1) During the Middle Ages, most people lived in the countryside after the fall of Rome, but towns grew again during the High Middle Ages due to improved farming, surplus crops, and increased trade along waterways. 2) Towns established independent rule by obtaining royal charters that granted self-governance and tax rights, shifting power away from feudal lords. Trade and production became organized under guilds of merchants and craftspeople. 3) Life in medieval towns was difficult, with crowded/unsanitary conditions and frequent disease outbreaks. However, towns also saw the growth of commerce, guild apprenticeships, and cultural activities like plays and festivals.

1. Life in Medieval Towns I After the fall of Rome trade to the east suffered Most people lived in the countryside Towns suffered High Middle Ages, towns grew again 1. Better farming methods 2. Surplus of crops to sell in town markets 3. Trade was revitalized

2. Life in Medieval Towns II Trade grew via waterways Most towns were located on rivers Towns grew out of 1. Specific trade. A. Woolen cloth (Flanders) B. Glass from Venice C. Steel from Toledo

3. Life in Medieval Towns III As towns grew feudal lord ’ s power lessened Didn ’ t need the lord ’ s protection Many towns became independent by purchasing a royal charter Charter: A written grant of rights and privileges granted by a ruler or government to a community, class of people, or organization

4. Life in Medieval Towns IV Charter granted the towns 1. Right to govern themselves 2. Right to make laws 3. Raise taxes This brought power from feudal lords to a rising class of merchants and craftspeople

5. Life in Medieval Towns V Trade and production soon were overseen by guilds Guilds: An organization of people in the same craft, or trade Two kinds of Guilds 1. Merchants 2. Crafts

6. Life in Medieval towns VI Guilds were the forerunners of Unions Guilds had, or did 1. Had halls, places to meet 2. Had fairs and festivals 3. Took care of their members and families who were unable to work, or were sick

7. Life in Medieval Towns VII Becoming a Guild member 1. Starts at age 12 2. Become an apprentice 3. Work with, live with, train with a Master for seven years Apprentices worked for free At the end of seven years they had to prove their mastering of their craft

8. Life in Medieval Towns VIII Had to produce a “ Master piece ” If approved by the Guild they could set-up their own shop Shops were expensive. Most became a journeyman Journeyman is a craftsman who found work “ by the day ” and did not employ others

9. Life in Medieval Towns IX At the beginning of the Middle Ages trade was done in luxury goods Most people made necessities for themselves By the High Middle Ages most people were buying and selling more kinds of goods. Towns held merchant fairs, usually twice a year There was prejudice against Jews by the Christians

10. Life in Medieval Towns X Tough for Jews to earn a living Often Jews were not allowed to own land Belongings were seized by the Lords Jews were the target of violence Christians were forbidden by the church to exchange money. The church said it was sinful

11. Life in Medieval Towns XI Jews became the bankers, handlers of the money They were looked down on for practicing a “ wicked ” trade.

12. Life in Medieval Towns XII Medieval towns were small and crowded They were narrow and could be 4 stories tall In poorer neighborhoods several families might share a house A family might have only one room where they cooked, ate and slept People worked where they lived

13. Life in Medieval Towns XIII Wealthy merchants had splendid homes Offices and storerooms downstairs Living quarters on the middle floor Servants and apprentices lived on the upper floor Still in all homes fireplaces were the only source of heat and the main source of light

14. Life in Medieval Towns XIV Windows were small and covered in parchment, not glass so they were very drafty About one-half of all children died before they became adults. Those who survived started preparing for adulthood at the age of 7

15. Life in Medieval Towns XV Most boys grew up to do the same thing as their fathers Most girls married young, some as early as 12 They were soon raising their own children Most girls education was at home 1. Learned cooking 2. Cloth making And other skills to run a home and care for their family

16. Life in Medieval Towns XVI Towns were dirty 1. No running water 2. No sewer system (Privies, shelters used as toilets) or (chamber pots that they emptied into streams, or canals 3. Garbage was dumped into rivers or on the streets.

17. Life in Medieval Towns XVII People bathed only once a week, sometimes Rats and fleas were common and they carried diseases Leprosy a skin disease that causes open sores on the body and usually led to death was common Measles, cholera and scarlet fever had no cure.

18. Life in Medieval Towns XVIII No one knew how diseases were spread Jews were sometimes accused of poisoning wells Hospitals were started during the Middle Ages, but there were very few of them Doctors used a mixture of prayer, medical treatment and herbs Some doctors relied on the positions of planets and magic charms to heal people

19. Life in Medieval Towns XIX Bloodletting was a common practice Open up a wound and apply leeches to suck the blood out and restore balance to the patient. Often weakened, or killed the patient.

20. Life in Medieval Towns XX Early Middle Ages trials were often by ordeal, or combat. A trial by ordeal might have a person thrown into a well. If the person floated, instead of drowned they were found guilty because the water rejected them Trial by combat meant the person had to fight to prove their innocence. God made sure the right person won

21. Life in Medieval Towns XXI Lesser crimes had people put into stocks for hours, or days For serious crimes, highway robbery, stealing livestock, treason, murder people were either hanged, or burned at the stake. Executions were carried out in public. In the early 1100 ’ s English Kings began setting up a system of courts.

22. Life in Medieval Towns XXII Court decisions soon became a body of common law. Common Law: A body of rulings made by judges that become part of a nations legal system. Courts started replacing trial by ordeal and combat.

23. Life in Medieval Towns XXIII Children played with dolls, wooden swords, hobby horses. Badminton, lawn bowling, blind man ’ s bluff were popular with children too Adults played chess, checkers and backgammon

24. Life in Medieval Towns XXIV Guilds put on fairs Guilds also put on “ mystery plays ” Plays about stories from the Bible “ Miracle play ” dramas about the lives of Saints.