1. Chapter 4: Life in Medieval Towns What was life like in medieval European towns?
Chapter 4: PPT due Wednesday, 10/16/19
Chapter 4 test: Wednesday, 10/16/19

2. Learning Targets
“I can examine what daily life was like in medieval Europe.”
“I can determine the reason towns began to develop in medieval Europe.”
“I can analyze how well feudalism met the needs of the people in medieval Europe.”

3. Instructions: Read each chapter section and answer the questions thoughtfully.
4.2 The Growth of Medieval Towns
4.3 Guilds
4.4 Trade and Commerce
4.5 Homes and Households
4.6 Disease and Medical Treatment
4.7 Crime and Punishment
4.8 Leisure and Entertainment

4. 4.2 The Growth of Medieval Towns pg. 42
Charter
Definition
Sketch
Sentence
What were two reasons for the growth of medieval towns?
1. Improvements in agriculture- farmers had better farming methods which led to a surplus of crops. This meant that farmers had enough food for their families and to sell.
2. Growth of trade- trading centers were set up along seaport towns because people had goods and excess food to sell. Merchant traders moved to towns and specialized in their trade.
2. What caused people to want to break away from their feudal lords? How could they do this?
What: Citizens no longer wanted to pay taxes, and they felt like they did not need the lord’s protection.
How: They gained independence from their lords by purchasing a royal charter. This allowed them to govern themselves, make laws, and raise taxes. Power shifted to the merchant class.

5. 4.3 Guilds pg. 43
Guild
Definition
Sketch
Sentence
Apprentice

6. 4.3 Guilds pg. 43 What activity lead to the start of medieval towns?
What additional activity developed in medieval towns?
What was the name of the organizations that watched over trade and the production of goods?
What were the two types of guilds?
Medieval cities began as centers for trade.
Many goods were produced (made).
Guilds watched over trade and the production of goods.
Merchant guilds (for people who sold the goods)
And
Craft guilds (for people who made the goods)

7. 4.3 Guilds pg. 43 What 4 services did guilds provide?
1. Guilds provided help and protection for workers.
2. Guilds maintained high standards for products and business.
3. Guilds controlled the number of work hours and set prices of goods and services.
4. Guilds dealt with complaints from the public (customers and townspeople).
The guild members paid dues, or money, to the guild. What did the guild provide for these fees (dues)?
1. Dues paid for the construction (building) of guild halls.
2. Dues paid for guild sponsored fairs and festivals in the town.
3. Guilds used the money to help take care of members and their families if they fell ill and were unable to work.
Explain the process of becoming a member of a guild?
First, a person (usually a young boy around the age of 12) had to become an apprentice.
Next, the apprentice trained and worked under a master of the trade without being paid.
Then, at the end of seven years, the apprentice had to prove they had mastered their craft by making a “master piece.” If their work was masterful, they earned the right to set up their own business.

8. 4.4 Trade and Commerce (business) pg. 44
Trade and commerce brought people to towns. When trade and commerce grew, so did towns. At the beginning of the Middle Ages, most trade was in luxury goods, which only the wealthy could afford. By the High Middle Ages, more local people were buying and selling more everyday products. Some towns provided everyday goods such as woolen cloth, glass, and silk. Merchant fairs attracted merchants from different countries. With the growth of trade and business, merchants grew increasingly more powerful and wealthy.

9. 4.4 Trade and Commerce (business) pg. 44
In what ways were Jews discriminated? 1. Jews were not allowed to own land. 2. Nobles sometimes took their property and belongings. 3. Jews could be the targets of violence. Why were Jews allowed to become bankers? This work was generally forbidden to Christians, because the Church taught that charging money for loans was sinful.

10. 4.5 Homes and Households pg. 45
Compare and contrast homes for the wealthy and those for the poor.
Wealthy Poor
* splendid homes * poor neighborhoods
different levels for business & living * One room for all activities
could have their own house * Several families might share one house
What was different about life for boys during this time compared to modern times in the U.S.?
Middle Ages Modern Times
Boys grow up to do same work * Boys can do any work they choose
as father
* Might be an apprentice * Might go to college to learn job skills
What was different about life for girls during this time compared to modern times in the U.S.?
Girls were likely to get married at * Girls can get married at any age if they choose to
a young age (15)
Girls would have children at a * Females wait to have children until they are older (an
young age adult)

11. 4.6 Disease and Medical Treatment pg. 46
What led to the spread of disease?
People did not bath frequently.
Which group of people were sometimes blamed for an outbreak of illness? The Jews
Why were they blamed? No one knew how diseases were spread and they needed someone to blame.
What were some common cures or remedies that doctors tried?
1. Prayer
2. Herbal treatments
3. Position of planets
4. Magic charms
5. Bleeding with leeches
“Going Medieval” Video Connection Question: NA
Why did doctors wear outfits like the one to the right?
Spread of Disease
2. Garbage was tossed in waterways or onto streets
4. People did not bathe frequently.
1. No running water which means no plumbing
3. Rats and fleas were common.

12. 4.7 Crime and Punishment pg. 47
Trial by ordeal
Definition
Sketch
Sentence
Trial by combat
Punishments for lesser crimes:
People were fined or were publicly shamed by being put into the stocks (Stocks were a wooden frame with holes for the person’s arms.) Being put in stocks was humiliating and painful after long periods of time.
Punishments for greater crimes:
Hanging or burning at the stake
What was common law?
Common law was a set of rules made by judges that became part of a nation’s legal system. It was common because they applied to everyone. Common laws are shared laws.
What did common law protect?
Common law protected the individual rights of people.
What replaced trial by ordeal and trial by combat?
Court trials based on evidence replaced trials by ordeal or combat.

13. 4.8 Leisure and Entertainment pg. 48
What were some popular games for children in medieval Europe?
Children commonly played with dolls, wooden swords, balls, they rolled hoops, played badminton, lawn bowling, and blind man’s bluff.
What leisure activities did adults enjoy?
Adults enjoyed chess, checkers, backgammon, card games, dancing, and social activities.
What was the difference between mystery plays and miracle plays?
What did mystery and miracle plays have in common?
1. Both were put on by guilds.
2. Both were religious.
Mystery Plays
Miracle Plays
Mystery plays were plays that acted out Bible stories.
These told about the lives of the saints (holy people according to the Catholic Church).

14. Middle Ages Europe Compared to Modern United States
Compare and Contrast life in medieval Europe to life as you know it today.
Life in medieval towns
Life today
Shared experiences

15. Putting it all together
Would you have liked to live during the European Middle Ages?
Why or why not?