Guilds In The Middle Ages

The origin of guilds has been the subject of a great deal of discussion, and two opposing theories have been advanced. According to the first theory they were the persistence of earlier institutions; but what were these institutions? Some say that, more particularly in the south of France, they were of Roman and Byzantine origin, and were derived from those collegia of the poorer classes (tenuiorum) which, in the last centuries of the Empire, chiefly concerned themselves with the provision of funerals; or, again, from the scholae, official and compulsory groups, which, keeping the name of the hall in which their councils assembled, prolonged their existence till about the year 1000.

"Guilds in the Middle Ages" by Georges François Renard provides a meticulous and insightful examination of the fascinating world of medieval guilds. Renard's comprehensive exploration takes readers on a journey into the intricate structures, functions, and far-reaching influences of these organizations, offering a rich tapestry of their role in shaping the social, economic, and artistic landscapes of medieval society. Through Renard's detailed analysis and vivid descriptions, readers gain a deep understanding of the profound significance of guilds in fostering craftsmanship, regulating trade, and nurturing a sense of community among artisans and merchants. This work serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in the dynamic tapestry of medieval history, shedding light on the often-overlooked but vital role played by guilds in the development and evolution of European societies during this era.

Includes instructions for making jewelry, stone carving designs, a peasant's hat, shoes, armor, pottery, etc. from available materials.

"Guilds ruled many crafts and trades from the Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution, and have always attracted debate and controversy. They were sometimes viewed as efficient institutions that guaranteed quality and skills. But they also excluded competitors, manipulated markets, and blocked innovations. Did the benefits of guilds outweigh their costs? Analyzing thousands of guilds that dominated European economies from 1000 to 1880, The European Guilds uses vivid examples and clear economic reasoning to answer that question. Sheilagh Ogilvie's book features the voices of honorable guild masters, underpaid journeymen, exploited apprentices, shady officials, and outraged customers, and follows the stories of the "vile encroachers"--Women, migrants, Jews, gypsies, bastards, and many others--desperate to work but hunted down by the guilds as illicit competitors. She investigates the benefits of guilds but also shines a light on their dark side. Guilds sometimes provided important services, but they also manipulated markets to profit their members. They regulated quality but prevented poor consumers from buying goods cheaply. They fostered work skills but denied apprenticeships to outsiders. They transmitted useful techniques but blocked innovations that posed a threat. Guilds existed widely not because they corrected market failures or served the common good but because they benefited two powerful groups--guild members and political elites."--Rabat de la jaquette.

Explores the motives and experiences of the medieval men and women who joined together in guilds, family-like societies that affected most aspects of their members' lives.

Epstein takes a fresh look at the organization of labor in medieval towns and emphasizes the predominance of a wage system within them. He offers illuminating comment on a wide range of subjects_on guilds and guild organization, on women and Jews in the work force, on the value given labor, and on the sources of disaffection. His book presents a feast of themes in medieval social history. David Herlihy, Brown University

First full study devoted to the archery and crossbow guilds which grew up in Flanders in the middle ages.