Trade and commerce in medieval Europe

After about six hundred years of negligence of cities, trade led to the revival of cities in Europe. The first developed towns were based on fortresses, ecclesiastical centers, and places conducive to commerce and manufacture. Since towns were established from existent fiefs of nobles or kings, townspeople owed fealty to their lords. To wrestle security and autonomy the former often fought for charters with the latter to obtain the privileges they sought.

1. The rise of towns:

a) Towns grew on the expansion of markets, which were granted to individuals (often churchmen in the early towns) by the lord. Readings of grants of markets: To Bishop in Holy Roman Empire, to English abbot.

Despite the flourishing of markets.  There was deep ambivalence toward trade and profit among many, because of the medieval church's argument against focusing on material well being.  Document on ambivalent attitude toward fairs and markets.

b) Once established, towns usually petitioned for autonomy from the lord. Reading of the Flemish count's charter with the city of St. Omer. Flemish count's grant of hall to the guild. Merchant guild of Cambridge freed of tolls on fairs.

c) Unlike the hierarchical feudal structure in the country, town life was much more egalitarian in many European cities, where officials were often elected.  Document on town election in Ipswich, England.

2. The rise of guilds

Guilds were developed as a collective bargaining agency versus the feudal lords over the town. It also served to regulate the relationship between guild members, often merchants and professionals. Many guilds rose to prominence and helped govern the towns.

The guild helped contribute to an egalitarian relationship between men and women, who might both work and be members of the guilds.  They could inherit from each other, and primogeniture was not practiced in the cities.

Guilds were often established with the permission of the lord governing the towns. Read a grant of a guild by Henry II, king of England. Or they would be granted by the municipal government. Read about it.

Each guild had its own charters that laid down rules regarding meetings, guild officials and their elections, responsibilities of the guild to its members and their relatives.  Read guild charter of the merchants of Southampton, England.

Q: In what ways did medieval towns differ from the rural social and political structures?