Rise of Towns and Trade Chapter 27

Ch 27 Notes: Rise of Towns and Trade Introduction Life was good in Europe People wanted luxury items like sugar, spices, silks, and dyes from the East Travel and trade increased

Trading Centers Two important trading centers arose: Venice and Flanders Venetian merchants developed a banking system Flemish merchants turned raw materials into finished products (wool into cloth)

Merchants Learned to read, write, use money, and keep records Traveled by land and sea Stopped to trade with each other at yearly fairs sponsored by feudal lords Lords collected taxes on the sales

Merchants Set up booths to display wares such as pots, swords, armor, leather goods, and clothing Bartered at first, then began paying with money

Growth of Towns Merchants wanted a permanent settlement Chose places near waterways or road crossings along a trade route, and near castles, fortresses, or monasteries for protection

Growth of Towns Towns developed from merchant settlements Towns came to be called burgs Grew and attracted more people Held weekly fairs Became communities of merchants, runaway serfs, traders, wanderers, and artisans

The Black Death Towns were crowded, dirty, unhealthy places to live In the 1300s, diseased rats brought the Bubonic Plague to Europe Millions died Probably 1 out of 3 Europeans died of the plague People left towns and fled to the countryside to escape it

Burghers and Lords Burghers (rich merchants and artisans) gained more wealth and power Feudal lords did not like the burghers having power Burghers developed a sense of loyalty to their town and worked together to build schools, hospitals and churches

Communes Towns formed political groups called communes to oppose the feudal lords The communes became independent city-states Towns received charters from the king that allowed them to control their own affairs

The Rise of Guilds Merchants, artisans, and workers formed guilds, or business groups whose purpose was to ensure equal treatment for members Couldn’t compete with one another Worked same hours Same number of workers Same wages

Becoming a Guild Member Apprentice Trainee for 10 years under master Journeyman Worked under master for a daily wage Master Passed exam and could practice his craft/trade

Cultural Changes As townspeople grew richer and more powerful, they began turning away from feudalism and looking to kings to provide leadership Why?