Changes in Medieval Society

Bubonic Plague•Black Death

 

Population was reduce•20-25 million Western Europe

•25 million China•4 million

Farmland was abandoned

Serfs sought higher wages

Manor system crumbled

Church lost prestige

Pessimism grew

 

An organization of individuals in the same business or occupation working to improve the economic and social conditions of its members

MembersSet working conditionsHealth insuranceFuneral expensesDowries for poor girls

CommunityAlmshouses for victims of misfortuneQuality workPolice streetsDonate windows to church

ApprenticePaid for trainingLived with masterObey masterTrain 2-7 yrSingle during trainingBecome journeyman

JourneymanDay worker for salaryWorked 6 days weekProduce a masterpieceAcceptance by guild to become master

MasterOwned shopWorked with other masters to protect tradeSometimes serve in civic gov’t

Guilds

Guild Services

Increased Trade

    

More cash, banking, and

lending services

    

Merchant’s wealth and

power expand

     

More workers needed

     

Merchant’s taxes increase the king’s power and wealth

     

More money available for

building businesses

 

Serf’s move to town; workers paid for labor

     

 

          

   

  

          

 

   

Changes in Agriculture• From 800 to 1200 the climate warms, opening

more land to farmingSwitch to Horsepower Harnessed horses replace oxen Horses plow three times as much a day,

increasing food supplyThe Three-Field System Around 800 three-field system used—plant

two fields, let one rest This produces more food and leads to population

increase

1000–1150, Europe’s population rises from 30 million to 42 million

Towns are uncomfortable: crowded, dirty, full of fire hazards

• Serfs can become free by living in a town for a year and a day

Crusaders return with Muslim knowledge of navigation, ships, weapons

Groups of scholars gather to teach and learn; form universities

• Written works not in Latin but in vernacular — everyday language

Thomas Aquinas, a religious scholar, mixes Greek and Christian thought

• scholastic—university man; debates issues to increase knowledge