The Power of Machines: Technology, Society, and Environment in 16th-Century Trentino

The Power of Machines transformed Renaissance society, reshaping the delicate balance between humanity, natural resources, and technological progress.

In the evocative setting of Palazzo delle Albere in Trento, a landmark exhibition and scholarly symposium explored the dramatic events of the 1525 Peasant Revolts and the advent of water-powered machinery. During the 16th century, the harnessing of hydraulic energy powered sawmills, smithies, mining lifts, and papermaking mills, inaugurating unprecedented productivity while concentrating wealth and control in the hands of emerging oligarchies.

This early industrial transition mirrors today’s debates surrounding digital automation and sustainability, reminding us that technological power has always required ethical stewardship and social equity.

Curated by Mariateresa Martini (Part 1).

Read more from GN Magazine – September 2026

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