I’ve noticed that in fantasy universes like Elder Scrolls Online, the timeline often stretches over thousands of years, yet there’s barely any technological progress. Empires collapse instead of rising, magic remains constant, and technology seems stuck or even lost. This feels really odd to me because in our real world, technology and societies transformed dramatically over just a couple of centuries. Why don’t fantasy settings show similar development or change over such long periods?
5 Answers
It’s funny to compare that to our history — even on Earth, for thousands of years, tech improved slowly with long plateaus. The rapid tech explosion is quite recent and unique. So fantasy worlds showing minimal change over millennia isn’t that wild if you think about real human history too. Plus, magic and war can keep things in a low-tech, old-school vibe to maintain that classic fantasy feel.
Most fantasy settings have magic, which kind of sidelines the need for tech advancement. If you have ice magic handy, why bother inventing a fridge? Magic covers a lot of practical needs, so people don’t push technological boundaries as much. For example, in ESO, the Dwemer developed advanced tech because they relied less on magic, but that was a rare exception.
Thanks for all the insights! So it sounds like magic, divine interference, and repeated collapse all contribute to this tech stagnation. I guess it makes sense that fantasy worlds don’t follow real-world progress because the presence of magic changes everything about how societies develop.
Also consider that many fantasy worlds have gone through catastrophic events that reset civilization. These world-shattering moments can cause knowledge loss and stunted development. In Tamriel, with its many conflicts and gods directly influencing history, empires often collapse without sustainable progress, which keeps tech stuck in a sort of prolonged dark age.
Another reason is that magic itself replaces what tech would normally do. Instead of inventing the wheel or telephones, people use teleportation, healing potions, or crystal balls for communication. It’s like why invent tools when spells provide easy solutions? This naturally limits technological growth because the smartest minds focus on magic and alchemy, not machines.
