Unit 4 medieval cities

Almudena Corrales Marbán

UNIT 4CITIES IN MEDIEVAL

EUROPE

Social Studies

2ºESO

1. ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL

TRANSFORMATION


1.1. ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

Between the 11th and the 13th centuries, there was a constant increase in population.

EUROPE

1000 AD

• 42 million inhabitants

1300 AD

• 73 million inhabitants


Technological innovations were included:

1. Three-year crop rotation.

2. Iron –wheeled moulboard plough

3. Horses were introduced as draught animals.


1.2. POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION

• Medieval monarchs tried to impose their authority over the feudal lords. They introduced the Cortes or parliaments.

• The parliament was one of the instruments the medieval monarchs used to impose their authority over the feudal lords. These were assemblies in which not only the priviledged estates of realm took part but also the bourgeoisie, who represented the urban population. The king asked for help, usually in form of taxes, or advice.


2. MEDIEVAL CITIES2.1. POLITICAL ORGANISATION

Feudal lords controlled the land on which the cities were built. However, the inhabitants of the cities did not approved this situation and demanded greater authority, as they were becaming wealthier.

Trade was important for the kings, since markets provided money to the cities and taxes were collected.

As a result, kings and feudal lords granted FUEROS to the cities: documents which especified the rights of the lords or kings over the inhabitants and the privileges of the cities.

Fuero de Alcalá de Henares,1235


The administration of the city

A COUNCIL (consejo) to which the inhabitants delegated their power. It was formed by members of the richest and most influential families. The council was responsable for:• collecting taxes• regulating the market• organising city’s defence

VARIOUS MAGISTRATES. They were in charge of:• carrying out the orders of the

council• keeping public order• Administrate justice

IMPORTANT!!!!


2.2. ECONOMY

CRAFTS

• Textiles• Construction• Food

Guilds (gremios) were established. They were associations of craftworkers who practised the same trade.

MASTER He owned his own workshop,

including tools and raw materials

JOURNEYMANHe received wage. To become a master, he had to produce a

masterpiece.

APPRENTICEThey didn’t earn a wage.. They lived in the master’s home. They spent several years learning the trade



TRADE

In the towns and cities, there were weekly markets where peasants sold their products.

In some cities, they also held trade fairs once or more times a year. They were big markets that lasted for several weeks or months and attended by merchants from different countries. They sold products like textiles, fairs, sugar, spices, etc.As trade and economic activities grew, new professions were developed like bankers and money changers.

El cambista y su mujer, Marinus van Reymerswael, 1532.


Foreign trade developed considerabily, especially sea trade. New technical resources were introduced:

• Compass and astrolabe• Ships could carry more cargo and sail faster.

The main European trading areas were:

Southern Europe• Italian Peninsula: Genoa, Pisa, Venice.• Catalan cities: Barcelona.• North Africa, East Europe.

Central and northern Europe• Bruges, Hamburg, Frankfurt• Hanseatic League: economic alliance to protect commercial

interests.



2.3. SOCIETY Created by Cristina de la

Vega


2.4. ARCHITECTURE AND ARTA) ARQUITECTURE

• Gothic style• Religious buildings

(churches and cathedrals)• Secular buildings (palaces,

lonjas, universities, town halls)

• Buildings: very high and huge windows: stained glass windows and rose windows.

• Pointed arches supported by columns or pillars

• Ribbed vault, flying buttresses and buttresses crowned by pinnacles


B) SCULPTURE• Wood and stole• Linked to architecture• Relief forms• Didactic purpose• More realistic than Romanesque

figures• Themes-> religious figures.

C) PAINTING• Wood or canvas• Books (miniatures)• Painting of altarpieces• Techniques: tempera and oil

painting (end of Gothic Age)• Figures are very stylised and

more realistic as time goes by.• Religious themes but daily life

scenes will become popular

La Virgen Blanca, catedral de León

El mes de mayo. Página del Calendario del libro Las Muy Ricas Horas del Duque de Berry, de los hermanos Limbourg. 1411-141

Education

Unit 4 medieval cities