Section 2: Trade and Towns Chapter 14: The High Middle Ages Section 2: Trade and Towns

Section 2: Trade and Towns Main Idea Towns and cities grew during the high Middle Ages as the amount of trade increased between Europe and other continents. Objectives Which cities saw the initial growth of trade in the Middle Ages? What led to the growth of towns and cities in the Middle Ages? What was daily life like in medieval cities?

I. Growth of Trade Trade began to grow after Crusades, controlled by merchants from Italy and Northern Europe

I. Growth of Trade Italians earliest to build trade; sailors traded with Byzantine and Muslim Empires for valuable items

I. Growth of Trade Merchants sold imported goods in Europe; goods were expensive and very profitable

I. Growth of Trade Italian city-states became major trading centers; controlled almost all European trade

I. Growth of Trade Hanseatic League formed in northern Europe to promote, protect trade between Europe, Russia, and Baltic region

I. Growth of Trade Merchants met at trade fairs - great variety of goods exchanged; not for average person

I. Growth of Trade For everyday needs, people visited local markets that sold locally-produced goods

I. Growth of Trade Trade encouraged use of money so cities minted coins; workers demanded payment in coins, not goods Medieval coins from Bohemia, Germany, Denmark and England discovered during an archaeological dig in 2012

I. Growth of Trade Some merchants sold goods on credit with an agreement when and how payment would be made

I. Growth of Trade Use of money and credit led to Europe’s first banks; people could deposit money or request loans

II. Growth of Towns and Cities Trade led to the expansion of towns and cities; many peasants moved to towns/cities hoping to make money

II. Growth of Towns and Cities New farm technology - plows, water mills, windmills - meant fewer people needed on farms; more people moved to cities

II. Growth of Towns and Cities Free Towns created to avoid paying taxes to local lords; kings gave merchants charters for new towns, taxes paid to king

II. Growth of Towns and Cities Craftspeople created guilds - members held the same occupation, restricted competition, set standards and prices Lollipop

II. Growth of Towns and Cities Guilds trained children: an apprentice learned craft from a master, became a journeyman and learned from many masters

III. Daily Life in Cities Paris, London, and Rome grew quickly and began to be referred to as cities In 1100 London's population was little more than 15,000. By 1300 it had grown to roughly 80,000.

III. Daily Life in Cities Cities in Europe during Middle Ages were small and crowded; life could be very unpleasant

III. Daily Life in Cities Streets were narrow and winding; buildings blocked sunlight; crowds of people and animals; sanitation was bad

III. Daily Life in Cities Medieval cities were dangerous: fire and crime common - most buildings were wood with straw roofs

III. Daily Life in Cities Cities had some benefits - eating halls, markets, public entertainment, sports; allowed for spread of arts and new ideas