Medieval Europe: Society, Trade, and Urban Growth
Medieval Society: Definitions & Key Terms
Hanseatic League (Hansa)
The Hansa (or Hanseatic League) was an assembly of merchant guilds and their market towns, predominantly in Northern Europe. It controlled trade in the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions. Key cities included Lübeck and Hamburg.
Bills of Exchange Explained
Bills of Exchange were financial instruments that allowed a dealer to make a payment to a trader without physically transporting currency. Money deposited in a bank in one location could be made available elsewhere, thus preventing theft and facilitating long-distance trade.
Burghers: Medieval City Dwellers
The term Burgher (or bourgeois) initially designated an inhabitant of a new village or a commercial and crafts neighborhood (a burg or borough). Later, it was used more broadly for any city dweller.
Aljama and Jewry in Medieval Iberia
An Aljama or Jewry referred to the autonomous community of Jews within a town or city in medieval Spain and Portugal, often living in designated separate quarters.
Morería: Moorish Quarters
A Morería was a designated quarter in cities within the Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula where the Mudéjar (Muslim) population resided after the Reconquista.
Rose Windows: Gothic Cathedral Art
A Rose Window is a large, circular window, often featuring intricate tracery and stained glass, typically found on the facades of Gothic cathedrals.
Stained Glass in Gothic Churches
Stained Glass refers to compositions made from pieces of colored glass, often depicting religious scenes or figures, which adorned the windows of Gothic churches, allowing light to filter through in vibrant patterns.
Cortes & Parliament: Royal Assemblies
Cortes or Parliament was an assembly of representatives from the nobility, clergy, and cities (or commons). It was presided over by the king to discuss and legislate on the affairs of the kingdom, including taxation.
Artisan Guilds: Structure & Purpose
Starting in the 12th century, artisans of the same trade formed associations called Guilds. Each guild developed its own statute, which all members had to swear to uphold. These statutes specified:
- Standards of the profession
- Rights and obligations of its members
- Production quotas and prices per workshop
- Assistance to members and their families (e.g., caring for the sick, widows, and orphans, sometimes creating hospitals and hospices). Members paid dues to fund these activities.
Transformations in Medieval Europe
Agricultural Advances & Population Growth
From the 12th century onwards, agricultural production increased significantly across most of Europe. This was due to several factors:
- Expansion of Cultivated Land: Forests were cleared, and swamps were drained to create more arable land.
- New Farming Techniques:
- In some areas, triennial crop rotation was implemented, improving soil fertility.
- The heavy wheeled plow (with a mouldboard) came into use, allowing for better tilling of heavy northern European soils.
- In the Mediterranean area, influenced by Islamic practices, irrigation was extended, and new crops were introduced.
- Spread of Mills: Watermills and windmills became more widespread, increasing efficiency in grinding grain and other tasks.
As a result, the population grew from an estimated 42 million in the year 1000 to 73 million by 1300.
Urban Revival: The Rebirth of Cities
After a period of decline following the crisis of the Roman Empire, European cities experienced a resurgence starting in the 12th century.
- Ancient cities regained strength and population.
- New towns and cities were founded, often near castles, monasteries, important crossroads, or along trade routes.
Examples of flourishing cities included Hamburg, Burgos, and Paris.
Royal Power, Nobles & European Conflicts
Medieval kings sought to impose their authority within their realms and extend their domains. This led to various conflicts:
- Struggles with Nobility: Kings often fought against powerful nobles who possessed extensive territories and challenged royal authority.
- Inter-Kingdom Wars: Kings also waged war against other monarchs. Many of these conflicts originated from succession disputes, where two or more claimants battled for the throne of a kingdom whose ruler had died without a clear successor.
Craftsmen: Master, Journeyman, Apprentice
Within artisan guilds, each craft typically had a hierarchical structure with three categories of craftsmen:
- The Master: The master craftsman was the owner of the workshop, tools, and raw materials. He managed the business, reaped its profits (and bore its losses), and the position often passed from father to son.
- The Journeyman (Officer): A skilled worker employed in the workshop who received a salary for their labor.
- The Apprentice: A young learner aspiring to master the trade. Apprentices typically worked in the workshop for a set period (e.g., five years), often without wages, in exchange for training, food, and lodging.
In theory, a journeyman could become a master and open his own workshop after proving his skill by creating a ‘masterpiece’ and meeting other guild requirements.