In the wake of the Black Death, the middle class began to emerge with considerable influence, reshaping the social landscape of medieval Europe. Merchants, craftsmen, and other professionals such as doctors and university graduates found themselves in greater demand due to the significant loss of life.
"The bourgeoisie had many names and is referred to by many historians as burgess, middle, free venture capitalist classes."
"These were the people who really saved Europe from the Middle Ages, and their size and importance grew as the period went on."
People such as merchants or craftsmen could be their own bosses
Included merchants, doctors, university graduates, and middle management of the church
The lack of workers after the plague gave lower class citizens more power and independence in society.
The middle class rose from the Black Death, as workers that remained demanded better paying jobs
Pre-Middle Class
"Before the middle class began to emerge in medieval times there was primarily only two significant classes in the feudal system, the nobles (kings, queens, dukes, knights, clergymen and such) and there was the lower class (all those that did the labor for their lords and masters, serfs, servants, men at arms etc.)."
Guilds
Guilds of merchants and craft workers were formed in medieval Europe so that their members could benefit from mutual aid, production standards could be maintained, competition was reduced and, by acting collectively, a certain political influence could be achieved
Entry requirements to guilds became stricter over time as those who controlled the guilds became part of a richer middle class and set a higher membership fee for outsiders.
In a major city during the Middle Ages, there could be as many as 100 guilds.
There were guilds for every type of worker, including weavers, dyers, armorers, painters, and bakers
Guilds built and maintained residences called guild halls
"In the thirteenth century the Cistercian monks had become the greatest wool-merchants in the kingdoms."
"Peddlers were the main source of marketing. They would shout and yell advertisements for their goods. Promising good quality, best value, and honest ingredients."
Guilds sought to maintain positions in town and city governments
The Merchant Adventurers were one of the most prosperous guilds. Created around 13th Century.
