Why trade increased

Europe’s Late Middle Ages

How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?

For better or worse…?


Trade increased after the Crusades…• People traveled east and were exposed to new

cultures (and new products).• Italian merchants brought luxury goods in

from Asia.• Rugs, silks, fabric, etc.


Trade increased after the Crusades…• Western Europeans traded the goods from

Asia along the Mediterranean Sea.• They also traded European resources

(minerals, fish, wool, grain, wine, olive oil, etc.)


Trade & towns “helped” each other.• The more people traded, the more they

needed a permanent place to trade.


• First there were FAIRS.• They lasted for weeks. • People gathered from far

and wide.• They were exciting places:

filled with musicians, jugglers, entertainers, and exotic goods.


• Problem: Fairs could not satisfy all the needs of traders & consumers.

• When winter came, for example, they had to shut down… or

• Sometimes travel to a fair was far & dangerous.

• So…


• Towns emerged.

• Merchants (like these) and craftspeople (such as weavers & carpenters) had stalls and workshops.

Look at this picture on page 178.

What would be the advantages of permanent shops,

other than security?


• GUILD: an organization that was controlled by the experts in the trade

• It set standards for the quality of products

• It controlled prices• It kept out unskilled

craftspeople

•People started to specialize: bakers, tailors, sword & armour makers, tanners.•So Craft Guilds emerged…


Guilds…• Ran all the trade activity in towns and

between towns.• They looked after their members in case of

sickness or accident.• Becoming a member was a long & difficult

process.


Turn to a partner and discuss how to become a master

craftsperson.

See more information on page

179.

Why is on-the-job training an

important part of apprenticeship

programs?


Manor

villages

Increased trading after the crusades

Fairs led to towns… and craft guilds… but then what?


What was life like in medieval towns?

1. Describe their lives… (see page 182).

2. Did people have more or fewer freedoms than life on the manor)?

Why trade increased

Education

Transcript of Why trade increased