Guilds in the Middle Ages consisted of Merchant Guilds and Craft Guilds.Ī list of the names of Medieval London guilds provides an insight in the many jobs and occupations which were available to the Medieval people of during the Middle Ages. The individual crafts and trades established their own guilds. The Merchant Guilds were imposing regulations on the individual traders or craftsmen to regulate prices and supply. Merchant guilds tended to be wealthier and of higher social status than craft guilds. The power of the Merchant Guild members increased to such an extent that the livelihood of individual trades or crafts within a Medieval town, or city, were being jeopardised. The introduction of the Merchant guilds in a town or city lead to its own hierarchy and involvement in civic duties. The members of the Merchant Guilds became very important members of the Medieval town community of the Middle Ages. The Merchant Guilds controlled the way in which trade was conducted in the towns and cities and applied rules to the way in which trade was conducted during the Middle Ages. The Merchant Guild was able to negotiate with the lord and the trade levy became regulated. Religion was an extremely important aspect of life during Medieval times and guilds were expected to fund and to help in the construction of churches.Ī Merchant Guild was an association of of traders. The guilds were also expected to maintain high moral values in the guilds - usury and fraud was eliminated. These civic duties included providing a militia for the town, policing the streets and constructing public buildings and walls to defend the town or city. Guild members were expected to help to protect the town or the city where the guild operated. Guilds in Medieval times of the Middle Ages were also involved in civic duties. Goods and services were inspected and members of guilds were expected to undertake long apprenticeships
Fair pricing policies - all prices were regulated by the guilds.The spin-offs from the regulations of the guilds led to: The Guilds of the Medieval times in the Middle Ages also protected the consumers. Guilds in the Medieval times - Protection for Consumers Working conditions and hours of work were regulated.Guilds funded the first non-religious schools of the Middle Ages.Orphans of members of guilds were also cared for Protection for their members, goods and horses when travelling.The number of Guild masters and members of guilds were restricted to ensure there was sufficient business for each of the guilds.All members of guilds were obligated to retain all trade secrets.Illicit trading by non Merchant Guild members was banned.Competition between members was regulated by fixed pricing policies - advertising and price cutting was banned.Members of Guilds in Medieval times received protection form excessive taxes imposed by the lords and land owners.The Guilds in Medieval times protected the workers, or the guild members as follows: Guilds in the Medieval times - Protection of Workers / Guild Members Protection for workers - the members of the Guilds.
The purpose of the guilds were therefore twofold: The Purpose of Guilds in the Medieval times of the Middle Ages was originally based on the protection of the Guild members but consumers also benefited from the introduction of guilds. The Purpose of Guilds in the Medieval times of the Middle Ages In Medieval England which was run to the feudal system it was impossible for just one man to make objections to the rate and amount of tax that the lord demanded. As trade increased during the Middle Ages the taxes became excessive. The system of Feudalism during the Middle Ages allowed the lords and owners of the land to tax the towns people and their trades. The Reasons why Guilds in the Middle Ages were established The guilds of the Middle Ages were licensed from 1170 and were similar to modern labor unions where the guilds set standards for their professions and protected the interests of their members. Other words associated with the term guild include association, society, brotherhood, company, fellowship, fraternity and livery.
What is the meaning of the word 'Guild'? The word “guild” is from the Saxon “gilden” meaning "to pay" and refers to the subscription paid to the Guilds by their members.