European Windmill

Timeline

1. 1100–1200England and Normandy · EnglandThe post mill reached England via Normandy, with the entire mill housing rotating to face the wind; early on it was mainly used for grinding grain, compensating for the seasonal river limitations of watermills, and became a new power source in coastal and upland rural areas.
2. 1251–1260Flanders and the Dutch lowlands · FlandersIn the 1250s the number of coastal windmills in Flanders and Zeeland grew rapidly, used not only for milling but also for drainage and sawing; windmills became an important tool for reclaiming wetlands and expanding farmland, forming a complementary power network with the three-field rotation system and the urban flour trade.
3. 1258–1300Northern France · FranceLords and the Church levied a milling toll (multure) on windmills, forming a monopoly system; windmill ownership and the right to process grain became important components of the manorial economy, driving the transition of power machinery from individual craft to institutionalized operation.