ECONOMIC REVIVAL IN THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES

OBJ: To trace the growth of trade & commerce by identifying circumstances favorable to economic changes.

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

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

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

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.