Medieval Life Unveiled: Society, Economy, and Urban Development
Medieval Innovations in Agriculture and Trade
Agricultural Advancements
- The Three-Field System: Only a third of the land was left fallow every year. This was an improvement over the older two-field system, where half the land was left fallow.
- Improved Fertilization: The increased use of manure significantly improved soil fertility.
Farming Improvements
- Wheel
- Horse Collar
- Reins
- Runner
- Board
Trade Expansion in the Middle Ages
Trade expanded significantly due to increased safety from the 11th to the 13th century.
Overland Routes
Overland routes became faster when monarchs began using tax revenues from merchants to assert their authority over the nobility and protect cities. Goods were transported by animals, wagons, or boat.
Maritime Routes
- Atlantic Ocean: Became safer and faster after the Viking invasions ended.
- Mediterranean Sea: The Crusades strengthened the Byzantine Empire and led to the creation of small Christian states, which provided safer places for trade.
Life in Medieval Cities
Cities served as hubs where products were manufactured and most trade took place. While typically small (15,000-30,000 inhabitants), some, like Paris and Cordoba, boasted populations exceeding 200,000.
Artisans and Guilds
Artisans formed guilds, which established rules to prevent competition and regulate product quality. Artisans belonging to the same guild often lived on the same streets, which were frequently named after their trade (e.g., Cutlers’ Street, Weavers’ Street).
New Social Classes: The Bourgeoisie
A new social class, the bourgeoisie, emerged in cities. Their wealth derived from selling products or from the profits of their businesses. This diverse class was divided into the upper bourgeoisie (important merchants and bankers) and the petty bourgeoisie (artisans and small-scale merchants).
Medieval cities were also home to nobles, clergymen, and poor people (such as servants and beggars).
Governance in the Middle Ages
Royal Authority and Urban Privileges
In the feudal system (until the 12th century), the king was considered “first among equals.” Monarchs sought the support of the bourgeoisie to assert their authority over the nobility. Conversely, the bourgeoisie required protection from feudal lords to conduct trade by road and sea around cities.
To secure this support, kings issued royal charters that granted cities privileges, freed their inhabitants, and bestowed the right to self-government. These charters also often granted trading monopolies and freedom of movement.
City Governance: Urban Patricians
Cities were governed by urban patricians. Inhabitants elected magistrates, who were responsible for finance, order, and justice. These officials worked under the mayor or burgomaster and met in the town hall. Essentially, cities were governed by wealthy families, often merchants and bankers, who collectively formed the urban patriciate.
The Artisan Workshop
Each workshop was owned by a master artisan and typically served as both the master’s home and a shop. The master was an expert in their trade, owning the tools and materials. They employed journeymen (artisans) and apprentices, paying them a salary.
Guilds followed a strict training system: before an artisan could become a master and own a workshop, they first had to spend years as an apprentice, then become a journeyman, and finally pass a master test. Guilds also formed brotherhoods, which had religious functions and looked after their members.
Architectural Marvels: The Gothic Cathedral
Key features of Gothic Cathedrals include:
- Pointed Arch: Lighter and had a more downward thrust than the Romanesque semicircular arch.
- Ribbed Vault: Divided into sections that transferred the vertical weight of the vault onto four columns.
- Flying Buttress: Used to reinforce walls and counteract the lateral force created by the roof.
- Pinnacles and Spires: While not part of the primary building structure, they were used to make the cathedral appear slimmer and taller.