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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay/research paper that argues that medieval guilds were beneficial to society. The writer discusses merchant and craft guilds and the apprentice/journeyman/master system of education. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khguilds.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
share common goals (Richardson). The term derives from the Anglo-Saxon word "geld," which means to "pay" or "contribute" (Richardson). As a noun, "geld" referred to "an association of persons contributing
money for some common purpose" (Richardson). The following discussion of guilds demonstrates that guilds performed multiple functions that were highly beneficial to European society. First of all, guilds were
highly useful to the medieval economy (Richardson). Some merchant guilds were founded as early as the tenth century to provide a means for mutual protection of their "horses, wagons and
goods when traveling" (Betcher). Merchant guilds gave merchants a means for organizing long-distance commerce, as well as local wholesale trade (Richardson). Guilds, in many instances, became so crucial to economies
that they became "inextricably intertwined with the governments of their home towns" (Richardson). Frequently, merchant guilds actually founded towns by obtaining a charter from the local ruler (Betcher). Another function
of medieval merchant guilds is that they offered protection for their members from the excesses of greedy rulers. Monarchs seeking funding for their armies were always tempted to simply
take what they needed from their subjects, particularly merchants. However, merchant guilds had the power to boycott any region or ruler who did this (Richardson). Since a boycott had the
power to impoverish a kingdom, this was a powerful deterrent. There were also craft guilds, whose members all practiced the same trade (Richardson). These guild members generally "owned and
operated small businesses or family workshops" (Richardson). For example, guilds of victuallers purchased agricultural commodities and "converted them to consumables," selling the complete foodstuffs (Richardson). For example, they turned grain
into flour or beer or undertook the process involved in slaughtering animals for meat. Examples of members of this guild include "bakers, brewers and butchers" (Richardson). Other craft guilds produced
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