CITY AIR MAKES PEOPLE FREE

"City Air Makes People Free" was a famous German saying from the Middle Ages, symbolizing a legal
principle that allowed serfs to gain freedom after a year and a day in a city. This led to an influx of
people seeking freedom in cities, making them hubs of trade and culture, providing various products
and services, and improving living conditions compared to feudal territories. However, it also
highlights the complexities of urban life, offering freedom to some while subjecting others to
challenges and exploitation.

In the early Middle Ages, most people were peasants in the countryside. Then, services were needed
around castle and religious center that caused the rise of towns throughout Europe. During the rise
of town, urban centers offered jobs, education access. Advancements in agriculture, trade, and
commerce reduced the necessity for everyone to be farmers. Guilds, including merchant and trade
guilds, organized and protected various professions. Joining a guild involved apprenticeship from a
young age, followed by proving one's skills with a masterpiece. Afterward, individuals could open
their own shops or work as journeymen for other masters.

“City Air Makes People Free” is a famous German saying, referring to a principle of law in place in
Europe during the Middle Ages. This one would enable a serf living unfree under feudalism to
become free from their lord, in a city, after a period of one year and one day. This increased the
migration of medieval people seeking freedom from the feudal territories to the cities. Because of
that freedom, cities became a center of trade, gathering merchants, entertainers and much more,
and offering a large variety of products and services. This made the cities vibrant and prosperous,
with its inhabitants enjoying better life conditions than on the feudal territories. Lastly, the quote
“City Air Makes People Free” is often used to highlight the complex and contradictory nature of
urban life, as it can offer freedom and opportunity to some while subjecting others to challenging
living conditions and exploitation.

What was The Medieval Town Looks Like? At the beginning of the Middle Ages, most people lives
as peasants in countryside. Then, services were needed around castle and religious center that
caused the rise of towns throughout Europe. During the rise of town, urban centers offered jobs,
education access. Improvements in agriculture and the growth of trade and commerce made
medieval towns grow the surpluses and crops created a situation where not everyone had to be a
farmer. There are an organization in the same trade and craft named guilds. There are two types of
guilds which is merchant guild and trade guild. Guild provided help and protections for people doing
different types of professions. Guild members paid dues if someone wanted to join a guild, they
would have to become an apprentice at the around the age of 12. After about seven years the
apprentice would have to prove himself to the guild by building a masterpiece this was a piece of
work that proved they were worthy to join the guild. Afterwards, they could open their own shop
and if they did not have the resources, they could become a journeyman working for other masters.