The Growth of Towns Agenda Section 3 – The Growth of Towns

The growth of Towns Crucial- will transform Europe into an urban society (eventually). Walled for defense- built around old roman cities, castles or cathedrals Show times are better Allow for exchange of ideas and growth of knowledge

Unique Rights Outside feudal system. Towns still needed protection from nobles, but did not owe same obligations. Created a Charter – contract which define their rights Freedom from manor duties and taxes Own courts Could move and trade freely (no serfdom)

Guilds Workers in various trades organized groups to limit their numbers and set standards for good work. Both Merchants and craftspeople formed guilds Important job was training workers ApprenticeJourneyman.

A new part of society- the Middle Class Feudal world is noble/peasant- rich/poor But townspeople are outside feudalism- and growing wealthier, which increases influence. Not a huge segment of society (15% by 1400) but would grow until they become the backbone of society CENTER OF NEW IDEAS

Town Life Grow haphazardly and with little planning. About 2000 common size (Big cities about 100,000) Unhealthy- no sewers, garbage, contaminated water Houses were multistory- wood/plaster with thatch roof- HUGE fire hazard.

The Black Death

Europe has always had problems with disease Black death is Pandemic affects the life of everyone in Europe Came from Asia- Hit Europe in a result of trade Bubonic Plague

From half of the population of Europe died. No understanding of how disease spread, no treatment- widespread terror Thought it was the end of the world

Yersina Pestis – Bubonic Plague

Life and Culture in the middle ages For a long time there was very little Biggest growth

Language Latin had been “universal”- but there wasn’t just one culture anymore During dark ages new languages had formed- often a combo of Latin/local/invader- called Vernacular 2 main language “families” Romance Germanic Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese Danish, Swedish, English

Vernacular Literature Even after development of local language writing was still done in Latin. (which meant you had to learn it to be literate) Around 1000 people start writing in vernacular Starts with Troubadours – storytellers who sang local legends (Robin Hood, King Arthur etc….)

Robin Hood 1 Robin Hood hee was and a tall young man, And fifteen winters old, And Robin Hood he was a proper young man, Of courage stout and bold. 2 Robin Hood he would and to fair Nottingham, With the general for to dine; There was he ware of fifteen forresters, And a drinking bear, ale, and wine. 3 'What news? What news?' said bold Robin Hood; 'What news, fain wouldest thou know? 'Our king hath provided a shooting-match:' 'And I'm ready with my bow.' 4 'We hold it in scorn,' then said the forresters, That ever a boy so young Should bear a bow before our king, That's not able to draw one string.' 5 Robin Hood he bent up a noble bow, And a broad arrow he let flye, He hit the mark a hundred rod, And he causest a hart to dye

Education Rare (mainly clergy) Most done with private tutor- or in monastery (by clergy, and for clergy) Crusades made people more interested in education. As towns grew, schools grew (often at a cathedral)- open to anyone who could pay. Become…. University: Bolgona (Law) Salerno (med) Paris (theology) Oxford (Math)

Reviving philosophy Works of ancient scholars “rediscovered” during crusades. But they were all pagan- and church needed to make their ideas work with Christianity. Scholasticism- medieval philosophy: combine faith and reason. Thomas Aquinas- Most famous. “Summa theologica”

Dante Alighieri First author to write in vernacular and have it considered “literature”. Known as “father of italian” The Divine Comedy – Virgil leads Dante on a journey through heaven and the hot place- which was full of real people. First satire in modern world.

Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales 30 pilgrims on a journey, all from different parts of life, all with a story to tell. Shows that all people have the same feelings/desires, and that all are equal in the eyes of god. Wrote in middle english

Beowulf HWÆT, WE GAR-DEna in geardagum, þeodcyninga þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon! oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas, syððanærest wearð feasceaft funden; he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum weorðmyndum þah, oð þæt him æghwylc ymbsittendra ofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan; þæt wæs god cyning! Ðæm eafera wæs æfter cenned geong in geardum, þone God sende folce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat, þe hie ær drugon aldorlease lange hwile; him þæs Liffrea, wuldres Wealdend woroldare forgeaf, Beowulf wæs breme --- blæd wide sprang--- Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in. Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean, fromum feohgiftumon fæder bearme

Bifil that in that seson on a day, In southwerk at the tabard as I lay Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage To caunterbury with ful devout corage, At nyght was come into that hostelrye Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye, Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle, That toward caunterbury wolden ryde. The chambres and the stables weren wyde, And wel we weren esed atte beste. And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, So hadde I spoken with hem everichon That I was of hir felaweshipe anon, And made forward erly for to ryse, To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse. But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space, Er that I ferther in this tale pace, Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun To telle yow al the condicioun Of ech of hem, so as it semed me, And whiche they weren, and of what degree, And eek in what array that they were inne; And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne.