ABSTRACT
Watermills were introduced into Denmark in the second half of the 12th century, and into Iceland round about 1200; but they hardly became general in Nordic societies until the 14th century. Although the invention of the watermill took place in ancient times, its real expansion did not come about until the Middle Ages. About the beginning of the Christian era, the Greco-Roman civilisation, whose consumption of flour was enormous, had therefore at its disposal for the production of this essential foodstuff a piece of machinery that had already been brought to a remarkable decree of perfection. As transport difficulties made it impossible to rely upon a supply of flour from mills situated at any distance, people lacking water power had no alternative but to content themselves with the ancient methods. Their problems were solved by an even newer invention, the windmill.
