As towns and cities grew in medieval times there was a growing demand for everyday items such as salt, metals and textiles and more products became available as the medieval era progressed. Medieval merchants sold items such food, clothing, shoes, weapons, furniture and beer which the Merchants sold to the medieval people in the towns, villages and cities.
As the medieval period progressed major trade routes developed and much trade went on in the larger towns in cities where the traveling merchants provided essential and sometimes exotic goods for the people to buy or exchange.
Medieval merchants indulged in trade and commerce. The word “merchant” itself has roots in the Latin language word “mercari” which means “to traffic”. Thus a medieval merchant was someone who traveled from place to place for the sake of business.
There were various types of medieval merchants. Broadly speaking, medieval merchants fell into one of the two categories of wholesale merchants and retail merchants.
The former kind of medieval merchants were those who operated large businesses and often travelled to other countries as well.
The latter type, on the other hand, mainly consisted of small medieval merchants or shopkeepers who sold goods in smaller quantities.
Fast Ships were used by Medieval merchants
For medieval merchants operating in the markets, the morning was the most active time of the day. It was at this time that they sold their goods in the market. Things quieted down in the afternoon so merchants who were late could be at a loss.
There were strict regulations for foreign medieval merchants and sometimes they were at a clear disadvantage compared to local merchants.
The clothing of medieval merchants changed over the centuries as their status improved during the late medieval times.
Rich medieval merchant’s used expensive clothes with better materials and brighter colors, as they travelled to exotic locations where it was cheap to buy products, they were able to buy different and lavish costumes made from exotic materials such as silk fairly cheaply.
One of the most common costumes of wealthy medieval merchants toward the end of the middle ages consisted of a hose and a jacket sometimes accompanied by pleating or skirting.
Medieval merchants formed various guilds during medieval times to safeguard their interests. Merchant guilds began to be established in England after the Norman Conquest and soon they became quite powerful.
Medieval merchant guilds came into being after the lords and owners of the land imposed high taxes on trade. Thus these guilds were formed to safeguard the interests of the medieval merchants and to regulate the tax imposed on them.
Medieval merchants’ houses were in much better shape compared to the houses of the common people. Initially, medieval merchants lived in small houses made of stone and wood but with the passage of time, as their status and importance grew in society, they began to build large houses.
The Two most important elements used in the construction of Merchants’ houses still remained wood and stone.
During the early medieval times, trade opportunities were less, and thus medieval merchants did not enjoy great wealth. However, during the middle and particularly late medieval times, trade with other countries increased and thus was further impacted by the discovery of new sea routes and lands.
Thus during the late medieval ages, medieval merchants amassed huge amounts of money and many of them became wealthy individuals.
The social and economic status of the medieval merchants transformed over various centuries. Initially, they were exploited by the aristocracy and had to face heavy taxes.
But medieval merchants formed guilds to safeguard their interests and regulate taxes. With the discovery of new sea routes and an increase in international trade, many medieval merchants became quite wealthy and powerful.
Merchant Ship
