Growth and Characteristics of the Medieval Town

Post Classical

Growth and Characteristics of the Medieval Town

Using the following paintings, drawings, and artifacts answer in detail the discussion

questions.

We will then discuss as a larger group.

Make a list of the objects, people, places, and animals in the following slides.

What agricultural technologies do you see in these slides?

How does agricultural change affect

society? Can you spot any changes in these slides?

QUESTIONS

Slides 2A – 2 D1. Describe the layout of each town. What chronological order would you put the towns? a. b.c.d.

2. What differences can you see between the towns and their designs?

3.What do you think accounts for the differences?

4. What similarities can you see between the towns and their designs?

5. What do you think accounts for the differences?

1A

1B

1C

1 D

2 A

2 B

2 C

2 D

3 A

3 B

3 C

Growth of Agricultural Economy

• Population growth in the 10th Century created a demand for more land.

• Serfs, monks, and eventually lords supported the clearing of new lands

• Improvement of Agricultural Techniques creates higher productivity

• crop rotation

• enabled more abundant harvests

• diversity of domesticated animals

• diversify diet (ex. Fish)

• fertilize fields

Agricultural Technology • Old Technologies Improved

• Expansion of watermills

• Heavy plows

• New Technologies

• Horseshoe

• Horse collar

• New Crops

• increased the amount of land cultivators could work and speed at which work preformed

•

Spread of New Technologies

News traveled quickly throughout Europe in books and treaties on household economics and agricultural methods. Written in vernacular languages for lay readers, books published innovations, which in turn led to increased agricultural productivity.

Effect of Agricultural Improvements

• Daily Life– Diversity of Diet – Amount of food

• Population Growth • Carolingian era 800 AD – European population stood at

about 29 million• By 1000 AD – European population grew to 36 million• As the agricultural revolution occurred, by 1100 reached 44

million, by 1200 58 million- more than 30 percent within 100 years, and by 1300 it had grown an additional 36 percent to 79 million

Growth of Towns: Planned vs. Planted Rapid

• population growth contributed to the rise of larger towns both organic and planned

•Planned (Grid, Concentric) and Organic

• Location, Location, Location

Growth of Trade

• Job Specialization

• Supply and Demand

• New Trade Routes

• Local goods for goods from Asia and Middle East

• Changes in Commerce

Commercial Revolution

• New joint business practices

• Insurance for goods

• Bills of Exchange/ Credit

• Larger Effects on Society

• Decline of Serfdom (money)

• New classes - Middle

• Ethical Questions- usury

Guilds – Protect Artisans economic interests

• Artisan’s organizations, early labor unions

• Membership Rights and Responsibilities

Guilds

• Apprenticeships to train for quality • Limited membership• Only Guild members could perform that trade or

service (strictly enforced monopoly)• Rules of quality • Regulated labor hours• Regulated costs and profit • Social Benefits – schools, hospitals, benefits,

and widows