Ambrogio Lorenzetti, an Italian painter born during the 13th Century, created a work entitled “Allegory of Good Government,” which displayed a busy scene from his time. A thriving people is depicted, trading and dancing in their affluence. What Lorenzetti showed is a result of the tradesmen of the Middle Ages, who rose to prominence, undermining the dominance of the nobility.
The tradesmen were able to accomplish this feat thanks to a number of reasons. During the time of the Anglo-Saxans, wars were a continual threat. This not only caused a great deal of animosity between nations, but promoted feudalism. Those who ranked near the bottom of the social structure were forced into working for lords in exchange for safekeeping. Numerous peasants, therefore, did not have the ability to seek work in diverging trades. As the Medieval period arrived, Europe was religiously united under the Catholic Church, and the peoples’ warlike tendencies quelled. This opened up commerce throughout Europe, and, most importantly, freed the peasants from the ceaseless need for protection from lords. They then were able to pursue distinct trades, and had an entire continent to market to. On the subject of markets, many tradesmen traveled the land, setting up shop at town markets throughout. These markets became an integral part of the success of the tradesmen. They prospered, forming guilds for respective trades that promoted quality goods. The tradesmen had much success, both economically and socially; to make a respectable living as a tradesman became an honor many aspired to.
The once widespread dependence on the aristocracy dwindled. The tradesmen were economically strong in their own right, and had attained a distinguished social status. Because of the distinction they earned, the class they created became a force to be reckoned with, one that the nobility could not force into submission.
TEEM DESTINEE - Evelyn Ashleigh, Nick Hudson, Anne Kitchens, Bennett Kopperud
TD4Lyfe
Good job bringing up how catholicism united Europe, but also remember that even though the peasants were not needed to be protected by lords, the Catholic Church did have a significant amount of control over the land, making it hard for some upstart merchants to succeed. This caused them to instead go to the Catholic Church for protection, which would lead to prosperity. Also, tradesmen could not become successful without the support of the church, so they could not trade near a house of worship if they were looked down upon.
ReplyDeleteOverall though, good job!