Celts To Kings Chapter 10 section 1

List three physical characteristics of medieval cities.

Stone walls were built around medieval villages. Houses were crowded next to one another, and the streets were narrow. It was expensive to build the stone walls around the villages, so the space inside the walls was cramped. Houses were built mostly of wood. The villages were filthy with animal and human waste, and air pollution from wood fires. Waste from butchers and tanners polluted the water so they had to use wells for drinking water.

What role did guilds play in the economic life of the cities?

Guilds played an important role in the economic life of cities. Each craft such as, tanners, carpenters, and bakers, had their own guild. The craft guilds set the standers for many of the products made. They also set the price of the goods. The guilds also limited the amount of people who could enter a specific trade and the steps they had to follow to do the trade.

What role did peasant women play in manorial society?

In manorial society women's life was important and hard. They had to work in the field, have children, and take care of the household. The survival of the family was often determined by the peasant woman.

Where did towns tend to be located and why did they appear there?

Medieval towns were built near a castle because there was a trade route there. The Lords of the castle would protect the merchants who settled near the castle. If the merchant and artisans were successful, walls would be built around the city to protect them.

What were the most important factors leading to the dramatic increase in population during the high middle ages?

The conditions in Europe were more calm and peaceful after the invasions of the early middle Ages. Another reason why the population grew was because of climate change, which led to better farming conditions. Then by 1200, Europeans had more land then they do today.

What legal rights did the lords have over the serfs?

The lords had many legal rights over the serfs. Lords required that they get a share of whatever the serfs grew. Serfs were just like slaves because they were bound to the lord's land.

Why were the towns of Flanders busy trading centers?

The towns of Flanders were busy trading centers along the coast of present day Belgium and Northern France. They were known for their high quality woolen cloth. The location was key for the traders of Northern Europe, who met there to trade their goods for the woolen cloth.