EUROPE IN THE MIDDLE AGES

Chapter 10-1

NEW AGRICULTURED

uring the High Middle Ages new inventions for farming as well as a more efficient use of land contributed to a dramatic growth in population

Between 1000 & 1300 the population would double

Besides the new farming developments a great period of peace began which led to stable governments & economies

In addition a climate change occurred that made conditions even more favorable for growing crops & more land was available for farming as forests were cut down & swamps drained

NEW AGRICULTUREC

hanges in agriculture also aided the development of farming

Water was harnessed as a source of power to replace manual labor as well as the need for animals to do work

Iron was also developed which allowed for tools to be better constructed thus making the job more efficient & faster

For example the carruca was constructed of iron which allowed the farmer to turn over a heavier sod

This coupled with the development of the horse shoe & horse collar allowed the farmer to turn rocky hard soil much easier & faster

NEW AGRICULTURET

he new farming techniques led to many small farming villages as the new technology, such as the carruca, was very expensive so the village had one that was shared by all

The same was done with animals as all shared in the cost, upkeep, & use

The use of land changed from allowing half the land to fallow, or lay dormant, to regain minerals, to dividing the land into 3 & planting one field in the spring, one in the summer, & one in the fall

This way only a third was left to fallow rather than half

THE MANORIAL SYSTEMU

nder the feudal system lords ran the manor with the assistance of vassals & worked by the peasants

A manor was an agricultural estate worked by peasants

By 800 60% of western Europeans were serfs who were legally bound to the land they lived on & the lord that owned the land

A serf would provide labor & pay rent to the lords in the form of a percentage of whatever they grew or created

Under the feudal system lords & vassals were tied together by mutual obligations.

The lord controlled when serfs could leave & who they could marry & they also held political authority which meant they could try them in their own court

In return the serfs land could not be taken away & the lords were bound to protect them

REVIVAL OF TRADEW

ith the growth of new towns trade began to flourish

Two major trading cities of the period were Venice in Italy & Flanders in France

This development in trade led to a demand for gold & silver coins, which in turn created a money economy , or an economic system based on money rather than barter

New businesses & banks were set up to handle this new exchange in goods, or commercial capitalism, where people invested in trade & goods in order to make a profit

THE GROWTH OF CITIEST

he trade industry not only developed new cities, but also gave new life to the old as well

Typically a group of merchants would build a settlement near a castle, because it was located along a trade route & could offer some protection

If the settlement prospered, new walls were built for greater protection

The merchants & artisans became known as the burghers or bourgeoisie

Over time cities developed their own governments & elected their own officials. Although most elections were rigged as only patricians, or those from the wealthiest families, were actually elected to office

CITY LIFEM

edieval towns were surrounded by stone walls, causing the cities to be very crowded

The cities were very dirty with human & animal waste, smoke filled air, & polluted water (butchers dumped animal blood & waste into rivers, which combined with human/animal waste as well as chemicals from hide tanners)

INDUSTRY & GUILDSA

s trade was revived the city became the center for manufacturing & trades

People began organizing themselves into guilds or business associations

The guilds directed almost every aspect of the production, process and set the standards for quality, and price

They even controlled how many could enter into the trade, and the process that they had to submit to

A person entered the trade at the age of 10 as an apprentice to a master

After 5-7 years of service they would become a journeyman

Once a journeyman, you worked for a master in that field until you created a masterpiece, which was judged by the masters in that community who would determine if you could be called a master & allowed to join the guild