Ch. 4 Life in Medieval Towns

What rights did a charter give townspeople?

A charter granted them the right to govern themselves, make laws, and raise taxes.

What were some leisure activities enjoyed by adults in medieval Europe?

Adults enjoyed games like chess, checkers, backgammon, playing cards, bets on rolling dice. They even enjoyed dancing. Other leisure activities included fairs and feasts in the town, often on Sundays or on religious holidays.

What group was sometimes blamed when an outbreak of a disease occurred?

After an outbreak of illness, Jews—often a target of unjust anger and prejudice—were sometimes accused of poisoning wells.

What did homes in medieval European towns look like?

Built of wood, crowded, dark, cold, and smoky. Houses could be up to 4 stories high and often leaning over onto each other. These tall buildings didn't allow much sunlight to filter through onto the streets.

What were some games that were popular with children in medieval Europe?

Children played with dolls and toys, like wooden swords and hobbyhorses. They rolled hoops and played games like badminton, lawn bowling, and blind man's bluff.

What were some common diseases in medieval Europe?

Common diseases at this time included measles, cholera, smallpox, and scarlet fever. The most feared disease was bubonic plague, known as the Black Death.

What were some ways criminals were punished in medieval Europe?

For lesser crimes, people were fined or put in the stocks. The stocks were a wooden frame with holes for the person's arms and sometimes legs. For greater crimes, people were hanged or burned at the stake. Executions were public.

How were the lives of medieval girls different from those of modern girls?

Girls married as young as 12 and were raising children of their own around the age of 15. Education was at home, they learned cooking, cloth making, and other skills necessary to care for a home and family.

How did guilds help members and families of members?

Guilds provided help and protection for the people doing a certain kind of work, and they maintained high standards. Guilds controlled the hours of work and set prices. They also took care of their members if they ever got sick or were unable to work.

What were two methods for deciding the guilt or innocence of accused criminals in the Early Middle Ages?

In the Early Middle Ages, trial by ordeal or combat was often used to establish an accused person's guilt or innocence. They did not have trial by jury. In a trial by ordeal, the accused person had to pass a dangerous test, such as being thrown into a deep well, or stick their hand in a boiling pot. In a trial by combat, the accused person had to fight to prove their innocence. They believed God would help the right person win. They had very harsh punishments.

How did the way in which those accused of crimes were treated begin to improve in the 12th century?

Kings began setting up a nationwide system of royal courts to judge crimes and determine punishments. Their decisions became part of common law. Common law became an important safeguard of individual rights.

How did merchants become the most wealthy and powerful members of towns?

Merchant guilds came to dominate the business life of towns and cities. In towns that had become independent, members of merchant guilds often sat on town councils or were elected mayor.

What was the difference between mystery plays and miracle plays?

Mystery plays were plays put on by guilds in which they acted out stories from the Bible. Miracle plays dramatized the lives of specific saints. Both were disapproved by the church.

Why were the homes of most town dwellers uncomfortable?

One family might have only one room where they cooked, ate, and slept. In general, people worked where they lived. If a father or mother was a weaver, for example, the loom would be in their home.

What contributed to the growth of towns in medieval Europe?

One reason for their growth was improvements in agriculture, which led to the revival of trade. There were more crops to sell, so trade increased.

Why were towns in medieval Europe dangerous places?

Pickpockets and thieves were always on the lookout for travelers with money in their pouches. Towns were especially dangerous at night, because there were no streetlights. Towns were unsafe as well as: Noisy, smelly, and crowded.

Why was growing up in medieval towns difficult?

Rooms were cold, smoky, and dim and fireplaces were the only source of heat and light. Half of the children died before adulthood. If they survived, they prepared for adulthood at age 7.

What are some examples of craft guilds in medieval Europe?

There were two main kinds of guilds: merchant guilds and craft guilds. All types of craftspeople had their own guilds, from cloth makers to cobblers (who made shoes, belts, and other leather goods), to the stonemasons who built the great cathedrals.

Where were towns in Medieval Europe often located and why?

Towns typically grew near trade routes and water.

How did unhealthy living conditions and limited medical knowledge affect life in medieval European towns?

Unfortunately, many people could not be cured with the medical knowledge of the time. The unhealthy living conditions led to the quick spread of diseases. Doctors believed in treating people with a mixture of prayer and treatment that was often not scientifically proven to work, such as using herbs or magic charms.

What were some common practices used by medieval doctors?

Using herbs as medicine had a long history based on traditional folk wisdom and knowledge handed down from ancient Greece and Rome. Doctors also sometimes consulted the positions of the planets and relied on magic charms. Another common technique was to "bleed" patients by opening a vein or applying leeches to the skin to suck out blood. Most practices were not scientifically proven.

What role did merchants play in the growth of medieval European towns?

With the growth of trade and commerce, merchants grew increasingly powerful and wealthy. They ran sizable businesses and looked for trading opportunities far from home. Merchant guilds came to dominate the business life of towns and cities. In towns that had become independent, members of merchant guilds often sat on town councils or were elected mayor.

How did a person become a member of a guild?

Starting around age 12, a boy, and sometimes a girl, became an apprentice. An apprentice's parents signed an agreement with a master of the trade. The master agreed to house, feed, and train the apprentice. After seven years, they had to prove they mastered their trade by creating a "master piece." Then they became journeymen or masters.

How were the Jews often mistreated in medieval Europe?

There was a lot of unjustified prejudice against Jews. The hostility of Christians, sometimes backed up by laws, made it difficult for Jews to earn their living. They were not allowed to own land. Their lords sometimes took their property and belongings at will. Jews could also be the targets of violence.

What were merchant fairs like?

A town might hold a merchant fair a couple of times a year. The goods for sale at large fairs came from all over Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Goods from all over Europe and the East ( China and Middle East) attracted new buyers and customers.

What were guilds? Why were they established?

Both trade and the production of goods were overseen by organizations called guilds. Ensure quality of products, maintain standards, and protect workers.