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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:

1. The roads made by the Romans were in poor condition.

2. The lords charged money to travel on their roads.

3. 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?