The Guilds: organization of specific merchants/craftsmen

• Trade fairs often developed into towns/cities
• Standardized quality controls on goods/training
• Apprentice-->Journeyman-->Master Craftsman

Commercial Revolution: Expansion of Trade & Business

• Availability of foreign/luxury goods
• Flanders: Cloth trade in Northern Europe
• Italian merchants: Mediterranean trade routes to Middle East
• Bills of exchange became more convenient for mobile trade
• Usury (lending money at interest) considered sinful

Urban Life: Growth of Towns & Cities

• Problems: sanitation, hygeine, clean water, wooden structures
• Potential serf freedom ("a year and a day")
• Development of middle class: burghers (merchant class)
• Charters: Agreed upon rights/privileges of cities