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Rebirth of Urban Life. Before 1200, no town in Western Europe had more than 30,000 inhabitants Functions: Administrative centers of the Church or political leader Fortified enclosures: provided protection to rural population under attack Centers of local and international exchange.
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Rebirth of Urban Life • Before 1200, no town in Western Europe had more than 30,000 inhabitants • Functions: • Administrative centers of the Church or political leader • Fortified enclosures: provided protection to rural population under attack • Centers of local and international exchange
Urban Social Organization • Hierarchical • Noble (patrician)—a well-known family with a position, strength, or longevity; • required land in the countryside or merchant trade in towns • Usually derived from military service • Appointed by higher nobility to the “privilege” • Townsmen—Middle class; own or work in shops to earn income to pay taxes to the nobles • Peasants—farmers who brought crops to market
Towns and Commerce • Magnets for skilled labor and goods • Guilds within the towns controlled the production and price of goods of a certain craft • Most peasants were allowed to bring their crops to town to sell • Merchant guilds controlled in flow of a variety of goods from foreign markets and price.
Medieval Guilds Guild Hall • Commercial Monopoly: • Controlled membershipapprentice journeyman master craftsman • Controlled quality of the product [masterpiece]. • Controlled prices
Universities and Scholasticism • Founding of the first universities in towns • Variety of subjects taught but theology guided most subjects • Scholasticism became the focus of most universitiesthe use of reason and research to investigate and solve problems
Government and Church • Lack of structured gov’t • Kings and queens are starting to build their gov’ts but often clash with nobles over power • Catholic Church reached its height of political, spiritual, and cultural influence • The Pope was more powerful than kings/queens
The Nobility *higher the title=more land owned by the family