The artes mechanicae (Latin for "mechanical arts") were a medieval category of practical arts and skills, contrasted with the liberal arts. In the 9th century, Johannes Scotus Eriugena divided them into seven categories: textile production, agriculture, architecture and masonry, warfare and hunting, trade, cooking, and metallurgy.In his commentary on Martianus Capella's early-5th-century work, The Marriage of Philology and Mercury, one of the main sources for medieval reflection on the liberal arts.
In the 12th century, Hugh of Saint Victor, in his Didascalicon, proposed a different seven-part classification that included navigation, medicine, and the theatrical arts.Hugues de Saint-Victor, Libri septem eruditiones didascaliae, ch. 26 (PL 176, col. 760): lanificium, armaturum, navigationem, agriculturem, venationem, medicinam, theatricam His treatment gave the mechanical arts greater status by presenting them as contributing to the improvement of humanity, reflecting a broader tendency in the later Middle Ages.See Georges Legoff, Time, Work and Culture in the Middle Ages, (Chicago, University of Chicago Press), p. 116.
Overview Johannes Scotus Eriugena (9th century) divided them into seven parts: (tailoring, weaving) (agriculture) (architecture, masonry) and (warfare and hunting, military education, "martial arts") (trade) (cooking) (blacksmithing, metallurgy)In his commentary on Martianus Capella's early-fifth-century work, The Marriage of Philology and Mercury, one of the main sources for medieval reflection on the liberal arts.
In his Didascalicon, Hugh of Saint Victor (12th century) includes navigation, medicine and theatrical arts instead of commerce, agriculture and cooking.Hugues de Saint-Victor, Libri septem eruditiones didascaliae, ch.26 (PL 176, col.760): lanificium, armaturum, navigationem, agriculturem, venationem, medicinam, theatricam Hugh's treatment somewhat elevates the mechanical arts as ordained to the improvement of humanity, a promotion which was to represent a growing trend among late medievals.
The classification of the as applied geometry was introduced to Western Europe by Dominicus Gundissalinus (12th century) under the influence of his readings in Arabic scholarship.
In the 19th century, "mechanic arts" referred to some of the fields that are now known as engineering. Use of the term was apparently an attempt to distinguish these fields from creative and artistic endeavors like the performing arts and the fine arts, which were for the upper class of the time, and the intelligentsia. The mechanic arts were also considered practical fields for those that did not come from good families.
Related phrases, "useful arts" or "applied arts" probably encompass the mechanic arts as well as craftsmanship in general.
In the United States, the most famous usage of the term "mechanic arts" (and the one in which it is most commonly encountered today) is in the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act.
See also Artes liberales Medieval technology
Footnotes
References Walton, S.A., An Introduction to the Mechanical Arts in the Middle Ages, AVISTA, University of Toronto, 2003