Today I want to find out more about the lives of the medieval travelling merchants. They may seem insignificant but they had an important role in medieval society. They carried goods from one town to the next.
Many merchants came from merchant families. They carried on the family business. Not all of them did though, some had to start out as an apprentice. They learned about buying, selling, weights, prices, and the art of negotiation. Some had very little to start with, maybe only small bundles of goods, in the hopes of building a better life. Trade did offer them opportunities, but it came with risks and success depended on skill and luck.
A merchant’s life usually began early in the morning. Before they set off, they would have needed to load their carts, pack horses, or secure goods into sacks and barrels. What they carried depended on where they were travelling to. Some of them sold cloth, wool, spices, salt, wine, tools, pottery, or luxury items. Others specialised in local products like cheese, grain, or leather goods. Losing their goods could mean financial disaster for them.
Travel in medieval England was not easy. The roads could be muddy, uneven, and very badly maintained. When heavy rain came it could turn the tracks into thick mud, making it even more difficult for carts to move. Cold weather and flooding could also create serious obstacles. Rivers were also a problem, especially if the bridges were damaged or the tolls were too expensive for the merchant to pay.
Thieves would have been another constant worry, especially on more isolated roads. Bandits and thieves knew that merchants could be carrying valuable goods or even coins. Some merchants decided to travel in groups for protection, others hired guards when or if they could afford it.
The long journeys must have been lonely. Merchants could spend weeks or even months travelling away from home, leaving their families behind. But they were providing food and security.
Markets and fairs were often a highlight for many merchants. They were a place that merchants and suppliers met. It must have been lively and noisy, with plenty of shouting and lots of animals. It was here that merchants often had the chance to make a profit, build new contacts, and to hear news. News travelled with people in Medieval England, and merchants became important for the spread of information as well as the sale of goods.
Some merchants though were faced with poor sales, damaged stock, or dishonest customers. One bad harvest or local unrest could reduce demand for goods. War could also make routes unsafe and trade more unpredictable. One difficult season could undo years of hard work.
Travelling merchants were an integral part of medieval life. They connected villages, towns, and cities that might have otherwise stayed isolated. They introduced new products, new ideas, and sometimes even new fashions.
Do you think that you would have decided to spend months on the dangerous medieval roads to make a living?
Image info:
Workshop of Master of the City of Ladies
Date: 1400-1405
Collection: Bibliothèque nationale de France
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