The Persians built windmills in the 7th century AD for milling and

irrigation and rustic mills similar to these early vertical axis designs can still be found in the

region today. In Europe the first windmills were seen much later, probably having been

introduced by the English on their return from the crusades in the middle east or possibly

transferred to Southern Europe by the Muslims after their conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.

It was in Europe that much of the subsequent technical development took place. By the late

part of the 13th century the typical ‘European windmill’ had been developed and this became

the norm until further developments were introduced during the 18th century. At the end of

the 19th century there were more than 30,-The Persians built windmills in the 7th century AD for milling and

irrigation and rustic mills similar to these early vertical axis designs can still be found in the

region today. In Europe the first windmills were seen much later, probably having been

introduced by the English on their return from the crusades in the middle east or possibly

transferred to Southern Europe by the Muslims after their conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.

It was in Europe that much of the subsequent technical development took place. By the late

part of the 13th century the typical ‘European windmill’ had been developed and this became

the norm until further developments were introduced during the 18th century. At the end of

the 19th century there were more than 30,000