Asher Period 3 Team 7

During the Medieval Period the economic forces led to the creation of the gild system. This system in turn led to a class of tradesmen who because of their growing affluence upset the gild system. During the beginning of the Medieval Period, the typical shop was also served as the residence, workshop, and retail store of the owner. The owner and his wife along with some apprentices and employees ran the store. Multiple craftsmen would join together and create gilds of common crafts, for example the pottery guild or the blacksmith guild. However, as the idea of making a profit began to influence the craftsmen, the fraternal bond between the craftsmen disintegrated. From 1350-1500, the tradesman focused on making money and brought about a sense of capitalism. As factories formed, there grew an elite class of tradesman who gained wealth that defied the social structure of the time. These tradesmen now had extra money to spend, creating opportunities for the arts. Before this wealth, the main source of the arts was in religion. This is shown through Christianity where art was used in the decoration of the churches as well as music at the daily service. But, when the tradesman had money they were able to commission art that went beyond the church. They commissioned the production of medieval dramas based on the stories from the life of Jesus Christ and the Old Testament. They also commissioned sculptures and painting besides those belonging to the Church. Also due to the rise of a wealthy class, some woman did not have to work with their husbands and some were able to write influential texts in the secular area that focused upon love and society. The husbands, who had also gained wealth, could not contribute to the scientific or philosophical realms because this was seen as heresy thus they focused on art or literature of Christian influence. With the growth of a new wealthy class of tradesmen, the arts began to rise.