Development of Towns and Trade Mr. Ebert Chapter 4 Life in Medieval Towns

Where did the majority of the population of Europe live during the High Middle Ages? They lived on Manors… Why??? Because they felt safe Because they felt their needs were being taken care of

Full-size image - Same sizex larger 300 × 310 Type: 32KB JPG                       Website for this image myths.e2bn.org Full-size image - Same sizex larger This image may be subject to copyright. Everyone seems fairly happy here on the manor.

Two Big Changes!!! It gets warmer for several years. Global Warming—it happened between 800 and 1200 CE. The 2 “H’s” 1. Horses!! --Horses make plowing twice as fast!! 2. Harness for the Horse --allowed the horse to do the work with out getting strangled!!

Change that to 3 changes! The three field system Grow on two of your three fields Let one go fallow. Fallow means don’t grow anything on it for a season. Grow Grow No Grow Fallow

The 3 Field System Allowed for better crops to be grown The soil was not “drained” of nutrients and therefore the crops were healthier and more productive! Which resulted in more food!!!

These developments led to.. Bigger population How much bigger? A growth of 30 million to 42 million!!!! More food can feed more mouths. Well fed people could resist disease better. A Move to Towns!!! Why???? Food can be grown quicker because of the horses and better because of the 3 field system. Fewer people needed to produce the required amount of food.

Gatherings of artisans in order to sell there wares. Trade Fairs!! Gatherings of artisans in order to sell there wares. People did not have to rely on the “artisans” of the manor for goods. You could get goods from someone “off” the manor.

So what is a guild? It was an association of people who worked in the same occupation. Not everyone could join. You had to demonstrate skill in your craft. There were strict standards of quality. Guilds set prices for quality work.

Last names often revealed the occupation Carpenter Tailor Baker Goldsmith Smith Cooper (barrel maker) Wainwright (wheel maker)

Jews became money lenders Money lending was important for tradesman to buy supplies. The Catholic Church did not permit loaning money and charging interest as an appropriate job. Jews were not allowed to own land and were not part of the manor system. Job options were few.

Many people chose to live in towns to pursue the economic and social opportunities. Towns Grew!!! 1. Towns were exciting! 2. Opportunities for trade and business. 3. People left the manor and did not return.

Problems about living in towns Towns were dirty Animals in the streets Garbage in the streets Lack of clean water People rarely bathed Fire Hazards Most buildings made of wood and thatch. Buildings were very close together. Many homes were unsafe. If you lived on the 2nd floor of a building your rent was usually less because it was dangerous!

Who had control over the towns? The feudal lord tried to have control but that did not last. Burghers were people who lived in the towns They did not like or want the interference of a lord in their life and “fought” the lords for power.

Towns led to a revival in learning. Universities develop and scholars begin writing in the common language of the people. Why is this important?? Ordinary people who can read can now understand what is written because it is in a language they understand!

And? Ancient Greek and Roman works that were translated from Arabic can be read in the common language and this shapes European thought. Thomas Acquinas’s ideas about religion and human nature strongly influenced western Europe.

The End….