Transcript trade
How do you know this is not a manor? Viking attacks and warfare declined in western Europe during the 11th and 12th century. Feudal system works! Manor economy became more productive Agriculture improved – extra food to sell called for the need for less workers. Some workers could move off the manor.n Some manor residents became merchants and take extra food to sell at town markets. Population on manors increase– less war, more food. Trade outside manor revived and towns began to grow. Towns cropped up around castles and monasteries and along trade routes. Towns were almost always near a large river. Peasants and nobles became aware of a larger world outside the manor. Towns became bustling centers of trade and industry Merchants, former peasants and artisans permanently moved near or into towns. Towns were surrounded by thick stone walls for protection Visitors entered through gates in the walls Homes and businesses lined unpaved streets Homes were small and tall Where are towns likely to locate? Why? Towns located on lands already owned by lords or the church People in towns paid a fees paid to lord or church for the benefit of living on the land As towns grew they demanded charters and guaranteed rights. Paying for a charter was worth it. Charters gave towns control over their own affairs: taxes, property, courts, and grant freedom to serfs Population continued to grow as merchants, artists, peasants and serfs moved off the manors. Large cathedrals were often located in or near large towns. The stonemasons guild were builders. Stone masons spent years making elaborate cathedrals in big towns. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris France is one of the most renowned. Town dwellers questioned the need for the lord or the church. They no longer needed the lord’s protection. Many towns purchased a royal charter from lord/king to become independent Charter gave people the right to govern themselves, make laws, and raise taxes Free towns were governed by a mayor and a town council Power shifted from the feudal lords to the rising class of merchant and craftspeople A guild is a group of artisans/merchants doing the same trade who work together to ensure quality of their craft and their people. Merchants and artisans given the right to form associations Governed prices, wages, standards, disputes and imports/exports Only guild members could practice their trade. A guild is like a workers union – because it is a group of merchants or craftsmen of the same craft who work together to make sure their craft protected economically and is well respected. Merchants of the same crafts ban together and form groups called guilds. Bakers, shoemakers, carpenters and tailors all form guilds. There are also bakers guilds, armourers, cobblers guilds, bookmakers guilds and more… Masons were the most prestigious. Protected members ‘Just Price’ for goods Set work week, hours, pay Social welfare programs Entertainment and religious feasts Training ; apprentice, journeyman and master craftsman. Could take 7 to 20 years to become “master” Guilds prevented competition Passed down through the family Barbers Goldsmiths Actors Bakers Hatters Carpenters Brewers Candlers Cobblers Embroiders Minstrels Bookbinders Blacksmiths Do you know others? Armorers A huge festival of merchants in large towns that were usually held 4 times a year. Large towns provided protection, rented booths, and hired money changers Merchants set up booths to sell goods at the faires four times a year. Faires became a great place for goods and for ideas. The medieval faire was usually held in the meeting center of town. This is a government building in an Italian town. Very colorful Jugglers, dancers, clowns, and minstrels provided entertainment Guild members dressed in special costumes and carried banners while parading through the streets Guilds put on mystery plays Mystery plays gave rise to miracle plays, another type of religious drama The church eventually disapproved of both types of plays, but people still enjoyed seeing them acted out in the streets or the public square Trade fairs become elaborate events Mixing place of customs, languages, and goods. Brings people together. Feudalism is beginning to decline as world becomes safer. Sizeable Jewish communities grew up in Medieval towns Experienced prejudice Difficult to earn a living due to the hostility of Christians (sometimes backed up by laws) Jewish property and belongings were taken at will by their lords Were sometimes targets of violence One opportunity was to become bankers and moneylenders which was an essential service for the economy Jews were looked down upon and abused for practicing this “wicked” trade Minstrel: Singer or musician who sang or recited poems Often with music such as a harp Mystery Play: religious drama based on stories from Bible Miracle Play: dramatized the lives of important religious saints. Children: played with dolls and toys, such as wooden swords and hobby horses, rolled hoops and played games like badminton, lawn bowling, and blind man’s bluff Adults: played games such as chess, checkers and backgammon. They also played card games, bet on rolls of dice, or go dancing (the church frowned on these activities) Time off from work to celebrate special days, such as religious feasts On Sundays and holidays, animal baiting was a popular, but cruel amusement Punishment For lesser crimes, people were fined or put into stocks • •For serious crimes, such as highway robbery, stealing livestock, treason, or murder, could be hanged or burned at the stake •Executions were carried out in public •Why? Used to establish an accused person’s guilt or innocence Trial by ordeal: an accused person had to pass a dangerous test Trial by combat: an accused person had to fight to prove his or her innocence (people believed that God would make sure the right party won); Clergy, women, children, and disabled people could name a champion to fight for them Unsanitary conditions Disease traveled fast Barbers tried to heal using bloodletting and leeches Apothocary was a place you could go for “herbal” remedies Read page 168 in Crispin book….