturating their bazaars and plazas with the intoxicating air of antiquity, sophistication and decadence. On the other end there are primitive tribes living without roofs over their heads, as uncouth and fierce as the beasts with which they are wont to fight for every fallen prey and every stretch of pasture. These more primitive groups have yet to be influenced or overrun by their more advanced rivals, largely due to their isolation stemming from their location at the very fringes of Mankind's dominion - and due also to general strife and turmoil; that sanguine scent of war and the opiate odour of intrigue which haunt and corrupt all the "civilized" peoples of the Savage Age.
[ooc]Unfortunately the technological state of Savage Age cannot be summed up by referring to a real world time period. There are too significant intentional deviations for this to be practical. Therefore I am trying to build a list of key technologies. Obviously such a list won't ever be truly comprehensive. What's worse, is that the technologies of different peoples vary at least as much between the peoples of the world as they did in the real world in pre-Columbian times. To represent this complexity, I have organized the list into sections based on how far-spread the inventions are.[/ooc]
[blockquote=Tech List]
Basic Technologies (known by almost all peoples)- Agriculture . Hoe
- Dining utensils . Bowl
. Knife (used for food preparation only)
. Bare hands
- Economy . Bartering
- Fire . Open fire
. Torch
. Ignition by fire drill
. Ignition by fire plow
- Materials . Alcohol
- Textiles . Spindle
- Warfare . Bow & arrows
. Sling
. Club
. Staff
. Spear, javelin
. Axe
. Knife
Common Technologies (known by most peoples)- Agriculture . Plough
- Chronometry . Sundial
- Dining utensils . Cup, tankard
. Spoon (of wood, sea shell, horn or metal)
- Fire . Fireplace
. Oven
. Candle
. Lantern
. Ignition by flint and steel
- Materials . Mortar
- Maritime & navigation . Anchor
- Mechanics . Wheel
. Water mill
- Warfare . Shield
. Helmet
. Leather armour
. Padded armour
- Writing . Writing system (pictograms, logograms, syllabaries and alphabets)
. Tablets (clay, wood, stone)
. Carving
. Parchment scrolls
. Ink
Rare Technologies (known by specific peoples)- Chronometry . Water clock
. Candle clock
- Economy . Coinage
- Dining utensils . Plate
. Chopsticks
- Equestrianism . Riding
. Harness
. Bit & bridle
. Saddle
. Stirrup
- Fire . Oil lamp
. Bellows
- Hygiene . Soap
. Plumbing
- Materials . Concrete
. Naphtha
- Mechanics . Lock and key
. Masonry arch
. Vaulting
- Transportation . Sled
- Warfare . Sword
. Maille
. Scale armour
. Lamellar armour
. Brigandine armour
. Quilted armour
. Chariot (obsolete)
. Horse barding
. Siege machinery
- Writing . Papyrus scrolls
. Quill
. Brush
. Reed pen
. Stylus & beeswax (erasable)
High Technologies (known by none but few specific civilizations)- Chronometry . Incense clock
- Dining utensils . Fork
. Knife (used for eating in combination with the fork)
- Hygiene . Toilet
- Materials . Porcelain
- Mechanics . Astrolabe
. Orrery
. Windmill
- Textiles . Spinning wheel
- Transportation . Kites
- Writing . Paper scrolls
Unknown Technologies (not known by anyone)- Chronometry . Mechanical clocks
- Maritime & navigation . Compass
. Sextant
- Materials . Coffee
. Glass
->
No spectacles, hourglasses or magnifying lenses, no glassed windows.- Textiles . Loom
- Transportation . Carriage
. Hot air balloon
- Warfare . Plate armour
. Gunpowder/blackpowder
- Writing . Book binding
->
In Savage Age everything is written on scrolls or tablets. The word 'book' means a collection of writings[/blockquote]
Well, i thought this post deserved some attention. I think it gives a really good overview over what technologies are available and what level your civilizations are on. I'm pretty impressed by its extensiveness and detail. Although it seems rather superfluous at first, i like the unknown technologies as it limits the world and the players (in a good way). For example, it's useful to know that they have no glass and no books. Not sure what else you'd want comments on. But good job.
I'm glad you think it's useful. The purpose of the list is to get this stuff organized and written down so that I don't have to keep it all in my head. Of corse I'll have to eventually make specific lists of what's available in each part of the world, but having the big picture nailed down first should be helpful then.
Yes, no glass means no glass. It simply hasn't been invented anywhere. And I am well aware of how ancient glassmaking is, making it unknown is a deliberate effort to make Savage Age a bit more different from any familiar time in history.