Smiths and miners within medieval society Metallurgists throughout medieval Europe were  free to move within different regions. German metallurgists in search of rich precious metal ores, for instance, took the leading part in mining and affected the course of metal production, not only in East and South Germany but in almost all Central Europe and the Eastern Alps. As mining gradually became a task for specialized craftsmen, miners moved in large groups and they formed settlements with their own customs close to mines. They were always welcomed by the regional authorities  since the latter were interested in increasing the revenue and the exploitation of the mineral-rich subsurface was quite profitable. The authorities claimed a part of the output, and smiths and miners were provided with land for cottages, mills, forges, farming, and pasture, and they were allowed to use streams and lumber (Nef 1987, 706-715). In medieval societies, liberal and mechanical arts were considered as totally different from each other . Metallurgists, as all craftsmen and artisans, lacked the methodical intellectual background but they were the pioneers of causal thinking , based on empirical observation and experimentation (Zilsel 2000).
Smiths and miners within medieval society Metallurgists throughout medieval Europe were generally free to move within different regions. German metallurgists in search of rich precious metal ores, for instance, took the leading part in mining and affected the course of metal production, not only in East and South Germany but in almost all Central Europe and the Eastern Alps. As mining gradually became a task for specialized craftsmen, miners moved in large groups and formed settlements with their own customs close to mines. They were always welcomed by the regional authorities , since the latter were interested in increasing the revenue and the exploitation of the mineral-rich subsurface was quite profitable. These authorities claimed a part of the output, and smiths and miners were provided with land for cottages, mills, forges, farming, and pasture, and they were allowed to use streams and lumber (Nef 1987, 706-715). In medieval societies, liberal and mechanical arts were considered to be totally different disciplines . Metallurgists, as all craftsmen and artisans, almost always lacked the formal education that would inform a methodical intellectual background . However, they were the pioneers of causal thinking based on empirical observation and experimentation (Zilsel 2000).
A
generally
D
they
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,
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as totally different from each other
to be totally different disciplines
R
lacked the
almost always lacked the formal education that would inform a
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but
. However,
D
,