Economic Recovery during the Middle Ages

Lesson Objectives

112. Summarize how new technologies sparked an agricultural revolution.

113. Explain how the revival of trade revolutionized commerce and led to the growth of towns.

114. Analyze the rise of the middle class and the role of guilds.

115. Describe life in medieval towns and cities.

112. Summarize how new technologies sparked an agricultural

revolution.

New Farming Methods

• New Farming Methods 1. Iron Plow

2. Horse instead of Oxen

3. Crop rotation system (legumes)

• More Food = More People

– Population in Europe tripled from 1000-1300

Crop Rotation

113. Explain how the revival of trade revolutionized commerce and

led to the growth of towns.

Trade Improves

• Warfare declined – Stronger central

governments – Law and Order – Catholic Church banned

fighting on weekends and holy days

• Trade Centers turn into Cities – Merchants asked local

Lords for a charter which established trading rights in that city for the merchant.

Business Growth

• Banks – The need for capital, or money

for investment, stimulated the growth of banks.

– Merchants joined together to form partnerships.

– Insurance – Credit

• Peasants

– Tenant Farmers- paid rent for land

– Paid laborers

114. Analyze the rise of the middle class and the role of guilds.

The Middle Class

• Merchants

– Sold goods to make a profit

• Traders

– Traded goods often traveling from city to city.

• Artisans

– Skilled Workers • Masons

• Woodworkers

• Blacksmiths

Feudalism is Modified

The Feudal System

Kings Give large land grants to Upper Lords called fiefs

Give Protection Receives money, military service, and advice

Upper Lords Give land grants to Lesser Lords

Give Protection Receives money, military service

Lesser Lords Give land grants to knights

Receives money, military service

Knights Give land to peasants/serfs

Receives crops, labor

Peasants/ Serfs Receives land to farm Pays with labor, crops

Middle Class Merchants, Traders, Artisans

Guilds- The Middle Age version of the labor union

• Guilds- associations which controlled and protected specific trades or businesses. – Apprentices- in order to join

a guild you had to learn the trade for seven years.

– Journeyman- after seven years an apprentice would become a salaried worker.

– Women- unlike most aspects of Medieval society women dominated some trades.

115. Describe life in medieval towns and cities.

City Life

• Cities expanded rapidly

• Overcrowded – Narrow streets

– Multi-story houses

– No garbage

– No Sewage

– Fire Hazard and breeding ground for disease.