Growth of Trade and Towns

1
Growth of Trade and Towns
The Late Middle Ages
2
Big Picture Questions to Consider During This Unit
How did the growth of towns decrease the power of
feudal nobles?

How did the growth of towns change the social
structure in Western Europe?
3
Barriers to trade during the Early Middle Ages
The Manors were self sufficient
There was little money available for trade
The roads were poor and there were few bridges
that had survived from the Roman Empire
Church rules
just price no profit allowed
Usury forbidden no interest could be charged on
loans
4
The Crusades had caused an increase in the demand
for trade
The Muslims in the East had been exposed to new
products from Europe
Timber
Wool
Leather
Grain
Wine
Armor
Fish
Oils
5
The Crusaders had brought back products from the
east that were now in demand in western Europe
Cotton, Linen and Silk
Perfumes, Dyes and Medicine
Gold, Silver and Ivory
6
Trade Routes Emerge
International trading began in Italy Venice
Genoa
7
Trading spread from Italy to Northern Europe
first following the rivers, and then by ship -
hugging the coastline.
8
The cities in Flanders those of the Hanseatic
League began to spread trade in northern Europe
9
Markets and fairs emerged as a way for the towns
to trade with each other.
10
Increased trade led for the need of more products
manufacturing
Domestic System All work done at home.
Trader buys wool Sells product to
highest bidder
11
Increased trading leads to investment. People
start building capital.
What is Capital?
12
A market economy emerges Land, Labor and
Capital is controlled by individuals.
13
Social Changes created by the growth of
towns. Rights of townspeople Guilds Form Rise of
the Middle Class
Merchant Banking Families Gain Power
Influence
14
Rights of Townspeople
Freedom If no one challenged the status of an
escaped serf for a year and a day, they became
free.
Townspeople did not have to perform services for
the Manor.
Town Justice Towns had their own courts were
not under the control of the Lord of the Manor
Commercial privileges Townspeople could sell
goods and products freely without getting the
Lords permission.
15
Soon Guilds Began to Form in the Towns
A Guild is an association or a group of people
who are engaged in the same business or the same
trade or profession
There were two types of Guilds Merchant Guilds
and Craft Guilds
Today a Merchant Guild might be the local Chamber
of Commerce, and a Craft Guild would be a Union
16
Merchant Guilds
- Exclusive right to trade in the town - Outside
merchants had to pay a fee to trade in
town. - Made loans to members of the Guild -
Supported widows orphans of deceased members
17
Craft Guilds

• - Set hours conditions of labor
• Regulated quality of work
• Made loans to members and helped out poorer
  members

18
Stages of Craft Guild Membership
Apprentice Age 7 Parents sent boy to work with
Master and learn trade (3-12 years)
19
Journeyman
- Worked for daily wages. - Became a
master by submitting proof which would
be judged by masters.
20
Master
Master could start his own business, train
apprentices and hire journeymen
21
The increase in trade and commerce caused a
change in society
The Rise of the Middle Class
22
Middle class was called burgesses in England and
Burger in Germany.
Why did the Middle Class gain so much political
power in Western Europe?
23
Medieval Towns
24
Medieval Towns
Ranged in population from 5,000 to 80,000
No street lighting
No police or fire department
Narrow streets dark buildings little sunlight
Houses often cold and damp in winter hot and
stuffy in summer
No sewers trash in street animals wander in
streets
25
Overcrowded and unsanitary towns became an
excellent breeding place for disease, especially
The Black Death
26
(No Transcript)
27
(No Transcript)
28
How did the plague impact the social, economic
and religious institutions of Europe.
29
(No Transcript)