Okay, I'm not going to reply to posts/comments individually because that would just drown the whole thread in a huge quote wall (mixed metaphors!). Instead I will just talk about the techs themselves and hopefully address everything that's been said, I think you'll know when your post is referenced.
Record Keeping/Mathematics
I like the suggestion of renaming the former to Numbers. In light of suggestions to rename the latter Geometry I would also like Arithmetics/Geometry, but Geometry does not work as Currency prereq imo so it better stays as generic Mathematics.
Currency
I'm in line with the people who pointed out that the tech is more about state control of currency, taxation and minting etc. so it's not just about having metal coins. The position is therefore appropriate.
Botany/Medicine
I like the idea of Botany as a tech, but it's hard to see what it would enable and it's hard to integrate into the tech tree in terms of prereqs and children. Also the tech as it is in the tree right now will probably enable a health building (Baths) so the name fits. I see no problem with referencing classical medicine with this name.
Warrior Code for Chivalry
Certainly preferable.
Horticulture
I agree it feels weird as a late medieval tech. I don't think it is even needed, the effect can be merged into Crop Rotation.
Ceremonial Burial/Ritual/Divination
Yeah, Ceremonial Burial and Ritual can be merged. It's true that Divination is a weird name for a tech. More discussion below.
Oratory
While the scope of this tech may be culturally narrow, I like the idea to link cultural and political innovation in it (i.e. Drama/Theaters and political rhetorics, I actually would use it for the City States civic) and it links neatly into the tech tree, so I'm for stay.
Leather Working
I'll just cut Hunting and merge the Camp improvement into this one. Requiring Pastoralism is plausible, but I don't feel there's space in the third column for it. And apparently it only reasonably leads to Riding, a fourth column tech. Not sure here. Similar problem with Riding/The Wheel: there's just no space in the third column to have them both there, and roads should be enabled at that point, also The Wheel is prereq for a couple of fourth column techs (for some reason? I'm not getting the rationale there).
Sailing/Seafaring/Shipbuilding
I think it works, the granularity is alright and it marks the progression of literally having sails (inland sailing), actually going out to sea, and more sophisticated ships. I also wouldn't know how to interleave anything else in this row. I'm open to suggestions for more specific names, but if the names are too specific it's weird too.
Pottery -> Copper Working instead of Leather Working -> Copper Working
Yes. The problem is that we already have Pottery && Mining -> Masonry, so even when rearranging positions the arrows would "cross" (the same combination leads to the two techs). Can be worked around but it's awkward. The smelting argument is compelling.
Plumbing
I like it as Aqueduct requirement. Cutting Plumbing -> Engineering is sensible though, and it's a good idea to have medieval eurocivs start without it.
Employment
I don't want to repeat myself but with what it enables and what the prereqs and children are renaming it Contract makes perfect sense.
Rename Politics to Statecraft
Good tech name in any case! Maybe I like it even more for later in the game, for the early Renaissance when the early modern concept of statehood develops. Judiciary has also been proposed for a tech in the vicinity (to take the Charity position), which I like also becomes Theology && Judiciary -> Dogma makes a lot of sense. Not sure if both Politics/Statecraft and Judiciary are required in this position.
Merge Crop Rotation and Horticulture
Yeah, that's better.
Machinery -> Crop Rotation
Open to the argument that this connection should be removed (I think the implication is Heavy Plough and such), what would the other prereq be then? Civil Service?
Logistics
Agreed that it's an important part of military strategy, but I'm not sure what it evokes in particular and why it is where it is. There could be a tech like this but it feels like there doesn't need to be.
Earlier Gunpowder
Yeah, I'd like Gunpowder in the current Logistics position and then Gunpowder -> Firearms -> Combined Arms.
Optics and Cartography
I disagree. I addressed Cartography before. Optics for me is telescopes (and by implication microscopes), which is later chronologically. For me Cartography is like Portuguese exploration of Africa era and Optics is trans-Atlantic voyages.
Theology/Dogma
Dogma is the Papacy and religious doctrine. Theology is more the philosophical aspect of religious science. As said above, Theology + Judiciary = Dogma illustrates it pretty well.
Patronage prereqs
I agree Land Tenure makes no sense, and Guilds/Civil Service/Theology makes more sense.
Meteorology
I like that it exists as an "advanced Seafaring" tech in the Renaissance (contrary to HR I would have put Frigates there, and the Trafalgar Square wonder), and interpreted as knowledge about oceanic winds and currents and such, but I admit that's a bit weak. So going with some comments here I'd rather move Astronomy to this position with the same effects (it fits into the position without problems).
I think Calendar adequately represents early Astronomy, so we don't need two techs of that theme. Calendar would take the current Astronomy position. Ritual can be renamed Worship, and the current place of Calendar can be occupied by a tech I'll call Ceremony for now (or maybe Festivals). It refers to recurring religious/agricultural events/festivals that played an important role in many ancient cultures (Worship/Agriculture prereqs are obvious). Oratory child plays into what has already been mentioned (Drama and performances evolving from seasonal events), Calendar obviously is about determining the dates for such events. Also, an additional religious themed tech (especially a branch in the religious sequence) seems useful for religion founding.
Merging Jurisprudence into Civil Liberties
Makes complete sense, especially if another legal themed tech is added earlier in the tree.
Refrigeration before Electricity
Well still historically that's been the case, but for the sake of space in the lower Industrial tree it's probably better to move it back.
Classical/Modern Physics
Sounds uninspired as names. Not sure what's better though.
Intertwining of medical and social techs
I think the reason for this is what I mentioned previously, and agree that it needs to be untied somehow. Can't really speak to how right now though. But I agree about the Labour Unions prereqs.
Combustion
I think the name is okay, it's kind of obvious that internal combustion is meant.
Explosives
That tech (especially its prereqs) confuses me as well. I like the tech itself (Bombers also require it even though it's not evident from the picture), but its position doesn't seem quite right.
Mass Media/Tourism/Globalisation
I like all of them. Tourism is an interesting way to group a couple of things that never seemed to belong anywhere, same with Globalisation (e.g. the Multilateralism civic). I agree that the last one is more a general development and not a tech, so a better name might be needed, but the concept is good.
Scifi/future techs
In general I think nothing here is far fetched and it's all solid futurism, so it's fine by me. As long as they all do something useful (which is enabling the space ship which in itself is beyond realism) it's fine by me.
And now I'm out of time already, didn't get very far through the thread apparently. Will pick this up again later on. Behind the scenes I'm already revising the tree taking the comments from this thread into account, will share later when things are coming together.
Record Keeping/Mathematics
I like the suggestion of renaming the former to Numbers. In light of suggestions to rename the latter Geometry I would also like Arithmetics/Geometry, but Geometry does not work as Currency prereq imo so it better stays as generic Mathematics.
Currency
I'm in line with the people who pointed out that the tech is more about state control of currency, taxation and minting etc. so it's not just about having metal coins. The position is therefore appropriate.
Botany/Medicine
I like the idea of Botany as a tech, but it's hard to see what it would enable and it's hard to integrate into the tech tree in terms of prereqs and children. Also the tech as it is in the tree right now will probably enable a health building (Baths) so the name fits. I see no problem with referencing classical medicine with this name.
Warrior Code for Chivalry
Certainly preferable.
Horticulture
I agree it feels weird as a late medieval tech. I don't think it is even needed, the effect can be merged into Crop Rotation.
Ceremonial Burial/Ritual/Divination
Yeah, Ceremonial Burial and Ritual can be merged. It's true that Divination is a weird name for a tech. More discussion below.
Oratory
While the scope of this tech may be culturally narrow, I like the idea to link cultural and political innovation in it (i.e. Drama/Theaters and political rhetorics, I actually would use it for the City States civic) and it links neatly into the tech tree, so I'm for stay.
Leather Working
I'll just cut Hunting and merge the Camp improvement into this one. Requiring Pastoralism is plausible, but I don't feel there's space in the third column for it. And apparently it only reasonably leads to Riding, a fourth column tech. Not sure here. Similar problem with Riding/The Wheel: there's just no space in the third column to have them both there, and roads should be enabled at that point, also The Wheel is prereq for a couple of fourth column techs (for some reason? I'm not getting the rationale there).
Sailing/Seafaring/Shipbuilding
I think it works, the granularity is alright and it marks the progression of literally having sails (inland sailing), actually going out to sea, and more sophisticated ships. I also wouldn't know how to interleave anything else in this row. I'm open to suggestions for more specific names, but if the names are too specific it's weird too.
Pottery -> Copper Working instead of Leather Working -> Copper Working
Yes. The problem is that we already have Pottery && Mining -> Masonry, so even when rearranging positions the arrows would "cross" (the same combination leads to the two techs). Can be worked around but it's awkward. The smelting argument is compelling.
Plumbing
I like it as Aqueduct requirement. Cutting Plumbing -> Engineering is sensible though, and it's a good idea to have medieval eurocivs start without it.
Employment
I don't want to repeat myself but with what it enables and what the prereqs and children are renaming it Contract makes perfect sense.
Rename Politics to Statecraft
Good tech name in any case! Maybe I like it even more for later in the game, for the early Renaissance when the early modern concept of statehood develops. Judiciary has also been proposed for a tech in the vicinity (to take the Charity position), which I like also becomes Theology && Judiciary -> Dogma makes a lot of sense. Not sure if both Politics/Statecraft and Judiciary are required in this position.
Merge Crop Rotation and Horticulture
Yeah, that's better.
Machinery -> Crop Rotation
Open to the argument that this connection should be removed (I think the implication is Heavy Plough and such), what would the other prereq be then? Civil Service?
Logistics
Agreed that it's an important part of military strategy, but I'm not sure what it evokes in particular and why it is where it is. There could be a tech like this but it feels like there doesn't need to be.
Earlier Gunpowder
Yeah, I'd like Gunpowder in the current Logistics position and then Gunpowder -> Firearms -> Combined Arms.
Optics and Cartography
I disagree. I addressed Cartography before. Optics for me is telescopes (and by implication microscopes), which is later chronologically. For me Cartography is like Portuguese exploration of Africa era and Optics is trans-Atlantic voyages.
Theology/Dogma
Dogma is the Papacy and religious doctrine. Theology is more the philosophical aspect of religious science. As said above, Theology + Judiciary = Dogma illustrates it pretty well.
Patronage prereqs
I agree Land Tenure makes no sense, and Guilds/Civil Service/Theology makes more sense.
Meteorology
I like that it exists as an "advanced Seafaring" tech in the Renaissance (contrary to HR I would have put Frigates there, and the Trafalgar Square wonder), and interpreted as knowledge about oceanic winds and currents and such, but I admit that's a bit weak. So going with some comments here I'd rather move Astronomy to this position with the same effects (it fits into the position without problems).
I think Calendar adequately represents early Astronomy, so we don't need two techs of that theme. Calendar would take the current Astronomy position. Ritual can be renamed Worship, and the current place of Calendar can be occupied by a tech I'll call Ceremony for now (or maybe Festivals). It refers to recurring religious/agricultural events/festivals that played an important role in many ancient cultures (Worship/Agriculture prereqs are obvious). Oratory child plays into what has already been mentioned (Drama and performances evolving from seasonal events), Calendar obviously is about determining the dates for such events. Also, an additional religious themed tech (especially a branch in the religious sequence) seems useful for religion founding.
Merging Jurisprudence into Civil Liberties
Makes complete sense, especially if another legal themed tech is added earlier in the tree.
Refrigeration before Electricity
Well still historically that's been the case, but for the sake of space in the lower Industrial tree it's probably better to move it back.
Classical/Modern Physics
Sounds uninspired as names. Not sure what's better though.
Intertwining of medical and social techs
I think the reason for this is what I mentioned previously, and agree that it needs to be untied somehow. Can't really speak to how right now though. But I agree about the Labour Unions prereqs.
Combustion
I think the name is okay, it's kind of obvious that internal combustion is meant.
Explosives
That tech (especially its prereqs) confuses me as well. I like the tech itself (Bombers also require it even though it's not evident from the picture), but its position doesn't seem quite right.
Mass Media/Tourism/Globalisation
I like all of them. Tourism is an interesting way to group a couple of things that never seemed to belong anywhere, same with Globalisation (e.g. the Multilateralism civic). I agree that the last one is more a general development and not a tech, so a better name might be needed, but the concept is good.
Scifi/future techs
In general I think nothing here is far fetched and it's all solid futurism, so it's fine by me. As long as they all do something useful (which is enabling the space ship which in itself is beyond realism) it's fine by me.
And now I'm out of time already, didn't get very far through the thread apparently. Will pick this up again later on. Behind the scenes I'm already revising the tree taking the comments from this thread into account, will share later when things are coming together.