1. The Height of Medieval Civilization

2. Growth of Towns
Warfare declined in western Europe during the 11th and 12th century
Manor economy became more productive
Population increased
Trade revived and towns increased in size
Peasants and nobles became aware of a larger world

5. Where are the Towns?
During the early Middle Ages trade declined, small Roman towns remained
Vikings kept some trade links open between old towns
Many old roman roads were used for trade

7. Revival of trade Decline of feudal warfare
Easier to trade using old Roman roads and rivers
Wool was the main trade item. Towns became the collecting and distributing point for these items
English/Flemish…. sheep
Antwerp and Bruges….weavers
Milan and Florence…. trade cloth

8. Italian fleets gain control of the Mediterranean from the Muslims
During the Crusades trade expanded into the east.
Travel was expensive
Barter system was gradually replaced by a money economy.

9. Trade Fairs and the Hanseatic League
Annual Trade fairs
(Champagne, France)
Nobles provided protection, rented booths, and hired money changers
Fairs became a magnet for goods and ideas

12. Trade fairs become elaborate events
Mixing place of customs, languages, and goods.
Gradual decline due to competition from the Hanseatic League, but also the rents were too high

13. Hanseatic League Group of over 80 towns/cites fronting the Baltic.
Dominate shipping lanes of Northern Europe
Provided protection, made coinage, and treaties

14. Lubeck: located on the southern shores of the Baltic

17. Growth of Towns
Growth in trade, encouraged by the Trade Fairs helped Towns grow
Merchants stayed and opened inns for travellers
Bakers, shoemakers, carpenters and tailors settled in towns to provide needed goods and services
Rural peasants sold extra produce to townspeople
Towns specialize, Flanders produces wool, other lace or leather.

18. Chartering a Town

19. Towns located on lands already owned by lords or the church
Fees paid to lord or church
As towns grew they demanded charters or their rights guaranteed
Charter gave towns control over their own affairs: taxes, property,courts, and grant freedom to serfs
Population of towns consisted of serf, peasants merchants, artisans
Townspeople called bourgeoisie (Fr.) burgesses (Eng.) burghers (Ger.)

20. Medieval Guilds
Merchants and artisans given the right to form associations
Governed prices, wages, standards, disputes and imports/exports
Only guild members could practice their trade.

21. Hamburg

22. Guild Practices 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
Guilds prevented competition
Passed down through the family

24. Town Life Many towns with few residents Walled, gated
Town centre with church, town hall, market,
Guild quarters
Waste, poor sanitation system
Fires a problem
Epidemics
What’s good about towns?
Ideas, could make money, entertainment