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High Middle Ages:. The Rise of Commerce, Cities & Culture. Rise of Trade, Towns & Cities. What happened to lead to the rise of trade, towns and cities? Crusades! (add bullet) Changes in Farming Commercial Revolution. Changes in Farming. A warmer climate meant more land to farm
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High Middle Ages: The Rise of Commerce, Cities & Culture
Rise of Trade, Towns & Cities • What happened to lead to the rise of trade, towns and cities? • Crusades! (add bullet) • Changes in Farming • Commercial Revolution
Changes in Farming • A warmer climate meant more land to farm • Switch to horsepower • Three-field system yields more food production • More food production = Bigger population
Commercial Revolution • 3 Changes: • Development of Guilds • Expansion of Trade/Fairs • Development of Business and Banking
Development of Guilds • Guild: organization of individuals in the same business working to improve economic and social conditions of members
Development of Guilds • Cons: • Set prices • No competition • Pros: • Set standards for quality of work • Set wages • Provided training • Regulated working conditions • Provided support for members • Gave back to town
Development of Guilds • Rules of a British Merchant Guild: • No one in the city shall buy anything to sell again in the same city unless he is a member of the guild • If anyone does so and is convicted, the goods he bought must be turned over to the king • If any guildsman falls into poverty and is not able to work, he shall receive aid from the guild • No guild member ought to become a business partner with anyone who does not belong to the guild • When a guildsman dies, all those who belong to the guild shall attend the service, and guildsmen shall carry the body to place of burial
Development of Guilds • Apprentice System: • Apprentice: worked for master without pay to learn skills • Journeyman: worked for daily pay; submitted work to master for approval • Master: artisans who owned their own shop/tools and employed less-skilled workers
Trade/Fairs • Trade took place in towns • Fairs were held several times of year and last 4-6 weeks • Goods from all over the world were exchanged
Business and Banking • Needed common medium of exchange • Development of banking - “Banca” means money changers table • Created capital: wealth earned, saved and invested
Growth of Cities/Towns • Resulted from: • Serfs leaving the manor for opportunities • The revival of trade • Strong monarchies to protect
Growth of Towns/Cities • Developed: • Beside well-traveled roads, near transfer points or waterways
Growth of Cities/Towns • Conditions: • Crowded • Filthy • Violent and noisy
Impact of Commercial Revolution • Rise of middle class leads to decline of Feudalism • Revival of trade leads to rapid spread of Black Death • Revival of trade spawns revival of culture and learning