Summary: Guilds
Key dates:
Craftsmen were highly skilled and also had to adhere to very high standards of workmanship. A young man had to serve an apprenticeship of seven years with a master craftsman before he had learned the trade. If he was successful, he became a journeyman – paid by the day (from the French journee). After this, if he wished to become a master craftsman, he had to produce a masterpiece for inspection by his guild. Only when it reached their high standards would members of the guild allow the craftsman to become a master. The guilds also set their standards on the produce by adding their trademark. Guilds acted a little like the trade unions of today.
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