Reconnecting the Manors of Europe Back to the World

Manorialism, the economic counterpart to feudalism, led to a great fracturing of Europe. The distribution of land from lords to vassals in the form of manors created separate, self-sufficient communities. Serfs worked the land and most people, lords included, did not travel far from home. There was little trade with each other, let alone the flourishing Islamic empire and other thriving Asian civilizations.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages, trade revived in Europe. The closed manorial communities opened up, receiving goods from around the world and people started to question the economic order that had existed since the fall of Rome.

For an overview of how trade revived in Europe, watch this video below.

As you are watching the video, use your notes to write down the five factors that caused trade to revive in Europe.

After watching the video,click here to see the five factors that should appear in your notes. In the next sections, you will learn more about these causes.

Five Factors That Led to a Revival of Trade in Europe:

1. The Crusades introduced knights to the wide variety of different goods available in the Middle East that were not found in Europe.
2. Italian ships that transported soldiers for the Crusades brought back goods to trade.
3. Viking trading ships brought goods from the Far East back to Northern Europe.
4. The Hanseatic League established trading posts throughout Europe, increasing ease of access.
5. Flanders became a meeting center for different trading routes.