Windmill

wind power · grain · medieval machines · history

Wind does the work. A windmill uses sails or vanes that catch the wind and spin around, turning gears inside that grind grain into flour. It's basically nature's power tool for milling.

Two different designs. The horizontal windmill appeared first in Persia during the 9th century, while the vertical windmill, which became more popular in Europe, showed up in northwestern Europe around the 12th century.

Medieval marvel. Throughout the middle ages and early modern times, windmills were super important because they made it possible to mill grain much faster than doing it by hand.

Clever gear system. Inside a windmill, the spinning sails are connected to gears that transfer that spinning motion down to heavy millstones that crush the grain into powder.