Game of Thrones: The Sadness of a World Without Science

The Game of Thrones universe is a world without science. No doubt it has some technology, but it just comes out of regular use. For example, the very bad young king's new-model crossbow is much easier to load than the standard issue. It has also some lucky and accidental discoveries, jealously guarded. However, we can’t talk about technological progress. Among the warlocks and warriors, there is no system for gathering, testing and sharing knowledge about the world. Therefore, that body of knowledge never changes. There are no new inventions, no new ideas. The past stretches back thousands of years like a mirror reflecting itself, and the future promises only more of the same.

Then why is it that after 8,000 years of history, science and technology in Westeros has not advanced? Here are some of the possible reasons:

Magic was a strong force in the world up to and even somewhat during the reign of the Targaryens. It is easy to see how science and technological advancement could be second to the study of magic. This must be the common approach: why invent electricity and appliances if I can create lightning from my hands? That’s why most of the kingdoms of Westeros find themselves in a dark age.

Education is hard to come by in Westeros. It is the only property of the masters and The Citadel. Science and technological advancements are only possible through education and an environment that fosters innovation. Neither exists in the world of Game of Thrones.

A surprising amount of modern technology came as a result of discovering gunpowder and explosives. Without gunpowder, a lot of these advances would have been impossible to have. You can never see firearms and essential techniques such as dynamite mining in Westeros. Without chemical explosives, ores and other resources can’t be used by the modern civilisations. This leaves little chance for important materials to be developed.

Remember that technology is a democratising force. In a very non-democratic world like the one in the Game of Thrones, anything that enables democracy is generally bad. Therefore, the creation of technology would change the present situation in Westeros, so it is extremely detrimental to those in power.

It seems that Westeros has been stuck in a technological winter for nearly 8,000 years. Some people may see this as a convenient plot device to make for an engaging fantasy series. It also creates an opportunity to imagine what human society would look like if it weren’t for science and technological advancements we have made.