Changes in Medieval Society

1. Changes in Medieval Society • A Growing Food Supply • Development of Guilds • The Commercial Revolution • Urban Life Flourishes (Growth of Towns & Cities • Revival of Learning

2. Changes in Medieval Society Growing Food Supply • Climate grew warmer between 800-1000 • Development of a new harness for horses improved plowing techniques • New system of crop rotation

3. Changes in Medieval Society Improvements in Farming Two Field System 600 Acres Planted 300 Acres Fallow 300 Acres

4. Changes in Medieval Society Improvements in Farming Three Field System 600 Acres Wheat or Rye 200 Acres Barley, Peas, Oats, Beans 200 Acres Fallow 200 Acres

5. Changes in Medieval Society Medieval Guilds • Merchant Guilds - Formed by merchants in a town. • Members had monopoly rights • Set standards of quality for members • Provided welfare and charity for member’s families • Craft Guilds-Associations of a particular trade or craft • Set prices for goods and services • Regulated wages, hours, and labor conditions • Established an apprentice system for training masters

7. Changes in Medieval Society Trade Fairs Local Fairs - Small community fairs where local merchants exchanged goods Great Fairs - Large trade fairs held four times a year in which traveling merchants sold goods from throughout the world. They created a large demand for eastern goods and led to widespread trade.

8. Changes in Medieval Society The Commercial Revolution Commercial Revolution – The expansion of trade and changes in banking practices Capitalism - Economic system in which individuals invest wealth in order to produce profits. Usury- Loaning of money for interest. Forbidden by church. Jews began lending money. Banks were formed which allowed long distance trade.

9. Changes in Medieval Society

10. Changes in Medieval Society • Urban Life Flourishes • The Growth of Towns and Cities • Peasants (Serfs) often fled to towns from manors. After living in a town for a year and a day, they became free • Burgh - A walled Town • Burgher- A person who lived in a town • Bourgeoisie- Town dwellers in France. Later evolved into the Middle Class

11. Characteristics of Medieval Towns 1.Usually located on top of a hill or on a riverbend and surrounded by a wall 2. Population generally 5000-10,000 3. Usually had a cathedral, town hall, and guild halls. Streets were dark and dirty. Plagues often swept through towns.

12. Revival of Towns and Trade Population of Europe 42 Million 30 Million 1150 AD 1000 AD

13. Medieval Education As towns grew, associations for learning and teaching were established and became known as Universities: The major universities were founded in the 12th Century.

14. Medieval Universities University of Oxford Liberal Arts University of Paris Liberal Arts University of Bologna Roman and church law University of Salerno Medicine