1. ECONOMIC REVIVAL IN THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES
OBJ: To trace the growth of trade & commerce by identifying circumstances favorable to economic changes.

2. TOWNS WERE CENTRAL TO EUROPEAN RECOVERY AFTER THE 10TH CENTURY
CATHEDRALS, MONASTERIES CRUSADES – PISA, GENOA, VENICE RELATIVE PEACE & STABILITY OLD ROMAN ARMY CAMPS ARTISANS & MERCHANTS DON’T FIT INTO FEUDAL SYSTEM COMMON CHARACTERISTICS: WALLED, MARKET PLACE, MINT TO COIN MONEY, COURT DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE

3. MOVING AWAY FROM MEDIEVAL STRUCTURE
PERSONAL FREEDOM
PEOPLE + OPPORTUNITY= MEDIEVAL TOWNS
TRADE BRINGS MONEY TO AREA CONTROLLED BY LORD, ABBOT SO IN THEIR BEST INTERST TO ALLOW IT
NEED PERMISSION TO BUY & SELL FROM LANDOWNER
LIBERTY = CITIZENSHIP
OUTSIDERS COULD TRADE BUT HAD TO PAY TAXES
INCREASING LEGAL & POLITICAL RIGHTS GIVEN TO TOWN

4. GUILDS – ORGANIZING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
MERCHANT OLIGARCHY BASICALLY RULED THE TOWN
MERCHANT GUILDS:
KING HENRY II & CHARTER W/ MERCHANTS OF LINCOLN 1157
AS LONG AS KINGS/LORDS SEE RELATIONSHIP AS BENEFICIAL WILL CONTINUE TO GRANT RIGHTS
CRAFT GUILDS: REGULATE PRODUCTION; SET STAND-ARDS, TRAINING & CONDUCT; APPRENTICE, JOURNEYMAN, MASTER; MOST MALE
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
BAKER, BUTCHER, TEXTILES

5. LIFE IN THE CITY 1 BIG MARKETPLACE HOUSES WERE ALSO SHOPS
MADE OF WOOD & LATER STONE
NO CITY PLANNER
ALL SOCIO-ECO LEVELS
SUMPTUARY LAWS:
RULES FOR INHABITANTS
MORAL STANDARDS
PROPER DRESS, JEWELRY
SPENDING RESTRICTIONS
STANDARDIZED BUSINESS PRACTICES
PROBLEMS: NOT ENOUGH METAL FOR COINS & USURY
This elegant 14th century tapestry was designed by Nicolas Bataille to illustrate the vision of the Apocalypse by Saint John in the Biblical Book of Revelation.