COMMERCIAL REVOLUTION

Between 1000 and 1300 Agriculture Trade Finance Towns and cities grew Population growth Territorial expansion

Growing food supply

Need better ways of farming Switch to horsepower

Oxen were easy to keep Horses could provide better

production Three-Field System

Organize lands Two were planted, one lay

fallow (2/3 vs 1/2) Villagers had more to eat Population grew, life

expectancy increased

The guilds

Organization of individuals in the same business or occupation working to improve the economic and social conditions of its members

Merchants Control the number of goods being traded Provided security

Craft Guilds Skilled artisans Quality of work Wages Working conditions

Established wealth and position in society

Craft Guilds- Wheelwrights- Glassmakers - Winemakers- Tailors - Druggists

Apprentice

Parents paid for training Lived with a master and

his family Required to obey the

master Trained 2-7 years Was not allowed to

marry during training When trained

progressed to journeyman

journeymen

Day worker Worked for a master

to earn a salary Worked 6 days a

week Needed to produce a

masterpiece (his finest work) to become a master

Had to be accepted by the guild to become a master

master

Owned his own shop

Worked with other masters to protect their trade

Sometimes served in civic governments

Guild services

To Members: To the Community

Set working conditions Built almshouses for victims of misfortune

Covered members with a type of health insurance

Guaranteed quality work

Provided funeral expenses Took turns policing the streets

Provided dowries for poor girls Donated windows to the Church

Fairs and trade

Most trade took place in the towns Fairs held during religious festivals Cloth was the most common trade

item Self-sufficient manor system no

longer needed Goods from foreign lands Trade routes from England to Italy Merchants willing to take risks

Buying merchandise that they could sell at a profit

Reinvested the profits in more good

Business and banking

Needed cash and credit to exchange different types of currencies

Established exchange rates Letters of credit

Eliminated the need to carry large amounts of cash

Made trade easier Trading firms started to form Had to borrow money

Increased Trade

More Workers Needed

Serfs move to town; workers paid for labor

More cash, banking, and

lending services available

More money available for

building businesses

Merchants’ wealth and

power expand

Merchants’ taxes increase

the king’s power and

wealth

Urban life

Population grew from 30 million to 42 million within 150 years

As trade grew – cities and towns grew

Streets narrow and dirty No sewers Little bathing and no clean or

fresh water Many people wanted better

opportunities

Revival of learning

New interest in learning Europeans able to

acquire new knowledge New European institution

– The University Vernacular Brought literature to

many people

Medieval Fashion

Integral to status Wool clothing Linen undergarments Signs of wealth

Brighter colors, better materials, longer jacket length

Peasants Stockings or tunics Wimples for hair Outer clothing rarely washed

Fur was used often

Homework!!!!

Read pg. 244-247 in the textbook Create a flow chart or graphic

organization about the new government systems

Read p. 260 in the textbook take notes

Due: Tomorrow!