During the Medieval Period economics were greatly focused on trade. Crusades and the urge for travel during the era greatly influenced the art of the period as well. Many goods that were traded grossed though Egypt, Alexandria, and many other places before it ended up in England. The imports were brought into Medieval England consisted of jewelry, spices, paper, and many other goods. The English exported things such as metals, wax, and oils. The reliance on trade created many jobs and allowed a new class of society to emerge: the tradesmen. The tradesmen were able to work and import and export all kinds of goods so they were able to become the middle class and have their opinions heard by the bureaucrats. Before the tradesmen emerged the majority of the leaders did not hear peoples’ opinions because the majority was poor people. In addition to more people influencing politics when the tradesmen emerged, art was greatly changed. For example, Miroir Historal depicts an urge for travel during the Medieval Period. In the painting Vincent de Beauvais shows the Crusades leaving for Antioch. The Crusades were a major part of creating trade routes and stimulating the economy. The artwork also depicts the excitement of trade and travel throughout different lands. Overall politics, art, trade, and even travel were influenced by the emergence of tradesmen and their apprentices. The development of the economy was also positively affected by this change in society.
This was a very well explained post and we actually learned new things from your synthesis question. We didn't know that an after effect from the Crusades was trade; we found that the main effect of the crusades was the broadening and structuring of piety and chivalry since the Holy Wars were for God and land and the religious views spread during these wars. Your group did an excellent job in tying together the trade of jewels, spices, and resources to the creation of tradesmen and merchants as an essential part of the medieval period. Your group could have gone a little more in to detail pertaining to why people became more politically active after the tradesmen. It is a little unclear why the tradesmen had such a big impact on the whole economic structure during this period and so a little clarification could have helpful. Using Miroir Historal was a good idea because the painting does help the reader understand the cultural beliefs and traditions of the time and how big of an effect trading had on the economy as well as the social structure. Our question focused a lot more on the religious views more than any one factor that changed the sensibility of the time and so reading your perspective was refreshing and opened up the different ways that things played out during the medieval times. Your response was very insightful and helped us to see a different view other than our own. Good job guys.
ReplyDelete