glass making
For a variety of reasons, a lot of fantasy worlds have a sort of technological stagnation and Scarterra more or less fits the mold.
Technological innovation doesn't change very fast in Scarterra except in alchemy and glass making.
This means some Scarterrans push the limits on what can be done with glass. In general, Scarterran technology is roughly on par with that of 12th century Earth, but in the case of glasswork, it is centuries ahead.
Brief Real World Parallel to Scarterra
Necessity is the mother of invention. In real world Earth, a lot of innovations came from Ancient China before it came to the West, but glass based innovations came from the West, including, eye glasses, microscopes, and telescopes. Ancient China had porcelain which was superior to ancient glass in most respects, so Ancient China didn't make as much glass as the West did, so they didn't experiment with glass as much so they didn't create new applications of glass lenses until introduced to them by the West.Because of Scarterran metaphysics, glass is the best widely available material to make storage containers for magical potions and alchemical mixtures. Since magical potions and alchemical mixtures are extremely important, by extension glass is extremely important.
Most Scarterrans are not big on the scientific method or on experimentation in general, but Scarterran alchemists like to experiment. Many alchemists cross train as glass blowers. Many are business partners with glass blowers. Others are best friends with glass blowers, or even intermarry with glass blowers.
by Me with Midjourney
Utility
]The main thing Scarterran glass blowers tend to make a lot of are potion bottles and alchemical storage jars.
Scarterran glass makers also create stained glass windows, plain windows, drinking glasses, magnifying glasses, glass mirrors, eye glasses, and telescopes.
Eye glasses and telescopes in Scarterra are very crude by Earth modern standards, but they are very advanced by Earth medieval standards.
by Eron12 with Hero Forge
Manufacturing
Most people are vaguely aware that glass is made from heated sand. Sand is not and never has been a scarce resource. But it takes a lot of heat to turn sand into glass. This was true in ancient and medieval times as well as in modern times.
It's easier to reform old glass than to make new glass because it takes less energy. Ironically, pre-industrial glass is actually easier to recycle than modern glass. So broken glass was often saved rather than get tossed out.
Here's a good video on pre-industrial glass making techniques. Scarterrans due roughly the same thing. The hard part is not shaping the glass so much as the maintaining a constant strong heat on the glass being shaped for extended period. Not only is this labor intensive but you need high quality firewood or charcoal to make this possible. That is wood that is not being used to heat houses, cook food, or heat blacksmith forges. Waste is taboo and nearly everything is hand made, so glass is fairly expensive.
Social Impact
Scarterran glass making is far more advanced than medieval glass making, but it's not exactly common. Peasants are not likely to own glass items.
Glass drinking containers are a modest luxury, available to the middle class in some cases. Glass widows are a mark of status and wealth, straddling the line between the middle class and upper classes. Stained glass windows are a mark of great status and wealth.
Wearing eye glasses or using a telescope is a very niche product, generally only the province of academics oof high professional status.
by Eron12 with Hero Forge
Parent Technologies
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