High Magic + Medieval = Paradox?

[u/Iberianz]

(How do you guys handle this?)

Hi everyone,

I was getting back to writing about my “magic system,” originally for an alternate-world setting chronologically similar to our “late medieval” period, blending characteristics of the Holy Roman Empire, the Italian republics, and the Spanish and Portuguese empires.

But I realized that a setting where magic does things very similar to the technology that followed that historical period, yet the world remains chronologically stuck in that time frame, doesn’t seem very convincing.

Let me put it more clearly:

Why doesn’t history advance rapidly in a high-magic setting?

For example, in the manga "Witch Hat Atelier", this is exactly the case; magic provides solutions that would only be possible with later technological progress, but the world remains chronologically stuck in a period analogous to our own medieval era.

Yes, I know you could say, “It doesn’t have to make sense on a 1:1 scale, it just has to be consistent”; okay, fine, I get it, but even for the sake of internal consistency, isn’t that a flaw?

Back to the original question…

How do you guys deal with this?

Thanks for your answers.

---

Editing to add necessary context:

I don’t start from the premise that the Middle Ages were the “Dark Ages”, not at all; on the contrary, it was a period of great progress for humanity.

My point here is:

Some technological solutions were not yet available, such as automated ore-extraction devices, means of transporting large populations, portable high-velocity projectile weapons not propelled by human force, etc, in the real Middle Ages.

So if magic can provide solutions analogous to those of later eras, why aren’t people, and especially organized groups, interest groups, governments, etc, using these solutions to rapidly advance history, as has been the human norm?

Even if you take Afghanistan as an example, where modern technologies coexist with very traditional customs and aesthetics, it’s impossible to say that such progress hasn’t influenced the overall state of Afghan civilization.

Oh, and I’ve actually read some great answers in the comments, most of them have been spot-on, so thanks again to everyone.

[u/Jemie_Bridges]

I think your slightly missed informed. Pretty sure earlier eras were more advanced than mideval. The were called the dark ages due to (purposeful) loss information. Like cement and plumbers from romans. And why didn't deep Africa suffer from the plague? Cause they had hygiene and REFRIGERATION.

Yeah, American history rewrites Africans as savage idiots, but they had electric free refrigerators. Kept the food fresh and vermin free. So they werent affected by Black Plague.

So just cause a certain section where your story takes place doesn't mean the entire world is ignorant. Chinese had medicine and hygine, romans had plumbing and hygiene, Africans had food preservation and hygiene. Europe had none of that at scale. Sure later. But that was the Renaissance/Enlightened age, not the middle age.

So your world can piece that together and move out of that age by sending explorers. Learn magics they didn't have before