Middle Ages Economic Expansion

Agricultural Advances Allowed the population to grow Leads to the development of towns New technologies: Iron plow (carruca) Windmills and water power More farm production! 1000-1300 population growth 38-74 million people Why? Peaceful conditions Food production increases/more land Changes in technology = water and wind power; use of iron; use of oxen/horses as labor; horse shoe = sense of community to afford new technology

Production Advancements Expanding production: 3 field system (Legumes, Grain, and Fallow) Use more field space Fields are more productive

Life on the Manor Manor = agricultural estates run by a lord and worked by peasants Free Peasants = serfs = legally bound to the land Serfs = provide labor, pay rent, subject to lord control By 800 – 60% of Western Europe is serfs Serf = work the Lord’s Land (1/3 to ½) about 3 days a week; peasants grow food for self/family; also paid to use common/pasture lands and ponds Legal = not leave manor without lord’s permission; could not marry outside of the manor without permission; own courts

Peasant Life Living Conditions (cottages) Cycle of Labor Depended on Seasons Role of the Church Days off! Priests and Manors Role of Women Diet (food drink) 1 or 2 room cottages; wood frames with sticks and straw covered with clay; thatched roofs; hearth for heating and cooking’’ Cycle of Labor = Seasonal Labor Autumn = October (begins new cycle) – worked the ground for winter crops; November – slaughter of livestock; December – indoor tasks Winter = January – labor; February – pruning trees and livestock born; March – (also Feb) plowing and sowing barley and oats Spring = April – planting beans, peas, flax, hemp; May – veggies and outdoor repairs; June – Mowing hay; shearing sheep Summer = July – weeding, harvesting flax, wheat, hemp, rye; August – barley and oat harvest; Sept – peas, beans, breeding Catholic Holidays = break from labor and feast days (major are Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost) = 50 total days! Sacraments and Holidays = PRIESTS! Taught basics of Christianity; often illiterate; God all powerful Women = work and raise children and manage home! Diet = bread, cheese, nuts, berries, fruit, chicken, eggs, meat only on feast days

Life in Cities and Trade

Trade Revives…Gradually! 1000-1100 = CHANGE to CITIES! New trade routes developed (Italy – Venice - and Flanders) Need for goods not available on the manor grows Causes cultural diffusion Local trade fairs = exchange of goods and ideas / more demand for currency Trade Fair centers become Medieval towns over time…

Rhine River

Commercial Revolution Money economy develops! Commercial Capitalism = invest in trade and goods for profit Need for capital spurred growth of banks Partnerships emerged System of insurance developed Bill of exchange often used instead of money Usury (lending money at interest)

Social changes Hereditary status, except knights HONOR = key concept Nobles possessed social, political, and economic privileges Hereditary status, except knights HONOR = key concept Women possessed some political power in upper class Serfs bound to the land = un-free Paid dues / taxes to the lord Conditions varied Freedom = granted by the lord or running away for 1 year + 1 day

Bourgeoisie and Government New social class = merchants and artisans living in renewed walled cities Constantinople is largest city (all European cities are small compared to modern cities and Asia) Middle class needed new rights/laws as they were different than serfs ($$$) Women ran families and homes Citizens are males born in the city who could then serve on the city council (patricians usually won rigged elections!)

City Life Towns surrounded by high protective walls Large cities had great cathedrals or large guild halls for inhabitants Streets were busy with merchants by day and deserted at night Streets were often dim and narrow (filled with garbage)

Middle class formed Guilds 1st - Merchant Guilds passed laws levied taxes decided how to spend funds 2nd - Craft Guilds represented one occupation controlled price and quality of goods provided social services to members

Becoming a Guild Member Apprentice, or trainee, starts at 7 or 8 years old Lasts for 7 years Few became Guild masters Most-Journeymen, or salaried workers Women could participate in guilds Provided social services Guild Hall