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Trade & Entertainment in Medieval Europe. During the Time of War. As the Crusades and the 100 Years War, trade in Medieval Europe was non-existent. There were three reasons for this: The roads made by the Romans were in poor condition. The lords charged money to travel on their roads.
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During the Time of War • As the Crusades and the 100 Years War, trade in Medieval Europe was non-existent. There were three reasons for this: • The roads made by the Romans were in poor condition. • The lords charged money to travel on their roads. • Those roads were inhabited by thieves.
Revival • In the 10th and 11th centuries, trade started to pick up. • This is due in large part to the fact that the Europeans regained control of the Mediterranean Sea from the Muslims, who controlled that area for centuries.
Travel by Water • With this boom in trade came an innovation in the way Europeans traded: by sea. • The Italians were the first to be successful at this type of trade. They would send fleets to buy sugar, spices, silk and other goods.
Travel by Water • The Italians also used the rivers of Europe to sell the good they bought abroad. • During this time, the rivers of Europe were seen as highways by those in the trading business.
Trade Guilds • In the towns of Europe, craftspeople of the same trade would set up their shops along the same street. • For example: all the shoemakers would be located next door to each other. • This system benefitted everyone: the business owners, the customers, the suppliers of raw materials. • To protect their interests, people working in the same profession began meeting informally. These groups evolved into more formal organizations called guilds.
Trade Guilds • Guilds would set up rules for their own industry, such as: • Price regulations • Standards of Workmanship • Restrictions on foreign merchants
Medieval Fairs • For those merchants unable to buy a ship and trade in exotic lands, trade fairs were held throughout Europe. This was their chance to make money selling their goods. • For the nobles who hosted these events, it was a chance to charge tax and make money.
Medieval Fairs • Many of these fairs were held in northern France. • One of the largest was the Fair of St. Denis, located outside Paris every October. • Fairs would last for over a month. Every day, a new commodity would be featured. • Entertainers would come from around Europe to perform. This included dancing bears!
Entertainment • People in Medieval Europe also enjoyed tournaments, wherein knights completed against each other, showing off their skills in such competitions as jousting, archery and hand-to-hand combat. • These tournaments were sport, but often the knights were killed in competition.
Questions • What items would be sold at a Medieval fair? • What are some benefits to having a guild? • How did trade help to spread cultures?