1. Section 2: Trade and Towns
Chapter 14: The High Middle Ages
Section 2: Trade and Towns

2. Section 2: Trade and Towns
Main Idea
Towns and cities grew during the high Middle Ages as the amount of trade increased between Europe and other continents.
Objectives
Which cities saw the initial growth of trade in the Middle Ages?
What led to the growth of towns and cities in the Middle Ages?
What was daily life like in medieval cities?

3. I. Growth of Trade
Trade began to grow after Crusades, controlled by merchants from Italy and Northern Europe

4. I. Growth of Trade
Italians earliest to build trade; sailors traded with Byzantine and Muslim Empires for valuable items

5. I. Growth of Trade
Merchants sold imported goods in Europe; goods were expensive and very profitable

6. I. Growth of Trade
Italian city-states became major trading centers; controlled almost all European trade

7. I. Growth of Trade Hanseatic League formed in northern Europe
to promote, protect trade between Europe, Russia, and Baltic region

8. I. Growth of Trade
Merchants met at trade fairs - great variety of goods exchanged; not for average person

9. I. Growth of Trade
For everyday needs, people visited local markets that sold locally-produced goods

10. I. Growth of Trade
Trade encouraged use of money so cities minted coins; workers demanded payment in coins, not goods
Medieval coins from Bohemia, Germany, Denmark and England discovered during an archaeological dig in 2012

11. I. Growth of Trade
Some merchants sold goods on credit with an agreement when and how payment would be made

12. I. Growth of Trade
Use of money and credit led to Europe’s first banks; people could deposit money or request loans

13. II. Growth of Towns and Cities
Trade led to the expansion of towns and cities; many peasants moved to towns/cities hoping to make money

14. II. Growth of Towns and Cities
New farm technology - plows, water mills, windmills - meant fewer people needed on farms; more people moved to cities

15. II. Growth of Towns and Cities
Free Towns created to avoid paying taxes to local lords; kings gave merchants charters for new towns, taxes paid to king

16. II. Growth of Towns and Cities
Craftspeople created guilds - members held the same occupation, restricted competition, set standards and prices
Lollipop

17. II. Growth of Towns and Cities
Guilds trained children: an apprentice learned craft from a master, became a journeyman and learned from many masters

18. III. Daily Life in Cities
Paris, London, and Rome grew quickly and began to be referred to as cities
In 1100 London's population was little more than 15,000. By 1300 it had grown to roughly 80,000.

19. III. Daily Life in Cities
Cities in Europe during Middle Ages were small and crowded; life could be very unpleasant

20. III. Daily Life in Cities
Streets were narrow and winding; buildings blocked sunlight; crowds of people and animals; sanitation was bad

21. III. Daily Life in Cities
Medieval cities were dangerous: fire and crime common - most buildings were wood with straw roofs

22. III. Daily Life in Cities
Cities had some benefits - eating halls, markets, public entertainment, sports; allowed for spread of arts and new ideas