Medieval Merchant Guilds
The merchants included for this unit will be the:
Apothecary, Baker, Candle Maker, Cobbler, Doctor, Fishmonger, Glassblower, Mason,
Miller, Peddler.
Choose a merchant from the list and learn about the occupation so that you can re-create
a medieval village for the “Medieval Festival.” You will dress in costume and
demonstrate your craft! You will need to gather tools of your trade to use during the
demonstration.
Project: You will build a store front for your merchant! You will also design a sign for
your business. Study original buildings and signs from the Middle Ages. The buildings
will be made from cardboard. The signs can be made from wood, cardboard, or cloth. If
your business already has a building made from previous years, you will only create
a sign for the building.
Medieval Guilds - http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/medieval-london-guilds.htm
Guilds - http://www.public.iastate.edu/~gbetcher/373/guilds.htm
History of Guilds - http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-Labor-Unions&id=1119684
Medieval Life & Times - http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/index.htm
Medieval Merchants - http://www.medieval-spell.com/Medieval-Merchants.html
Medieval Occupations - http://members.tripod.com/hkcarms/occ.html
More Medieval Occupations - http://www.castles.me.uk/medieval-occupations.htm
Town Life - http://www.britainexpress.com/History/Townlife.htm
Apothecary - http://www.helium.com/items/814866-middle-ages-the-apothecary
Baker - http://www.whirlwind-design.com/madbaker/bakerguild.html
Candle maker – Chandler http://wrmsmedievalstudies.wetpaint.com/page/Candle+and+Soap+Maker?t=anon
Cobbler – Footwear - http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marccarlson/shoe/SHOEHOME.HTM
Doctor - http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-ages-doctors.htm
http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/morhealt.html
http://hkcarms.tripod.com/occ.html
Fishmonger - http://www.fishhall.org.uk/Heritage/Charters-and-Trading/
http://www.answers.com/topic/fishmonger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishmonger (not accessible at school)
Glassblower http://www.swroble.com/Castles/Projects/People/Glassblower/Glassblower.html
Includes instructions for building an oven for glassblowing.
http://www.helium.com/items/1451090-glass-blowing-during-the-middle-ages
Stone Mason - http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval_masons.htm
http://www.answers.com/stone+mason+middle+ages
Miller - http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-life/medieval-miller.htm
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081110071318AAdJCdJ
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_a_miller_in_the_middle_ages
Peddler - http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/townlife.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_a_miller_in_the_middle_ages
Signs - http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/306001
Discussion questions: (Answers will be written as an essay (5 paragraph minimum) and
turned in for a grade.) Be sure to document your sources!
The word “guild” derives from the Saxon “gilden” meaning "to pay" and refers to the
subscription paid to the Guilds by their members. Other words associated with the term
guild include association, society, brotherhood, company, fellowship, fraternity and
livery.
1.
Can you think of a modern-day group, organization, or union that is associated
with an occupation? Compare this group with medieval guilds. How are they alike or
different?
Describe the guild for your particular character. Is there a modern-day union that
represents your medieval occupation?
2.
Describe your person’s workplace and tools.
3.
What kind of clothing did your person wear? Did he/she wear any protective gear
for their job?
4.
What was your person’s status in medieval society?
5.
Describe a typical day in the life of your person.