Life in Medieval Towns

Chapter 4
Reading Notes
4.2 The Growth of Medieval Towns
1. Where were towns in medieval Europe often located, and why?
Towns were often located next to rivers, which made trade easier.
2. What contributed to the growth of towns in medieval Europe?
mproved farming methods !iron plow, harnesses for horses to p"ll plows,
the three field s#stem$ and the revival of trade with the east contri%"ted to
the growth of towns.
3. What rights did a charter give townspeople?
& charter allowed mem%ers of a medieval town to govern themselves. The
merchant class held a charter.
4.' G"ilds
1. What were guilds? Why were they established?
G"ilds were an association of people who practiced the same craft or trade.
The# were set "p to ma(e s"re their mem%ers were treated fairl# and
prod"ced )"alit# wor(.
2. How did a person become a member of a guild?
&ro"nd the age of *2, a person who wanted to learn a trade %ecame an
apprentice. +e lived and wor(ed in the home of a g"ild master. &fter ,
#ears, the g"ild examined a sample of his wor(. f it met their standards, he
was allowed to -oin the g"ild.
3. What are some eamples of craft guilds in medieval Europe?
.ome craft g"ilds were co%%lers, stonemasons, and cloth ma(ers.
!. How did guilds help members and families of members?
G"ilds provided them with mone# and food in times of need.
". #hoose an ob$ect from the overhead that represents this topic. %&etch it.
4.4 Trade and Commerce
1. What role did merchants play in the growth of medieval European towns?
/# selling food and goods, merchants attracted more people to medieval
towns.
2. What were merchant fairs li&e?
Merchant fairs were large and sold goods from all over 0"rope and the
east. The# attracted merchants from man# co"ntries.
3. How did merchants become the most wealthy and powerful members of
towns?
Merchants %ecame wealth# and powerf"l %# selling a variet# of goods from
farawa# lands, dominating the town1s %"siness life, and -oining town
co"ncils. Merchants "s"all# held the town charter.
!. How were 'ews often mistreated in medieval Europe?
/eca"se of hostilit#, 2ews fo"nd it hard to earn a living %# farming, and
sometimes the# were the victims of violence. R"lers too( their propert# at
will. 2ews %ecame %an(ers and mone#lenders !"s"r#$.
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4.3 +omes and +o"seholds
1. What did homes in medieval European towns loo& li&e?
Most homes in medieval towns were small, crowded, and %"ilt of wood. &s
the# got older, the# wo"ld lean. The homes of wealth# were m"ch larger.
2. Why were the homes of most town dwellers uncomfortable?
Rooms were cold, smo(#, and dim %eca"se fireplaces were the onl# so"rce
of heat and the main so"rce of light.
3. Why was growing up in medieval towns difficult?
&lmost half of all children died. Those who s"rvived %egan preparing for
their ad"lt roles at age seven.
!. How were the lives of medieval girls different from those of modern girls?
Most girls were ed"cated at home in coo(ing, cloth ma(ing, and other s(ills
for r"nning a home. The# t#picall# married #o"ng and %egan raising
children soon after. 4nl# girls from wealth# families had an opport"nit# to
learn how to paint or read.
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topic. %&etch it.
4.5 6isease and Medical Treatment
1. How did unhealthy living conditions and limited medical &nowledge affect
life in medieval European towns?
7nhealth# living conditions and lac( of "nderstanding of how diseases
spread ca"sed man# illnesses and deaths.
2. What were some common diseases in medieval Europe?
.ome common diseases in medieval 0"rope were measles, cholera, scarlet
fever, and %"%onic plag"e.
3. What were some common practices used by medieval doctors?
Medieval doctors "sed pra#er, magic, and her%al medicines. /loodletting,
incl"ding the "se of leeches, was also pop"lar.
!. What group was sometimes blamed when an outbrea& of a disease
occur?
2ews were sometimes %lamed for o"t%rea(s of diseases.
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topic. %&etch it.
N4T0. 4
4., Crime and 8"nishment
1. Why were towns in medieval Europe dangerous places?
Towns were poorl# lit, and streets were filled with pic(poc(ets and thieves.
2. What were two methods for deciding the guilt or innocence of accused
criminals in the Early (iddle )ges?
Two methods were trial %# ordeal, in which the acc"sed had to pass a
dangero"s test, and trial %# com%at, in which he had to fight to prove his
innocence.
3. What were some ways criminals were punished in medieval Europe?
9ines and stoc(s were "sed to p"nish those fo"nd g"ilt# of minor crimes.
Those convicted of more serio"s crimes were hanged or %"rned at the
sta(e.
!. How did the way in which those accused of crimes were treated begin to
improve in the 12
th
century?
/eginning in the *2
th
cent"r#, co"rt in)"iries were "sed to determine a
person1s innocence or g"ilt. The decisions of ro#al -"dges contri%"ted to a
growing %od# of common law.
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topic. %&etch it.
4.: Leis"re and 0ntertainment
1. What were some games that were popular with children in medieval
Europe?
Children pla#ed with dolls and to#s, s"ch as wooden swords and
ho%%#horses. The# also rolled hoops and pla#ed %adminton, lawn
%owling, and %lind man1s %l"ff.
2. What were some leisure activities en$oyed by adults in medieval Europe?
&d"lts li(ed chess, chec(ers, and %ac(gammon. Card games, dice games
and dancing were also pop"lar.
3. What was the difference between mystery plays and miracle plays?
M#ster# pla#s re;created stories from the /i%le. Miracle pla#s dramati<ed
the lives of the saints.
!. How did the church*s attitude toward mystery and miracle plays differ from
that of most townspeople?
The ch"rch disapproved of them, %"t most townspeople still en-o#ed them.
". #hoose an ob$ect from the illustration on page !3 that represents this
topic. %&etch it.