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The technological gifts from our medieval ancestors

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It's not a compliment for a person or set of values to be called "medieval."

We tend to think of that time in history as a time of narrow minds, and cruel tortures for people who did not go along with the narrow minds. And then there's Black Death.

But there's also some ingenuity from that time that makes life better, and is still in use today. Science journalist John Farrell provides a list in his book The Clock and the Camshaft: And Other Medieval Inventions We Still Can't Live Without.

We would seldom be on time without clocks; the author joins us to talk about other gains for civilization from our medieval ancestors.

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The Jefferson Exchange is Jefferson Public Radio's daily talk show focused on news and interests across our region of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Angela Decker is the senior producer, Nash Bennett is the assistant producer, and Geoffrey Riley hosts the show.