Question

How did expanding trade affect town life in the later Middle Ages? How did this trade undermine the feudal order? How did it stimulate the growth of local governments and guilds? What invention spurred civic life? At the end of the Middle Ages, what had begun to disappear in Western Europe?

Answer 1

As trade increased between Europe and other continents during middle ages, towns and cities grew.After the crusades trade began to grow in Europe.Merchants from Italy and Northen Europe controlled most of the trade.Growth of trade led to the rise of large trading centers.Venice and Flanders were two most important trading centers. Soon other Italian towns along the sea coast became important trading centers.Along with sea trade , overland trade also grew.

Trade caused the development of towns by merchants which changed the feudal system and the rich merchants had a lot of power.The new type of commercial society wsa a threat to the aristocracy.

Merchants , artisans and workers formed guilds.Guilds controlled all business and trade in the town.Guilds were also centers of social life.Townspeople in northen Italy formed political groups called communes . The purpose of the communes was to work against the nobles and bishops and the people by the formation of local self government.

The wheel barrow was invented in the middle ages which spurred civic life.

Serfdom in western Europe came to an end in the 15th and 16th centuries. This was because of the changes in the economy, changes in population ,changes in laws of the relation between lord and tenant in western Europe. Industrial revolution also led to the end of serfdom.