Merchant Guilds
They got what you need!
About the merchants
A Merchant Guild is an association with traders. They controlled the way trade is conducted in their town during the Middle Ages. The merchants were extremely important to their middle aged community, they were much wealthier and higher in status than the craft guild. Guilds built many jobs for their society, helping their economy. Not only did they trade in their own small town, but they traded with foreign cities.
Merchants' sign
Merchants in action
The association sells and trades items with other guilds.
A merchant's workshop
From the photo it can be seen that they are trading different animals.
Sources
"Merchant Guilds in the Middle Ages." Merchant Guilds in the Middle Ages. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2016.
"Medieval Guilds." EHnet. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2016.
"Sub-type Guilds." Collective ACtion. N.p., n.d. Web.
Rules of the Trade
- Bans of fines imposed on any illicit trading by non Merchant Guild members
- Fines were imposed on any Merchant Guild members who violated the Merchant Guilds charter.
- Members of the Merchant Guilds were protected and any Merchant member who fell sick was cared for by the guild. Burials of guild members were arranged and the Merchant Guilds undertook to care for any orphans.
- The members of Merchant Guilds also provided protection of their horses, wagons, and goods when moving about the land as traveling during the Middle Ages was dangerous.