1. Rise of Towns and Trade
Chapter 27

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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