I posted this a few months ago and didn't get any replies, so I thought I would try again.

I've noticed anachronisms in a lot of works (mainly in paintings between 1100-1800) and want to know if it is intentional or not. People wearing clothes and armor from the middle ages in paintings telling the story of Christ is one I've noticed numerous times. There are tons of other examples like the depiction of contemporary (to the painter) architecture or landscapes greatly differing from what is described in the stories vs what the artist is depicting.

Was this done intentionally? Maybe to make it easier for the viewer to connect with the paintings. Or was there a lack of knowledge in that kind of history, specifically when certain technologies came about?