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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tayne" data-source="post: 5734029" data-attributes="member: 6685115">here's a dry, scholarly approach to medieval guilds if you value historical accuracy in a campaign. Mostly it seems to apply to craft guilds, so take it for what it's worth.<a href="http://www.public.iastate.edu/~gbetcher/373/guilds.htm" target="_blank">Guilds</a>A very small sample of highlights -Services Performed by GuildsGuilds performed other services for their members as well. Theyprovided funeral expenses for poorer members and aid to survivors;provided dowries for poor girls;covered members with a type of health insurance and provisions for care of the sick;built chapels;donated windows to local churches or cathedrals;....Guilds and Community InterrelationshipsThe members of the guild were called confraternities, brothers helping one another. From the political viewpoint, the guild was neither sovereign nor unrelated to society outside the guild and town organization. As a collective unit, the guild might be a vassal to a bishop, lord or king, as in Paris. The extent of vassalage depended on the degree of independence of the town where it was located. There was a close connection between the guild and the city authorities:-The City Council could intervene in event of trouble between guilds.-Council could establish the hours of work, fix prices, establish weights and measures-Guild officials were frequently appointed to serve in civic government because guilds usually voted as a unit, raised troops for the civic militia, and paid taxes as a group.Each guild was required to perform public services. They:-took turns policing the streets and-constructed public buildings and walls to defend the town or city.A perceived higher social status could be achieved through guild membership. The guildsmen of The Canterbury Tales had wives who liked to be called "Ma Dame" by their inferiors.By the 13th c. to become a guild man one had to go through 3 stages:lowest was apprentice,next was journeyman, andtop-ranking stage was master.</blockquote>

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