Human Heritage: A World History

"Towns of the Middle Ages"

Introduction
As you learned in this chapter, towns developed during the Middle Ages due to the increase in trade. Merchants, tired of moving around, settled near castles or monasteries. Over time, the towns became more than simply trade centers. They became communities in which people lived. What was life in these communities like? How did the lives of the peasants, the wealthy, and the clergy differ? You can find the answers to these questions and learn much more by going to The Annenberg/CFB Projects Web site.

Destination Title: The Annenberg/CFB Projects

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Directions
Start at The Annenberg/CFB Middle Ages Web site.

• Click "Enter" to visit the exhibit.
• Browse through the site, taking notes as you go.
  Read through the information, and then answer the following questions.

1			Describe the members of the merchant class. Which members had the most prestige?
2			What was the role of women in the town?
3			Compare the homes of the wealthy and the peasants.
4			Describe the daily routine of the towns' Benedictine monks.
5			Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales as a series of stories told by pilgrims as they traveled to Canterbury Cathedral in England. On a separate sheet of paper, use what you have learned about Middle Ages townspeople to compose your own tale of a pilgrim on a journey to the Canterbury Cathedral.