Medieval II: what exactly controls technology?

[LightSpectra]

Every once in awhile, usually when I'm doing well militarily, the game will tell me that "our nation is the most advanced technologically". Then it'll go back to some other faction.

So what controls the advance of technology, and what exactly does it do?

 

[Maniacal]

The "technology" is the buildings you have constructed, and the most technologically advanced antion is the one with, I'm not sure exactly, but the highest level (largest castles and cities help) of buildings (like a level 3 barracks, whatever they are called) and I assume the widespreadness of higher level buildings.