1. The Heavy Plow

The first item I would introduce would be the heavy wheeled plow. First used in Slavic lands around the 5th century AD, it then spread through out the rest of Northern Europe. It was extremely important to cultivation of rich, heavy soils because it provided a much less fragile frame than previous plows, coupled by wheels which allowed for greater weight, and a metal plowshare blade. The design included, “A sharp point of iron to cut the soil. A plowshare blade mounted behind the sharp metal point that widened the cut, and a moldboard behind the share to lift and turn the soil” (Strong and Davis 416). This particular construction allowed for much higher production of crops, which in turn lead to greater economic stability and innovation in the region. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the first step toward civilization and greater creativity is providing for basic physiological needs. Thus, a strong agricultural foundation would provide a springboard for more specialized learning. Furthermore, the plow symbolically demonstrates the destructive then constructive nature of learning. Before a seed can be planted, the earth must first be harrowed and aerated to allow it optimum growth. Similarly, in order to learn, our previous conceptions must be broken apart before something new can grow in their place. The plow provides not only a greater agricultural foundation for a civilization, but also begins a way of thinking that is more conducive to learning.