How trade affected life in the Late Middle Ages

1. Europe’s Late Middle Ages
How did the growth of trade
change feudal society in Europe?
For better or worse…?

2. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?

3. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?
Trade increased after the Crusades…
• Western Europeans traded the goods from
Asia along the Mediterranean Sea.
• They also traded European resources
(minerals, fish, wool, grain, wine, olive oil,
etc.)

4. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?
Trade & towns “helped” each other.
• The more people traded, the more they
needed a permanent place to trade.

5. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?
• First there were FAIRS.
• They lasted for weeks.
• People gathered from far
and wide.
• They were exciting places:
filled with musicians,
jugglers, entertainers, and
exotic goods.

6. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?
• Problem: Fairs could not
satisfy all the needs of
traders & consumers.
• When winter came, for
example, they had to shut
down… or
• Sometimes travel to a fair
was far & dangerous.
• So…

7. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?
• Towns
emerged.
• Merchants
(like these)
and
craftspeople
(such as
weavers &
carpenters)
had stalls and
workshops.

8. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?
•People started to specialize: bakers, tailors, sword & armour
makers, tanners.
•So Craft Guilds emerged…
• GUILD: an organization that
was controlled by the
experts in the trade
• It set standards for the
quality of products
• It controlled prices
• It kept out unskilled
craftspeople

9. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?
Guilds…
• Ran all the trade activity in towns and
between towns.
• They looked after their members in case of
sickness or accident.
• Becoming a member was a long & difficult
process.

10. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?
Why is on-the-job
Turn to a partner
See more training an
and discuss how to
information on important part of
become a master
page 179. apprenticeship
craftsperson.
programs?

11. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?
Increased trading after
the crusades
Manor villages

12. How did the growth of trade change feudal society in Europe?
What was life like in medieval towns?
1. Describe their lives…
(see page 182).
2. Did people have
more or fewer
freedoms than life
on the manor)?