mckayunderstanding2e

What were guilds, and why did they become controversial in the eighteenth century?

Guild Procession in Seventeenth-Century BrusselsGuilds played an important role in the civic life of the early modern city. They collected taxes from their members, imposed quality standards and order on the trades, and represented the interests of commerce and industry to the government. In return, they claimed exclusive monopolies over their trades and the right to govern their own affairs. Guilds marched in processions, like the one shown here, at important city events, proudly displaying their corporate insignia. (V&A Images, London/Art Resource, NY)

OONE CONSEQUENCE OF THE GROWTH OF RURAL INDUSTRY was an undermining of the traditional guild system that protected urban artisans. Guilds continued to dominate production in towns and cities, providing their masters with economic privileges as well as a proud social identity, but they increasingly struggled against competition from rural workers. Meanwhile, those excluded from guild membership — women, day laborers, Jews, and foreigners — worked on the margins of the urban economy.

In the second half of the eighteenth century, critics attacked the guilds as outmoded institutions that obstructed technical progress and innovation. Until recently, most historians repeated that view. An ongoing reassessment of guilds now emphasizes their ability to adapt to changing economic circumstances.