Jobs+and+Guilds

 Jobs and Guilds in the Middle Ages by: Bridget Dames

Jobs and guilds were a very important part of the middle ages. They created a division of labor, which created a more advanced society. Guilds started in the middle ages around 500-1500 C.E. A guild was an association of all the people in a town or village who practiced a certain trade. It was for any business man who wanted to work in or own a business.

What type of guild, depended on where you lived. For example if you were near a body of water you could be a fishmonger. Important people related to this topic were people of the clergy, bakers, millers, blacksmith weaver, and ext.



During this time the crusades were going on. This affected the jobs and guilds because it made more jobs available, people could work on weapons and armor. Also since the shop owners were off fighting many women had to run the shops while they were gone. Another event that affected was King John signing the Magna Carta. This helped many store owners because it lowered taxes which made business men able to go and buy more materials and goods with some of their old tax money. Another thing the Magna Carta impacted the jobs and guilds were the passage that says that merchants will have a safe exit and entrance to and from England. So the business owners would not be afraid.

Jobs and guilds were helpful for the middle ages. It helped create a division of labor. Also it helped turned manors into towns by making jobs available for serfs out of debt. Also it set regulations for there shops, such as prices, items and cleanness. Jobs and guilds impacted the medieval society.

Most jobs and guild had similar aspects. Most guilds were located in the center of town near the market. The people of the guilds usually lived above there store. To get in to a guild you had to become an apprentice. If you were approved your parents would pay a master to teach you that certain trade. Once your master thought you were ready you would create a masterpiece. If your master approved it you would become a member of the guild. When you were a member of the guild you could go to the guildhall for festivals and fairs. If you were an apprentice you could not drink alcoholic beverages, also you couldn’t marry while apprenticing. All guilds had rules and regulations.

Jobs and Guilds were very helpful in the middle ages. They had many rules and regulations to make them run smoothly. They created a division of labor and helped turn manors into towns. Some jobs and guilds were unique and some were almost mandatory in every town. Jobs and guilds were an important part of the middle ages. 

Galloway, Priscilla. __Archers, Alchemists, and 98 other jobs yo might of loved or loathed.__ Toronto: Annick Ltd, 2003

Press Paul Halsall, September 1998.  [] Written conversation between a plowman and his apprentice. Taken from Thomas Wright, ed., Anglo-Saxon and Old English Vocabularies, (London: Trubner, 1884), Vol. I, p. 88, reprinted in Roy C. Cave & Herbert H. Coulson, A Source Book for Medieval Economic History, (New York: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936; reprint ed., New York: Biblo & Tannen, 1965), pp. 46-48