# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
middle ages - living history - Medieval - "the work of the maids & farmer"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
middle ages - living history - no medieval sims this is live http://www.bestgreenscreen.de

# data[].attributes.body
As new technology developed to aid agriculture, more and more food was grown, resulting in a population boom. The surplus of food allowed for specialization of labor, which led to manufacturing. The items manufactured, mostly textiles, were traded with China, Muslim lands, and India. As trade increased, the manor system that Europe once relied on changed as more people moved to cities. The urban population created guilds and cities independent from lords. Interactions between genders changed as troubadours encouraged chivalry, and urban women were allowed to hold many jobs other than just housewife

# data[].attributes.body
While rural women performed the same tasks they always had, urban women had a few new opportunities. Women could be butchers, candle makers, bakers, and many other occupations that men held. Women dominated trades like textiles, decorative arts, spinning, sewing, and weaving. In fact, most guilds allowed women to enter. However, women were still not allowed to hold positions of political power.

# data[].attributes.body
Merchants and workers in most arts, crafts, and trades organized guilds that placed regulations on the production and sale of the goods of the guild. This allowed guilds to gain control of much of the urban economy, and even allowed for them to establish standards of quality of goods. The entry of new workers into the guild was regulated, which was all a part of the initiative to maintain a balance between supply and demand. The guilds were social as well as economic, allowing for friendship and mutual support in common endeavors. Prosperous guild built large halls for meetings. They were a kind of social infrastructure.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Home | Ancient History Sourcebook | Medieval Sourcebook | Modern History Sourcebook | Byzantine Studies Page Other History Sourcebooks: African | East Asian | Global | Indian | Islamic | Jewish | Lesbian and Gay | Science | Women's

# data[].attributes.body
London was so large that it was an independent city

# data[].attributes.body
The working class expanded to include not only peasants but also merchants, artisans, crafts workers, physicians, and lawyers. This promoted the development of towns and cities that did not follow the previous framework with a lord as a leader. Lords had enough military power to dominate small towns, but as the population grew lords could no longer able to handle the urban population. Inhabitants of prosperous towns even asked for charters that allowed them to be exempt from political regulation, the ability to manage their own affairs, as well as the abolition of taxes and polls on commerce in the town.

# data[].attributes.body
She was the most celebrated woman of her day, and she liberally supported romantic poets and entertainers, such as the troubadours. After some time, the message of the poetry sunk in and softened the manners of the nobility.

# data[].attributes.body
Women responded positively to the chivalric code, and tried to spread and encourage its values. They emphasized refined behavior and tender, respectful relations between the genders. These themes can be seen in the poetry and songs they wrote, because troubadours was a class of poets, minstrels, and entertainers. Aristocratic women heavily patronized these women, appreciating the message they were trying to send.

# data[].attributes.body
The code of courtly behavior or manners of the noble class is chivalry, which introduced expectations of high ethical standards and refined manners that encouraged knights and nobles to be regal leaders of society. Church officials picked up this code in order to cease the fighting among Christians. A knight who practiced chivalry would devote himself to order, piety, and the Christian faith. This ethical behavior indirectly aided trade by curbing fighting as well as improving relationship among nobles. Less fighting meant safer trade networks as well as more people who could trade.

# data[].attributes.body
"Those who pray, those who fight, and those who work" are basically the 3 social classes of the time. The clergy of the Roman Catholic church (who prayed) made up an estate, or class, the nobles (who fought) made up another, and the peasants (who worked) made up the lowest estate. This system shows the inequality in Europe, as the higher classes enjoyed certain rights the peasants did not.

# data[].attributes.body
Bankers of Europe started issuing letters of credit to merchants traveling, which kept merchants from having to travel with large sums of money on their person. Merchants could use these letters of credit for items or for cash in their new destination. This allowed for large scale trading. Merchants also came together and entered into partnerships, that decreased the liability of a single merchant in any one economic venture. The partnerships increased commercial ventures and this in turn stimulated the economy.

# data[].attributes.body
The Hanseatic League is a well-developed trade network in a bunch of trading cities from Novgorod to London. It hits important trading cities in Poland, northern Germany, and Scandinavia. It dominated trade in grain, fish, furs, timber, and pitch from northern Europe. Fairs linked the trade network with the Mediteranean.

# data[].attributes.body
Black: Hanseatic League; Blue: Venetian; Red: Genoese

# data[].attributes.body
Italian merchants established colonies in the major ports and commercial centers of the Mediterranean as trade became more profitable. Merchants also established communities in important cities such as Constantinople, Cairo, Alexandria, Damascus, and Caffa. They set up a sort of trading post, which allowed them to deal with Muslim merchants. By the 1250's, people like Marco Polo began to venture beyond the Mediterranean in search of foreign goods.

# data[].attributes.body
Italy had the upper hand when it came to trade, due to it's geographical location on the Mediterranean Basin, which has a large trade network. Italian merchants exchanged salt, olive oil, wine, wool fabrics, leather products and glass for luxury goods from India, southeast Asia, China, and Muslim merchants.

# data[].attributes.body
In medieval time, trading was often carried out in large settings, such as fairs or markets. People would gather and sell their items.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Home | Ancient History Sourcebook | Medieval Sourcebook | Modern History Sourcebook | Byzantine Studies Page Other History Sourcebooks: African | East Asian | Global | Indian | Islamic | Jewish | Lesbian and Gay | Science | Women's

# data[].attributes.body
The main manufacturing done in medieval Europe was the production of wool textile.

# data[].attributes.body
As more people flocked to towns and more food was being produced, the specialization of labor increased. This had positive effects on manufacturing and trade.

# data[].attributes.body
Note that many of these cities are still around today

# data[].attributes.body
Cities founded during the Roman Empire flourished once again, becoming thriving centers of government and business. New urban centers popped up. Once again, cities began to play a large role in society, becoming a hub of trade as well as a cultural hub.

# data[].attributes.body
There was an abundance of food in Europe during this time, allowing for towns to support a large number of inhabitants. With more towns, trade throughout the Mediterranean and Islamic world increased.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Home | Ancient History Sourcebook | Medieval Sourcebook | Modern History Sourcebook | Byzantine Studies Page Other History Sourcebooks: African | East Asian | Global | Indian | Islamic | Jewish | Lesbian and Gay | Science | Women's

# data[].attributes.body
800 CE: 29 million

1000 CE: 36 million

1100 CE: 44 million

1200 CE: 58 million

1300 CE: 79 million

In the 13th century, the population increased 36%

# data[].attributes.body
Notice the decline in the 1400s due to the plague

# data[].attributes.body
Grains were the staple of the European diet, since Europeans ate mostly gruel and bread. As time wore on, meat, dairy products, fish, vegetables, and legumes became prominent. Trade with Islamic areas, Spain, Italy, and other Mediterranean lands also introduced many new exotic crops like limes, eggplant, spinach and rice.

# data[].attributes.body
Expanded use of watermills and heavy plows, horseshoes and horse collars were introduced.

# data[].attributes.body
At first the lords wanted the many swamps and forests of Europe to use as game preserves, but eventually serfs and monks cleared the swamps and forests for farming.

# data[].attributes.body
Farmers used crop rotations, domesticated animals, ponds to hold fish, and books containing information on farming and agriculture

# data[].attributes.body
New agricultural tools, techniques, and technology along with new crops, more land for farming, and a rapidly expanding population all attributed to the expansion of agricultural production in Europe.

# data[].attributes.headline
The technological advances in agriculture allowed for population growth and specialized labor, which led to increased trade. The increase in trade opened up many networks with which Europe could grow socially with regards to chivalry, gender roles, and social structure. 

# data[].attributes.subject
The technological advances in agriculture allowed for population growth and specialized labor, which led to increased trade. The increase in trade opened up many networks with which Europe could grow socially with regards to chivalry, gender roles, and social structure. 