In general, merchant guilds enjoyed more wealth and power than craft guilds. In many cities in northern Europe, guilds involved in the sale of textiles dominated town life, reflecting the importance of textiles to the regional economy. Merchant and craft guilds also differed in that the craftsman’s focus was on production, while the merchant’s was on exchange. This difference, combined with the dominant position of merchant guilds in many communities, shaped cultural perceptions of the two groups. For many medieval people, the deal making and complicated financial transactions of merchants invited suspicion. Did not many of these transactions violate the church’s ban on lending at interest? How often did a merchant’s desire to make the best deal result in efforts to cheat his trading partner? With these perceptions in mind, examine two medieval woodcuts from the same work. One shows a group of craftsmen. The other shows a group of merchants. As you examine them, consider what light they shed on medieval perceptions of production and trade.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER