Chapter 10 : Europe in the middle ages

Section 1: Peasants, Trade, and Cities

 

Population: doubled in England during the High Middle

Ages Led to a need for increased food production –

Climate change and ideal growing conditions. New improvements in farm technology: Heavier Plow:

-Cistercian Monks -Carruca

Horse Power More land:

- Cistercian Monks

The New Agriculture:

Three field crop rotation: Old 2 field system 800

Planted: Fall – grains (rye & wheat) harvested in the summer. Second field in the spring grains (oats & barley) and vegetables (peas & beans) harvested in the fall.

Result – increase in food and a healthier diet

The New Agriculture:

Feudalism: Landholding Nobles: - Military elite – need leisure time to pursue the

Art of War. Manors - Peasants – Serfs –legally tied to the land Serfs: - - Had to provide: Labor Services:

Working the Lords land Building barns, digging ditches and other

manual labor requested by the Lord

Manorial System:

Pay rents: A share of every product raised Paid the lord for the use of ……. Peasants also had to pay a tithe Subject to Lord’s control: Serfs:

Lords permission Lords: Political Authority

Manorial System:

Life was simple: Cottages Cycle of Labor: Labor based on the

cycle of the seasons Harvest time: August and September New Cycle:

October November February and March Early summer

The Peasant Household

Days off: Feast Days 3 great feast days:

1. Christmas 2.Easter 3. Pentecost 4. Other days contact with the village church - Priests

Peasant Women: Food and drink: - Diet

The Peasant Household

Growth of towns led to the revival of trade: Venice Towns of Flanders (coast of present day

Belgium and Northern France) Hanseatic League Fairs: - People come to the towns for religious activities Trade:

- gold and silver coins Money Economy Commercial Capitalism

The Revival of Trade

The Growth of the Cities Revival of trade = growth of the Cities:

More food-more people 1200 –Vince, Milan and Florence /Paris /London /Typical size

Old and New Cities Towns people not fitting into classic molds :

New Social Class Burgh Burghers Bourgeoisie.

Towns and the Lords authority of the Lords Rights

City Governments Patricians

City Life Women

The Growth of the Cities

Organizations: Guilds

Merchant Guilds (1st Guilds) Craft Guilds

Skilled Artisans Guild Functions: standards, Fixed prices, and Dues Training New Workers: - The Hall

apprentice Journeyman Masterpiece Master

 

Industries and Guilds