Guilds
Guilds in modern terms are basically our arts and crafts people. The technical definition of a guild is an association or group of craftsmen composed of merchants and artisans. Merchants are business people who trade with to earn a profit. Artisans are skilled craft workers who make or create things by hand that may be functional or strictly decorative. Merchants and artisans were practically rivals. Artisans resented merchants because of their power. Merchants were the first to appear. They dominated town life, passing laws, and levying taxes. Now, you might ask yourself why would anyone want want to be a guild? Even though their skilled craftsmen, guild membership is limited. Many people started working on becoming a guild at the age of 7 or 8. This is the age when they start off as an apprentice. After being an apprentice you become a journeyman. However, most apprentices didn’t become guilds unless they were related to one. In order to become a guild master a journeyman had to produce a “‘masterpiece”’ to be approved by the guild masters. After getting approval the last and final step would be finally becoming a guild.
Guilds of one sort or another existed in the Byzantine and Roman Empires. As guild members accrued riches and gained power, resentment began to grow among members of the less-fortunate lower class, leading to the class wars of the 13th and 14th centuries. Guild members cooperated to protect their own economic interests. Oten, a merchant guild would found a town by obtaining a charter. Powerful guilds had their own hall in towns where they would hold courts to settle member disputes and hand out punishment to those who broke the rules.
More interesting facts about guilds is that a perceived higher social status could be achieved through guild membership. Also most guilds maintained strong religious ties.The members of the guild were called confraternities; brothers helping one another.
Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor., and Anthony Esler. World History Boston, MA: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.
Rice Jr., Earle. Life During the Middle Ages. San Diego, CA. 1998. Print.
"Guilds." Guilds. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014
Guilds in modern terms are basically our arts and crafts people. The technical definition of a guild is an association or group of craftsmen composed of merchants and artisans. Merchants are business people who trade with to earn a profit. Artisans are skilled craft workers who make or create things by hand that may be functional or strictly decorative. Merchants and artisans were practically rivals. Artisans resented merchants because of their power. Merchants were the first to appear. They dominated town life, passing laws, and levying taxes. Now, you might ask yourself why would anyone want want to be a guild? Even though their skilled craftsmen, guild membership is limited. Many people started working on becoming a guild at the age of 7 or 8. This is the age when they start off as an apprentice. After being an apprentice you become a journeyman. However, most apprentices didn’t become guilds unless they were related to one. In order to become a guild master a journeyman had to produce a “‘masterpiece”’ to be approved by the guild masters. After getting approval the last and final step would be finally becoming a guild.
Guilds of one sort or another existed in the Byzantine and Roman Empires. As guild members accrued riches and gained power, resentment began to grow among members of the less-fortunate lower class, leading to the class wars of the 13th and 14th centuries. Guild members cooperated to protect their own economic interests. Oten, a merchant guild would found a town by obtaining a charter. Powerful guilds had their own hall in towns where they would hold courts to settle member disputes and hand out punishment to those who broke the rules.
More interesting facts about guilds is that a perceived higher social status could be achieved through guild membership. Also most guilds maintained strong religious ties.The members of the guild were called confraternities; brothers helping one another.
Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor., and Anthony Esler. World History Boston, MA: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.
Rice Jr., Earle. Life During the Middle Ages. San Diego, CA. 1998. Print.
"Guilds." Guilds. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014