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Life in Medieval Towns

What was life like in medieval European towns?

P R E V I E W

Look carefully at the image your teacher is projecting. This image of a marketplace in a European town during the 13th century includes clues about these three topics: living conditions job opportunities entertainment

1. In the image copy below, highlight at least one detail that gives a clue about each topic. 2. For each detail you highlight, add a note to the drawing that explains what you think that detail tells about the topic. 3. Draw a line connecting each detail to the matching note.

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Key Content Terms

As you complete the Reading Notes, use these terms in your answers. charter guild
Section 2

apprentice common law

1. Where were towns in medieval Europe often located, and why?

2. What contributed to the growth of towns in medieval Europe?

3. How was a town able to become independent of a feudal lord?

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Section 3

1. What were guilds? Why were they established?

2. How did guilds help their members and the families of their members?

3. Suppose that you have just been accepted as an apprentice to a stonemason. In the space below, write a short letter to a friend describing what this means for you and what the next few years will be like as you try to become a master stonemason and a member of the guild.

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Section 4

1. How did trade change from the beginning of the Middle Ages to the High Middle Ages?

2. How did merchants become the most wealthy and powerful citizens of towns?

3. How were Jews often mistreated in medieval Europe? What opportunity was open to them?

Section 5

1. Describe the typical home in a medieval town.

2. What was difficult about growing up in a medieval town?

3. How were the lives of medieval girls different from those of modern girls?

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Section 6

1. List at least three different conditions in medieval towns that led to the spread of disease.

2. What were some common diseases in medieval Europe?

3. What were some common practices or treatments used by medieval doctors?

Section 7

1. Describe two methods for deciding the guilt or innocence of accused criminals in the Early Middle Ages.

2. What were some ways in which criminals were punished in medieval Europe?

3. What changes to the court system helped protect individual rights in the early 1100s in England?

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Section 8

1. What were some popular childrens games in medieval Europe?

2. What were some leisure activities enjoyed by adults in medieval Europe?

3. What was the difference between a mystery play and a miracle play?

P R O C E S S I N G

On a separate sheet of paper, create a daily diary page to describe what a typical day might have involved for someone living in a town in medieval Europe. Your page should include relevant details from the various aspects of life you learned about and include at least six entries. An example is shown, at right.

5:30 A.M. Rose from bed. Washed face with cold water. Plucked eyebrows. Tied hair in net and put on skirt and hat. 6:30 A.M. Ate breakfast (bread, cheese, weak cider). Threw scraps in street for hogs. Began walking to market. 7:30 A.M. Picked up shoes from cobblers guild. Asked master if his hand is healing properly.

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