Chapter 4: Life in Medieval Towns (Guide to Reading Notes)
What were some leisure activities enjoyed by adults in medieval Europe?
Adults liked chess, checkers, and backgammon. Card games, dice games and dancing were also popular.
Why was growing up in medieval towns difficult?
Almost half the children died. Those who survived began preparing for their adult roles at age seven.
How did a person become a member of a guild?
Around the age 12, they became an apprentice. He lived and worked in the home of a guild master. After 7 years, the guild sampled his work. If it met their standards, he was allowed to join the guild
How were Jews often mistreated in medieval Europe
Because of hostility, Jews found it hard to earn a living by farming, and sometimes they were the victims of violence. Rulers took their property at will.
How did the way in which those accused of crimes were treated begin to improve in the 12th century
Beginning in the 12th century, court inquiries were used to determine a person's innocence or guilt.
How did merchants gain political power?
By making money and joining town councils.
How do guilds help the customers?
By making sure the product is high quality.
How did merchants become the most wealthy and powerful members of towns
By selling a variety of goods from faraway lands, dominating the town's business life and joining town councils.
What role did merchants play in the growth of medieval European towns?
By selling food and goods, merchants attracted more people to medieval towns
What were some games that were popular with children in medieval Europe?
Children played with dolls and toys, such as wooden swords and hobbyhorses. They also rolled hoops and played badminton, lawn bowling, and blind man's bluff.
What are some examples of craft guilds in medieval Europe?
Cobblers (shoemakers), stonemasons (those who built cathedrals) and cloth makers
What were some common practices used by medieval doctors?
Doctors used prayer, magic, and herbal medicines. Bloodletting, including the use of leeches was also popular.
What were some ways criminals were punished in medieval Europe?
Fines and the stocks were used to punish those found guilty of minor crimes. Those convicted of more serious crimes were hanged or burned at the stake.
How did power shift during the Middle Ages?
From feudal lords to merchants
How did guilds help members and families of members?
Guilds provided them with money and food in times of need.
What were guilds?
Guilds were associations of people who practiced the same craft or trade.
How did the church's attitude toward mystery and miracle plays differ from that of most townspeople?
The church disapproved of them, but most people still enjoyed them.
What two ways did towns become independent?
They purchased a charter or a violent revolt
How were goods distributed?
They were distributed by trade routes, markets or merchant fairs.
What were merchant fairs like?
They were large and sold goods from all over Europe and the east. They attracted merchants from many countries.
Why were towns in medieval Europe dangerous places?
They were poorly lit, and streets were filled with pickpockets and thieves.
Why were guilds established?
They were set up to make sure their members were treated fairly and produced quality goods.
What did homes in medieval European towns look like?
They were small, crowded and built of wood. Homes of the wealthy were much larger.
What were two methods for deciding the guilt or innocence of accused criminals in the Early Middle Ages?
Two methods were trial by ordeal, in which the accused had to pass a dangerous test, and trial by combat, in which he had to fight to prove in innocence.
How did unhealthy living conditions and limited medical knowledge affect life in medieval European towns?
Unhealthy living conditions and the lack of understanding of how diseases spread caused many illnesses and deaths.
How were the lives of medieval girls different from those of modern girls?
Most girls were educated at home in cooking, cloth making, and others skills for running a home. They typically married young and began raising children soon after. Only girls from wealthy families had an opportunity to learn how to paint or read music.
What was the difference between mystery plays and miracle plays?
Mystery plays re-created stories from the Bible. Miracle plays dramatized the lives of saints.
Why were the homes of most town dwellers uncomfortable?
Rooms were cold, smoky and dim because fireplaces were the only source of heat and the main source of light.
What types of items were produced in medieval towns
Items such as food, clothing, household items. Specialized items such as woolens, glass and silk.
What group was sometimes blamed when an outbreak of a disease occured
Jews were sometimes blamed for outbreaks of disease because of their clean, religious hygiene practices.
How did local towns become wealthy?
Local towns became wealthy by specialization. This is the production of specific goods, like making glass in Venice or woolen cloth in Flanders.
What were some common diseases in medieval Europe?
Measles, cholera, scarlet fever and bubonic plague.
Who held power in towns?
Merchants and craftspeople held power in towns.
