Artists formed guilds(associations) to keep the quality of work high. Many people were provided with jobs and gathered at fairs to buy and sell merchandise. The locations of these fairs eventually turned into towns and cities.
Twelfth-century England gave rise to tanners' guilds
Siena's guilds were able to rise to power due to their strong organization, economic influence, and ability to control trade and commerce within the city. By forming alliances with the ruling elite and maintaining tight control over their respective crafts, guilds were able to amass wealth and wield significant political influence in Siena.
Guilds played a significant role in the decline of feudalism by promoting economic independence and urbanization. As skilled artisans and merchants banded together in guilds, they established standards for trade, quality, and labor, which helped to create a burgeoning middle class. This shift in economic power undermined the feudal lords' control over peasants, as more individuals sought opportunities in towns rather than remaining tied to the land. Consequently, the rise of guilds contributed to the erosion of the feudal system and the emergence of a more market-oriented economy.
scientific
Medieval towns grew larger due to increased trade and commerce, particularly during the 12th and 13th centuries. The revival of long-distance trade routes and the establishment of markets attracted more people seeking economic opportunities. Additionally, improvements in agricultural practices led to surplus food production, supporting larger populations. The rise of a merchant class and the development of guilds further contributed to urbanization, as towns became centers for craft and trade.
bank,to open the new branches rise of commerce......to affect life in towns and cities public to give the lot of opportunity and offers.......
There were several factors that led to the revival of trade and towns. Among them were the following:The end if the Age of Migrations and Viking and Magyar raidsIncreased security, often provided by such Church groups as the Knights Templar and Knights HospitallerIncrease in pilgrimage within EuropeThe rise of guildsThe rise of republican cities or medieval communesAssociations of guilds, such as the Hanseatic League, which protected trade routesOpening of spice routes or the silk road, as happened periodicallyThere are links below for more information on these.
Merchants played a crucial role in the growth of medieval European towns by facilitating trade and commerce, which attracted populations seeking economic opportunities. They established markets and fairs, creating a vibrant exchange of goods that spurred urbanization. Additionally, the rise of merchant guilds fostered a sense of community and provided regulations that ensured fair practices, further enhancing the appeal of towns as centers of economic activity. This transformation contributed significantly to the decline of feudalism and the emergence of a more dynamic, market-oriented society.
Certainly, the rise of towns and cities in the Middle Ages made guild masters very important people, and made apprentices young people with great potential. Guilds existed throughout most, and possibly all, of the Middle Ages. The earliest medieval guilds of which we have records, stonemasons guilds in Italy, seem to have quite possibly survived since Roman times. The apprentice probably was also a part of the system from the earliest times, though the formal system of apprenticeship, with specified times of service, came into being later. The earliest guilds were did not have a great deal of power. As towns and cities became more numerous and populous, however, they came to be very important politically. The reason for this was that the town and the city were both market oriented. Naturally, tradesmen and craftsmen needed to have a voice in the organization of the marketplace, and the market was the defining feature of a town. So such towns and cities were nearly always run differently from feudal society. Since the political system was market oriented, the towns and cities benefited financially, and the guild members were able to get quite wealthy and powerful. The result was the appearance of republican governments, in which the ideas of aristocracy or nobility were not particularly relevant. The dominating political system in many towns and cities was guild based. Guilds or confederations of guilds came to rule whole communities. This made the individual guild members, especially the masters, sometimes the most important people around. An apprentice, under such a system, was a young person who was up and coming. Towns and cities of this type were called free, meaning that their citizens were not serfs and were free to go where they chose. They are also called medieval communes. Some towns and cities were within kingdoms and owed their allegiance and support to a monarch. Others, such as Venice, were independent and governed the surrounding territory. Some had authoritarian governments headed by a single, very strong, individual, and others came very close to modern democracy. There was a lot of variation. Members of trade guilds traveled from one city to another a lot. This put them into constant contact with people of other countries who had lives much like their own. Free towns and cities, both those within monarchies and those that were independent, signed treaties with each other, binding themselves into confederations of guild run communities. The Hanseatic League is an example of one such confederation. It was quite capable of raising its own international military forces and going to war, independently of any country its members might be in. The people who governed the Hanseatic League were guild masters. There are some source links below.
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During the Middle Ages, the economic and political lives of towns were predominantly dominated by the merchant class and guilds. Merchants played a crucial role in trade and commerce, establishing networks that facilitated economic growth. Additionally, various craft guilds regulated trades, maintained quality standards, and provided training for apprentices, thus influencing local governance and social structures. This combination of commerce and organized labor gave rise to a more structured and influential urban community.
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