The economy of the Middle Ages was a complex and varied one, reflecting the many different cultures and societies that made up the period. In general, the economy of the Middle Ages can be divided into three broad categories: agricultural, urban, and trade.
Agriculture was the mainstay of the medieval economy, and the vast majority of people lived in rural areas and were involved in some form of farming. The main crops grown during this time were grains such as wheat, barley, and oats, as well as vegetables and fruits. Many people also raised livestock, such as cows, sheep, and pigs, for meat, milk, and other products.
Urban areas, while not as common as rural areas, also played an important role in the medieval economy. Cities were centers of trade and commerce, and many people living in them worked in a variety of trades and professions. Some of the most important occupations in medieval cities included blacksmiths, carpenters, and merchants.
Trade was also a significant part of the medieval economy. The rise of feudalism in the Middle Ages led to the development of a system of trade routes that crisscrossed Europe, connecting the different regions and allowing for the exchange of goods and ideas. The most important trade routes of the time were the Silk Road, which stretched from China to the Mediterranean, and the Baltic and Hanseatic trade routes, which connected the northern regions of Europe with the rest of the continent.
Overall, the economy of the Middle Ages was a diverse and complex one, reflecting the many different cultures and societies that made up this fascinating period in history.
Middle Ages Economy
New land was brought into cultivation to meet demand for food, including drained marshes and fens, such as Le Dite de Hosebondrie, written around 1280. However, from looking at the sources it is apparent that whilst women did make up a significant number of servants employed in England, there were also a significant number of male servants. Economy of the Middle Ages: A Feudal System The Middle Ages and its economy cannot be understood without feudalism. Authority, faith, and tradition were enough to guarantee that the system worked well. Economy of the Middle Ages: Trade The growing importance of the bourgeoisie and manufacturing made it possible to boost trade. There remained a wide variety in English agriculture, influenced by local geography; in areas where grain could not be grown, other resources were exploited instead.
Medieval Economics
At that time, agriculture was intended to cover only subsistence needs. Commerce The production of agricultural surpluses, the increase in population and the rise of the cities were three of the factors that ended up causing the trade to recover. It is these women we can see in coroners' rolls. This will be the most efficient form of stimulus. Dyer observes that a peasant woman was expected to manage her household, but that she could also choose to have her own employment as long as it was secondary to any household chores she was expected to complete. Compared with the first half of the century, all the main groups, if judged by their contribution to the citizen body see Table 2 , were expanding. The peasant was the bottom of the feudal system.
The Economy of Medieval Europe: Expanding Trade and Cities
Women were initially regarded as the property of men and this is reflected by a large number of women asking for permission to marry at the manor courts. Together it seeks to discover the contribution of women to the medieval economy whilst asking whether or not the women are adequately reflected in the sources, and whether as a result of this, these women have been undervalued by history. Some cities however, such as Leicester in 1467, the city of London in 1266 and York in 1301, expelled women from the city who were found to be prostitutes. Historiography The first studies into the medieval economy of England began in the 1880s, principally around the work of English In the 1930s the Whiggish view of the English economy was challenged by a group of scholars at the University of Cambridge, led by Eileen Power. As became one of the first to insist that interest should be paid on investments made at a risk.
