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Windmills, also known as wind turbines for generating electricity, have been used since ancient times. They have a central axis with slats that rotate when pushed by the wind, and can grind grain or pump water. Tower mills were developed in the 14th century for increased efficiency. Windmills are still used today, particularly in remote areas, and are a distinctive part of many landscapes, such as in Holland and La Mancha, Spain.
A windmill is a machine that uses wind energy for a purpose such as grinding grain, pumping water, or generating electricity. Some people prefer to use the term “wind turbine” to refer to one used to generate electricity, differentiating machines that generate power from those designed for other functions. Although the popularity of windmills has declined as other sources of energy have risen, they continue to be widely used around the world, and especially in remote areas, these devices sometimes provide the only source of energy for the surrounding community .
The first documented attempt to build a windmill occurred in Ancient Greece around the 1st century AD. Apparently, the technology didn’t catch on, because the Persians developed their own version 400 years later, inventing versions seen by Europeans during the Crusades. Some of the Crusader knights brought the technology back to Europe with them, and Europeans began building these devices in the 12th century, making several adaptations of the Persian design. The Chinese also seem to have picked up the technology from the Persians.
The basic form has not changed since the first century. It has a series of slats or slats mounted on a central axis which is designed to rotate when the slats are pushed by the wind. The shaft connects to a gear system to turn machinery that can do things like drive a millstone for the purpose of grinding grain or pumping water.
Many windmills are designed to rotate, so the operator can take advantage of the prevailing winds. Early European designs were very simple, consisting of little more than long poles attached to blades, but tower mills began to be built in the 14th century, which had a fixed base and a rotating top. The development of the tower mill allowed structures to be built directly under the blades, maximizing energy efficiency.
These structures are a distinctive part of the landscape in many regions of the world, as by their very nature they are tall and quite imposing. Those in some regions have become particularly famous. Holland, for example, is dotted with windmills, many of which continue to be used to control floodwaters in low-lying areas, and those of La Mancha in Spain are famous thanks to the novel Don Quixote, in which the eponymous protagonist he is seen mistaking them for giants and trying to fight them.
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