History·Medieval Times·conceptual
Towns & Trade
The growth of medieval towns: markets, guilds, the merchant class; how towns won charters of self-governance; the shift from purely rural to partly urban life
Suggested ages 9–11
Evidence of understanding
- Describe how medieval towns were different from villages (markets, walls, guilds, more people)
- Explain what a guild was and why it mattered for tradespeople
- Describe one way towns changed medieval society (new merchant class, more freedom for townspeople)
Assessment prompt
Could Towns & Trade explain why medieval towns grew and how the rise of markets and guilds changed the way people lived and worked?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.