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TOWNS, TRADE, AND GUILDS. TOWNS in the LATE MIDDLE AGES. Towns became more important in the late middle ages The growth and development of towns was one reason for the end of feudalism The town replaced the manor in power and importance. Towns. Towns are dirty, crowded, and busy
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TOWNS in the LATE MIDDLE AGES • Towns became more important in the late middle ages • The growth and development of towns was one reason for the end of feudalism • The town replaced the manor in power and importance
Towns • Towns are dirty, crowded, and busy • Disease is present and people are unaware of how disease is spread (ie.) open sewers • People of all classes live together in one town
TOWNS = MONEY The Crusades open up the world to the Europeans Trade, information, knowledge, and wealth was gained by the Europeans from the Muslim world Merchants began trading products from the Middle East in European towns
Serfs • If you were a serf, and ran away from the manor for a year and a day – you are free! • You can now became a merchant and guild member and move up in social class
GUILDS • Guilds are cooperative organizations for various trades • Set prices and control standards • Similar to modern day unions • Take care of their members • Provide for family in case of illness or death • One trade for each guild • Shoemaker would belong to a shoemaker’s guild
Apprentice Becoming a Guild Member • Learned the stages in simple tasks • Worked under a master at a very young age (8 or 9)
Journeyman Becoming a Guild Member • Paid by the day • Accepted to a guild • Created a “master piece”, if it was approved, became a Master
Master Becoming a Guild Member • Accept apprentices • Teach the trade to others
Middle Class • Money changed the social and economic structure of feudalism • Merchants and Guild members are part of a new social class called the middle class • Create and sell goods for money/profit
Middle Class • Power in the late middle ages shifted from the feudal lords to the middle class • Power shifted from the land to the town • People in the middle class, in some cases, were wealthier than feudal lords and barons • The growth of the middle class is one reason why feudalism ended • People now could move up in social class and did not accept their role in society (ie. Feudal pyramid does not exist anymore)