I believe there were interviews back in the 1.0 era to the effect that they were aiming for a 1700s tech-level (or was it 17th century?). Problem is, a lot of the feats of engineering just casually on display in Gridania and Limsa actually put the mean tech-level closer to the mid-to-late 19th century, even if you leave out the obvious fantasy tech like airships. Ul'dah and Ishgard are clearly past their industrial revolutions, and one FATE ("Orobon Part Two: The Spawning") even casually mentions a moving picture show, which would be in line with the latter end of that estimate.



Every time I contemplate this issue, I can't help but feel like it's just the medical tech that's really behind the rest. Even if you allow for a little wiggle-room in tech-tree progression, Eorzea should at least be on the verge of some major medical breakthroughs. but it often seems like most explicitly stated medical knowledge is anachronistically old.