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. Timber Wool Leather Grain Wine Armor Fish Oils
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. Perfumes, Dyes and Medicine
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. What is “Capital? 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. Rise of the Middle Class
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 Lord’s 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: No street lighting No police or fire department
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

28. How did the plague impact the social, economic and religious institutions of Europe.