The Rise of Towns and Trade
I. trade routes and trade
fairs
A. Flanders
woolen cloth
B. Italians broke Moslem control
of Mediterranean
C. Italians imported goods from
Middle East
Venice,
Genoa
D. trade fairs -- Champagne
The Early
History of Fairs
II. trade influenced growth of towns
The Urban
Economy
A. renewed prosperity
use
of coins ducats, florins
development
of insurance, bills of exchange, banks
B. need for skilled craftsmen
C. population increase from 1000
- 1350
III. Medieval
Guilds
A. merchants and craftsmen
organized guilds -- Guilds
and Commerce
The
Town Merchants
B. crafts created rules, standards,
monopolies
The
Eight-Hour Shift vs. a Guildworkers day
C. The
Medieval Craftsman apprentice system
D. positions highly sought
after
E. putting out system eventually
developed
IV. Town
Life
A. townspeople sought independence
from feudal lords
B. some purchased charters
C. towns were dirty, crowded
D. craftsmen usually lived
over shops
Homes
E. pollution
Medieval English
Towns
The Church
in Medieval Life
V. the middle class
A. status based on trade /
craft skills
B. bourgeoisie / burghers
The growth
of self-government
Urban society