Europe possessed an advanced technology in scientific instruments at the beginning of the 16th century. During and after the 16th century, the clockmakers were among the most innovative and ingenious of Europe's craftsmen. But they, like other instrument makers, concentrated upon improving and perfecting existing creations rather than experimenting with the manufacture of new devices. Technical advance slowed down in the second half of the sixteenth century in all branches of mechanical endeavor. [The most conspicuous aspect of this slowdown was the fact that they were learning about each other’s productions and were trying to mimic those technologies.] This deceleration in innovation may have been connected with
a.Progress in communication, migration of artisans from place to place, and publication of books with detailed illustrations had the effect of forcing the conscientious artisan to read about the works of his colleagues elsewhere before undertaking experiments on his own.
b.Continues wars between city states forced artisans to make more weapons than clocks
c.The statement is incorrect: there was no slowdown in mechanical endeavor of the 16th century.
d.Absence of teaching modern technology in universities. Technology and engineering had no place in Liberal Art