Medieval Towns/Craftsmen and Guilds

Guilds in the Middle Ages were associations or groups of craftsmen.

All craftsmen of a specific profession organized in a group such as the candlemaker's guild or the blacksmith's guild.

They played an important role in society. They provided a way for trade skills to be learned and passed down from generation to generation. The guild protected members in many ways. Members were supported by the guild if they came onto hard times or were sick. They controlled working conditions and hours of work.

The guild also prevented non-guild members from selling cheaper products.

Interactive Exercises

In each guild in the Middle Ages there were very well defined positions.
usually were boys in their teens who signed up with a master for around 7 years. They would work hard for the master during this time in exchange for learning the craft plus food, clothing, and shelter.
Once the was complete, he became a Journeyman. As a Journeyman, he would still work for a master, but would earn wages for his work.
The highest position of the craft was the . To become a Master, a Journeyman would need the approval of the guild. He would have to prove his skill in a . Once a Master, he could open his own shop and train .

masterpieceApprenticesapprenticesMasterapprenticeship

Master and Servant

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. , which means he's getting paid for his work.
7.
8.

The guild approves his masterpiece.Now he can open his own shop.He is taken in as an apprentice.The young man becomes a journeyman.Parent brings a boy to a master.Parents pay the master to house and feed the boy.The young man trains for seven years.Now he receives wages

Guilds

Do you know these medieval crafts?

Match the pairs.

carpenter
making furnitureshoemakerbakerweaver
weaving basketsblacksmithcooper
making barrels and bucketspotter
making pots and bowls

Coat of Arms

All Guilds had their own coat of arms:

Match the pairs.

bakermiller
grinding corn into flourfisherfurrier and skinner
working with animal skins and hidessaddler
making saddles for horsesslaughtercarpentershoemakertaylor
making cloth and sewing it into clothingmason
bricklayer