1. Middle Ages Economic Expansion

2. Agricultural Advances
Allowed the population to grow
Leads to the development of towns
New technologies:
Iron plow (carruca)
Windmills and water power
More farm production!
population growth million people
Why?
Peaceful conditions
Food production increases/more land
Changes in technology = water and wind power; use of iron; use of oxen/horses as labor; horse shoe = sense of community to afford new technology

3. Production Advancements
Expanding production:
3 field system
(Legumes, Grain, and Fallow)
Use more field space
Fields are more productive

4. Life on the Manor
Manor = agricultural estates run by a lord and worked by peasants
Free Peasants = serfs = legally bound to the land
Serfs = provide labor, pay rent, subject to lord control
By 800 – 60% of Western Europe is serfs
Serf = work the Lord’s Land (1/3 to ½) about 3 days a week; peasants grow food for self/family; also paid to use common/pasture lands and ponds
Legal = not leave manor without lord’s permission; could not marry outside of the manor without permission; own courts

5. Peasant Life Living Conditions (cottages) Cycle of Labor
Depended on Seasons
Role of the Church
Days off!
Priests and Manors
Role of Women
Diet (food drink)
1 or 2 room cottages; wood frames with sticks and straw covered with clay; thatched roofs; hearth for heating and cooking’’
Cycle of Labor = Seasonal Labor
Autumn = October (begins new cycle) – worked the ground for winter crops; November – slaughter of livestock; December – indoor tasks
Winter = January – labor; February – pruning trees and livestock born; March – (also Feb) plowing and sowing barley and oats
Spring = April – planting beans, peas, flax, hemp; May – veggies and outdoor repairs; June – Mowing hay; shearing sheep
Summer = July – weeding, harvesting flax, wheat, hemp, rye; August – barley and oat harvest; Sept – peas, beans, breeding
Catholic Holidays = break from labor and feast days (major are Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost) = 50 total days!
Sacraments and Holidays = PRIESTS! Taught basics of Christianity; often illiterate; God all powerful
Women = work and raise children and manage home!
Diet = bread, cheese, nuts, berries, fruit, chicken, eggs, meat only on feast days

6. Life in Cities and Trade

7. Trade Revives…Gradually!
= CHANGE to CITIES!
New trade routes developed (Italy – Venice - and Flanders)
Need for goods not available on the manor grows
Causes cultural diffusion
Local trade fairs = exchange of goods and ideas / more demand for currency
Trade Fair centers become Medieval towns over time…

8. Rhine River

9. Commercial Revolution
Money economy develops!
Commercial Capitalism = invest in trade and goods for profit
Need for capital spurred growth of banks
Partnerships emerged
System of insurance developed
Bill of exchange often used instead of money
Usury (lending money at interest)

10. Social changes Hereditary status, except knights HONOR = key concept
Nobles possessed social, political, and economic privileges
Hereditary status, except knights
HONOR = key concept
Women possessed some political power in upper class
Serfs bound to the land = un-free
Paid dues / taxes to the lord
Conditions varied
Freedom = granted by the lord or running away for 1 year + 1 day

11. Bourgeoisie and Government
New social class = merchants and artisans living in renewed walled cities
Constantinople is largest city (all European cities are small compared to modern cities and Asia)
Middle class needed new rights/laws as they were different than serfs ($$$)
Women ran families and homes
Citizens are males born in the city who could then serve on the city council (patricians usually won rigged elections!)

13. City Life Towns surrounded by high protective walls
Large cities had great cathedrals or large guild halls for inhabitants
Streets were busy with merchants by day and deserted at night
Streets were often dim and narrow (filled with garbage)

14. Middle class formed Guilds
1st - Merchant Guilds
passed laws
levied taxes
decided how to spend funds
2nd - Craft Guilds
represented one occupation
controlled price and quality of goods
provided social services to members

15. Becoming a Guild Member
Apprentice, or trainee, starts at 7 or 8 years old
Lasts for 7 years
Few became Guild masters
Most-Journeymen, or salaried workers
Women could participate in guilds
Provided social services
Guild Hall