Changes in Medieval Society
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Growing Food Supply
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Switch to horsepower
The three-field system
The Guilds
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Organization of individuals in the same business
Merchants came together to keep prices up
Wealth helped them gain influence over
government and economy
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Commercial Revolution
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Expansion of trade and finance
Town fairs
Trade to foreign lands
Life in the city
Large amounts of credit and cash
Letters of credit
Banking by Jews and Christians
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Urban life flourishes
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Towns swelled with people
Streets were narrow, filled with animals and waste
Lack of fresh water, air and light
Serfs could be free
Burghers; resented interferences, demanded
privileges
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The Revival of learning
Jewish scholars translated Arabic texts
 Science, philosophy, law and math
 Technology in ships, navigation and weapons
 Universities
 Vernacular writings
 Thomas Aquinas and his scholastics
 Developed democratic institutions and
traditions
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Keeping Order in the Middle Ages
Keeping order for the more harden
criminal