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USE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH TO COMPLETE THE GRAPHIC
ORGANIZER
The Growth of Medieval Towns
During the High Middle Ages (1000 to 1300), towns arose throughout Europe. Castles became
castle towns: Towns sprung up just outside the walls of the castle. If things got dicey, merchants and
craftsmen could always hide inside the castle. Why did towns rise? Because of the REVIVAL OF TRADE!
One, the feudal system provided peace, order, and stable local government. Two, merchants felt safe to
travel along the rivers and roadways. Three, merchants and craftsmen began to live in the town
permanently. The population increased and folks moved into towns to get jobs. Lastly, Serfs ran away
from the manor: If you lived in a town for a year and a day, you became a free man. For the first time in
history, there was a rise of the MIDDLE CLASS. The producers were craftsmen - who worked in
workshops. It also included bakers, brewers, goldsmiths, tailors, weavers, etc. The consumers were
townsmen craftsmen and merchants. Merchants were the middlemen - they sold goods at stalls in the
market. The town had self-government. Members of a guild were elected to run the town. So how did
towns win the right to self-government? They convinced the lord, who owned the land on which the
town stood, to grant them a charter. The Guild - An association of craftsmen regulated everything in
that trade, regulated crafts. Peasants learned crafts by becoming an apprentice. He learned his craft
from a master craftsman. Trade affected the Middle Ages because people began to do new things. They
practiced self-government, they began to use money, they began to travel, they begin to think about the
larger world and exchange new ideas. Eventually, the middle class will challenge the political power of
the nobility.
WHEN?
WHY?
Why did towns spring up?
When did towns arise in
Medieval Europe?
List 5 Reasons why towns
grew bigger and bigger.
WHERE?
Where did towns spring up?
Medieval Towns
WHAT?
What was the impact of towns
on Europe?
WHO?
Producers-Who made the
goods?
List 5 consequences of the
revival of trade.
Consumers-Who bought the
goods?
Middlemen-Who sold the
goods?
Town Gov’t-Who ruled the
town?
OBJECTIVE: Understand the development of feudalism, its role in the medieval European economy, the
way in which it was influenced by physical geography (the role of the manor and the growth of towns)
and how feudal relationships provided foundation of political order.