Transcript
Chapter 8Section 4 Notes
Europe’s economic recovery was symbolized by the appearance of new towns
The revival period from 1000-1300 is known as the High Middle Ages
The iron plow was created which made it easier to plow the heavy soil of northern Europe
A new harness allowed for the use of horses to pull plows rather than oxen
Windmills allowed the use of wind power to grind grain into flour---towns no longer needed to be located next to a swift water source in order to get their grain ground
An Agricultural Revolution
Iron Plow
Horse and Iron Plow
Windmill
Windmill
Windmill
Feudal lords who wanted to boost their incomes pushed peasants to clear forests, drain swamps, and reclaim wasteland for farming and grazing animals
Peasants adopted the three-field system One field planted with grains, one with legumes,
one left fallow (unplanted) Legumes---helped restore soil fertility This new method left only 1/3 of land unplanted Farmers produced more food---population grows Between 1000-1300 Europe’s population doubles
Expanding Production
3-Field System
3-Field System
The growing population demanded more goods which helped bring trade back
Trade routes brought goods from Asia and the Middle East
Northern Europeans paid for goods with products such as honey, furs, cloth, tin, and lead
Trade Revives
Yearly trade fairs took place near navigable rivers or where busy trade routes met
People flocked to these fairs and traded farm goods and animals
Besides eating and drinking, they enjoyed the antics of jugglers, acrobats, or even dancing bears
Peasants had no money to buy goods such as swords, sugar, and silks---these goods were purchased by feudal rulers, nobles, and wealthy churchmen
Trade Fairs
Dancing Bears
Bicycling Bear
Dancing Bears
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YSTeJOxiaw
“Touch of Grey”
Small centers of trade developed into real medieval cities
Some had populations of 10,000 and a few had populations over 100,000---towns of this size were not seen since Roman times
The richest cities were in northern Italy and Flanders Merchants who set up new towns wanted a charter in
order to protect their interests Charter---written document that set out the rights and
privileges of the town Charters let townspeople choose their own leaders and
control their own affairs---also had clauses that benefitted runaway serfs (year and a day)
New Towns
Banking houses were created in order to lend merchants capital to start businesses
Partnerships began to become common---this let several investors pool their money together to start a business
Insurance system was developed to help reduce business risks and insure goods being transported
Bills of exchange allowed merchants to travel without carrying money
New Business Practices
Medieval Business Practices Today
The use of money undermined serfdom Many peasants began selling farm products
to townspeople and paying their rent to their lords in cash rather than in labor
By 1300, most peasants were tenant farmers or hired farm laborers
By 1000, a middle class began to emerge in society
Anti-Semitism began to rise against Jews…why?
Social Changes
Medieval guilds were equivalent to our modern-day unions
Each guild represented workers in a specific occupation---merchants, weavers, bakers, brewers, goldsmiths, etc.
Becoming a guild member was hard At the age of 7 or 8 a child worked as an
apprentice to a guild master for seven years and then went on to become a journeyman
Women either had their own guilds, were guild masters, or worked as apprentices
Role of Guilds
Medieval towns and cities were surrounded by high, protective walls
As the city grew, space within the walls filled to overflowing, and newcomers had to settle in the fields outside the walls
Every few years the city might have to rebuild its walls farther and farther out
Town and City Life
Walled Medieval City
Rotenburg, Germany
Rotenburg, Germany
A typical medieval city was a jumble of narrow streets lined with tall houses
Upper floors hung over the streets, making those below dark even in daytime
Large cities had great cathedrals or a magnificent guild hall
During the day, the streets echoed with the cries of hawkers selling their goods, at night the streets were deserted
Town and City Life
Medieval Town
Cathedral de Notre Dame
Inside Notre Dame
Medieval City
Medieval City Street
Mystery City???
Even rich towns did not have garbage collection or sewer systems
Residents simply flung their wastes into the street below
Larger cities might pass laws, such as one requiring butchers to dump their garbage on the edge of town
However, towns remained filthy, smelly, noisy, and crowded places (bad idea…you’ll see why in Chapter 9)
Town and City Life
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