Guilds In The Nineteenth Century

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Guilds have held considerable power since their initial appearance during the eleventh century. These tight organizations held a noticeable role in the local economy. With their contributions, these confraternities assisted in the great urban advancement seen in the eighteenth century. They played a civic role in society and were held with great pride and respects. By collecting taxes, imposing quality standards, and representing means on commerce and industry to government officials, urban guilds improved urban development.

A major contribution, they guilds stiffly taxed their members. This taxation helped fund both the guild members and the government. In fact, Jean Baptiste Colbert, financial minister of Louis XIV, relied on urban guilds …show more content…

With high quality standards, greater trade incomes followed. Better quality products, also encouraged by Jean Baptiste Colbert, allowed for better trade which, as always, was the backbone of the state of being.By fostering confidence in high quality production, greater trust was put upon the trade force that had always funded Europe.(Mckay, 2011). The trade force has and will always be a major key in the power of any country. With the mercantilism mindset, higher quality products meant more trade which meant more wealth for the state. This backbone and support in trade of high quality products provided by guilds is a huge contribution to the 18th century …show more content…

By representing the industry, this not only shows the importance of guilds but the contribution they gave as well. Guilds were important for multiple reasons, one being that they payed directly to their government officials. For many centuries, guilds have been paying for their monopoly and existence. In fact in 1175, when Henry II granted a guild in Oxford, he ordered he be paid an ounce of gold a year (Henry II, 1175). Another reason they were important for representation was because craft outside the guilds were prohibited in many areas for taxation reasons. If so, their products would be forfeited. (Gross, 1737). Because of laws like this, the of interest in commerce rested mostly in the urban guilds. By representing the interest of industries and doing it well, they overshadow the slower and lower quality of the cottage industry and lower class artisans, therefore helping boost urban development. The urban guilds interest was most important because they provided a great deal of money and high quality products for trade. It also provided government with a way to deal and function industries to the benefit of the state. Basically, the guild played a senate role in the industry by representing to the government what the industry needed to better

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