No, I'm talking style not tech... And actually they weren't that much more advanced since they've now found out that Roman cataphracts (heavy cavalary) may in fact have had plate mail armor like medieval knights.
I don't think they looked more advanced at all. It just had flashier graphics than the OT. Just because the gun fired a fancy Death Star looking laser doesn't equal to it being better technology. The analogy had to do with loss of style and art, hence the Renaissance that followed. The Prequel tech was prettier and shinier and when the Empire took over things were utilitarian and bland looking. The movies might not have said it explicitly, but the novel did say that Jango helped train the clones. There were also no committees making the clones' vehicles and gear, so either the Sith designed everything or Jango helped design it. I really doubt they just gave someone a contract and told them to come up with whatever.
