Part 4/14:
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe’s heating methods regressed to simpler designs. During the Middle Ages, homes featured large, open fireplaces that served as the central heating source, often located in grand halls. The invention of the chimney in the 12th to 14th centuries significantly improved indoor air quality by venting smoke outside, making fires more practical and less smoky. Despite this, heat remained localized; only the area nearest the fire felt truly warm, requiring hosts to tend the flames constantly and residents to bundle up in wool and blankets.