Discuss on Merchants of Europe became increasingly wealthy and politically powerful during the revival of trade. Although, the revival of trade and cities has affected the economy and society in many ways, drastically to the point that it became hardly difficult to control the growth of the population and the expansion of the economy. According to (Spielvogel) the unexpected population growth and the increase in commercial activity leads the merchants to become more important. Also, new route all over the towns allows the economy and the society to expand and become more important. It is important to know how and what caused the revival of trade and then how really changed the future of European society.
During the High Middle Ages, a rise in economic activities come from rebuilding old cities and creating new cities. One of the causes of the development of universities in a time of economic prosperity and growth of population for Medieval Europe has been influenced by the Catholic Church. In 1079 pope Gregory V!! decreed that all monasteries must have a school in which to train clergy. As stated in this article (The Rise of Medieval Universities)Trade school began developing in Bologna, which is the first European university. This was meant to train young people. Although, therefore in modern-day universities still have a system for training and promotion. One of the consequences of medieval universities was that they help discover lost knowledge of previous civilizations. Also, they helped propagate the importance of intellectual freedom. On the other hand, the rise in bigger cities led people to move from poor rural life to live a more prosperous life.
In my opinion, I do think the modern university has its roots in the Islamic world. This is based on the research, as we know the Islamic houses were one of the pillars of preserving literate civilization during what Europe considered the “dark ages” Also, Islam has brought comfort and peace of mind to millions of men and women, which it has given dignity and meaning in their lives. Another reason is that Muslims have made many important contributions to Western Education, especially in religion, and education however it wasn’t recognized due to religious prejudice, language barriers, and the decline of Islamic Culture.
Based on this article (Invaluable In Good Taste) There were many ways that the artistic and literary culture of the High Middle Ages reflects the religious preoccupation and problems of medieval society. One of the biggest issues was religion, during the High Middle Ages much new literature, architecture, and music were created. However, the preoccupations occur because all the art was in the form of architecture, and the only artistic architecture that was built were the cathedrals. Basically, no one else can’t be built any other architecture if is not related to churches or cathedrals. Although we know that much of medieval Latin poetry was religious, but there was also a large body of Latin verse dedicated to themes of love and nature.
To finalize, after reading and analyzing each topic, I was able to obtain helpful resources which help me a lot to understand the growth of the economy and population in the Middle Age of the Europeans. Each of these three sources explained in detail how the economy and the growth of population has changed drastically the lives of Medieval society. It also explains how the development of universities still provides helpful training for young people.
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With Trade and cities in the High Middle Ages there are several factors that affected of economy and society. It all started with the new farming techniques such as the three-field crop rotation. With the three-field crop rotation they were able to produce more agriculture, which in turn made the population grow. Markets and shops were set up in cities so trade could take place for necessities and some luxuries. Shops that developed were specialty shops such as baker, artist, craftsmen, produce/spices, butcher, cloth/material and even banking. Expansion of internal and international trade routes is the cause of merchants becoming extremely wealthy. (Carlwright pg.2) Annual trade fairs brought merchants and products from all over the east and west together. The most famous annual fair was in Champagne. The Champagne Fair lasted about 2 to 3 weeks long. Even the lifestyle of the serf started to decline. Since they were free most left the farms and relocated to the cities to look for work.
The causes and the consequences of the development of Medieval Universities were. Men were able to learn the law and apply to their job. At first it was just monks, priest, and administrators of the king and or, wealthy men trying to gain employment with the king. Soon after, wealthy noble men went to school as well. The basics were taught Trivium and Quadrivium but then their specialty degrees, Law, Theology or Medicine, that would add 10 more years to their education. With Universities popping up all over it caused positive issues such as, political stability, prosperous economic conditions, growth, inventions, new ideas, and exchange of products. The worst cause/consequence was the towns vs gowns. Students created a guild to protect themselves. (Spielvogel Ch. 9-3) When that happened, it was the city people against the educated people, teachers, and student. The violence was egregious which at times ended in death.
In my educated opinion I would have to say that Islamic world roots are embedded in the modern universities. This is how I came up with this conclusion. During my research after reading Spielvogel he states, “The Islamic world had more to contribute intellectually to the West than translations, however. Scientific work in the ninth and tenth centuries had enabled it to forge far ahead of the Western world, and in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Arabic works on physics, mathematics, medicine, and optics became available to the West in Latin translations.” (Ch.9-3b) He also states, “The recovery of Greek scientific and philosophical works was not a simple process, however. Little knowledge of Greek had survived in Europe. Thus, it was through the Muslim world that the West recovered Aristotle and other Greek works. The translation of Greek works into Arabic had formed but one aspect of a brilliant Muslim civilization.” Now I’m not saying that Aristotle was the end all be all, but as of today, his work is still being studied in universities. Upon doing further research I came across Alkhateeb, he states, that there were schools that were attached to mosques, and called madrasas. They had professors and a curriculum with multiple subjects. It would take a man approximately 16years to finish. The 1st madrasa was 859 Al Karaouine in Fes Morocco. (Pg.4) The University of Bologna started in 1088. I know someone is going to disagree with me and say some other nation started universities first. So, I would like to ask some questions. What did any of those schools do to help the development of the 1st university? And how are they considered to be a university? Not only did the Muslims hand over all of Aristotle’s work they sent their commentaries with it. At madrasas, scholars from all over came to study. By 1100 there were 75 madrasas.
The ways artistic and literary culture of the High Middle Ages reflect the religious preoccupations and problems of medieval society are Poetry was religion based, some poetry went against the grain and was about love and nature. The Gothic cathedrals were built using tall towers trying to reach heaven, thin walls, pointed arches and ribbed vaults. The medieval community was Christian based. Churches were built by everyone in the community and took decades to finish.
In Conclusion, High Middle Ages was a time of inventions, new ideas, growth of population, wealth, expansion of trade internally and internationally. Examples of inventions are the three-field crop rotation, heavy wheel plow, rigid horse collar and horse shoes. New ideas consisted of the importance of education cathedral schools than universities and new banking system. Because there was more production of agriculture the population was able to grow. Merchants and traders were able to accumulate more wealth from the expansion of trade routes and annual trade fairs. Last but not least, High Middle ages suffered from over population, pollution and violence.
What I learned from this discussion is some college students still act the same, going into towns and getting sloppy drunk, have their parents pay for their schooling and partying. The cities were filthy, I would have never survived.
