Life in the Late Middle Ages

More Farming & New Methods -Warmer climate, farming in regions previously too cold to grow crops. The Heavy Plow The Horse Collar The Three-Field System –2 out of 3 fields used…why?

Innovations increased food production Heavier plow needed for the rich deep soil of the Western River Valley area

Horse collar Twice as much land could be plowed in a day using a horse rather than oxen

The horse played a vital role

Three Field System More land is available for planting increasing the production of food Peasants have a healthier diet and a longer life span One field will lay fallow or not planted Fallow field allows the ground to retain and renew its nutrients

More Food leads to population growth. The Bourgeoisie is created. Trade Increased Trade Unions are created Town Fairs and Tournaments

Results of the increase in food production in Western Europe A surplus of food to trade An increase in the population The rise of towns Decline in feudalism

Medieval Walled Towns The town was called a burgh. The town dwellers were know as burghers

Merchant Guilds, such as the Hanseatic League also controlled towns & trade routes

Guilds An association of people who worked in the same occupation. Merchants formed the first guilds Merchant guilds controlled all the trade in a town

Medieval Guild Halls Guild members erected guild halls where they met to make rules and arrange the details of their businesses Members of the merchant guild controlled all the trade in their town. Example: Only a member of the local merchants guild could sell Flemish wool in their town

Craft Guilds Skilled artisans also banned together to create craft guilds Both husbands and wives worked in the family business Craft guilds also trained new workers

Since most people could not read, craftsmen used signs to advertise their specialty

Baker Barber

Cobbler - ShoemakerTailor

How the Guild functions Each guild had their own standards of quality dealing with the size, weight, and price of an item Guild members who sold substandard goods could be punished by the guild Each guild had a monopoly or exclusive control of their product

Bakers Baptism for selling under weight bread Neck violin for feuding women

Training new workers Apprentice – person learning a craft, who also lives with the master craftsman. Parents usually paid a fee to the master to train their child An apprenticeship lasted for 3 to 12 years, without pay except for room and board Apprentices were not rapidly promoted

Journeyman After the period of apprenticeship you became a journeyman A journeyman is paid a daily wage A journeyman can become a master if his “masterpiece” meets guild standards If accepted, he can train apprentices, hire journeyman, and open a shop As time went on, it became increasingly difficult to become a master.

Medieval Walled Towns By 1200, towns were growing in population and gaining liberties. Towns were independent of the feudal system.

Women’s roles change during the High Middle Ages The idea of romantic love placed women on a pedestal to be worshipped In the Early Middle Ages many Queens participated in ruling their kingdoms In the Late Middle Ages Queens did not play a large role in ruling kingdoms During the High Middle Ages the role of women was limited to the home and convent

Marriage in the High Middle Ages Girls from noble families usually married around age 16 to men in their 30’s – 50’s Young men could not marry until had property of their own Girls had little choice of a husband Women had their greatest power and independence while their husbands were away fighting.

15 th century clothing of the nobility

Medieval Fairs - Chartres Peasants came to sell their goods to the towns people during the local fairs. The great fairs provided customers with goods such as cloth, fur, iron, dyes, honey, oil, butter, fruit, wine, etc. Some goods were from far away places. No longer was everything produced on the manor Fairs also provide entertainment.

The Moral of the Story Life becomes much safer and pleasant in the Late Middle Ages. More food exists and with increased trade and guilds there is less poverty and starvation.