The Growth of Towns and Trade Main Ideas Towns and trade grew and helped end the feudal system Borrowed from Mrs. Valenti’s World History Class Saddleback Valley, CA Thanks Mrs. Valenti!

The Growth of Towns and Trade In the beginning of the Middle Ages, most people lived on farms, and towns were small.

The Growth of Towns and Trade Around 1000 AD, things began to change, as some towns turned into big cities.

The Growth of Towns and Trade

Towns grew because… – –More food was available. New technology, such as a heavier plow and the horse collar, meant that farmers could be more productive. Plow collar

The Growth of Towns and Trade Another reason people began to leave the farms and move to the towns was to make more money.

The Growth of Towns and Trade Money could often be made at town fairs. Merchant fairs were large and sold goods from all over Europe and the east. These merchant fairs attracted more people to medieval towns.

The Growth of Towns and Trade Thank you. Come again. Merchants were people who bought and sold many goods in the towns. Nobles and knights often looked down on the merchants, but business that merchants created helped the towns grow and become rich.

The Growth of Towns and Trade Increased trade in medieval towns also helped develop new trade routes across the European continent. A map of trade routes during the Medieval Period

The Growth of Towns and Trade The growth of towns and trade helped bring an end to the feudal system in Europe. Medieval Towns Feudalism