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FUNDAMENTALS
OF
COOPERATIVE
Medieval Guilds
Probably, the guilds represented the first great conscious efforts for the
establishment of formal organizations to promote the welfare of
selected groups in society. As early as 300 B.C, the Greeks had formed
associations known as ERANIO which had the features of the guilds
which were organized in Teutonic Europe between the seventh and
fifteenth centuries. Members of the guild gave an annual contribution
to a general fund. Each type of guild performed specific functions, such
as protecting the members from illness, arranging funerals, providing
feasts and helping those distress. The first guild of Europe were formed
for defense against invasion and for maintaining peace and order within
the communities. Some of the irrigation systems of medieval Europe
were constructed and manage cooperatively.
Merchant Guilds
He performed all the operations involved in merchandizing his
goods. He bought them, transported them, and retailed them.
He realized that traveling alone was dangerous in an area
where there was little protection. So he joined other merchants
and they travelled from town to town, armed with swords and
bows. In most cases, the elected their leaders, they could and
sell collectively and prorated the profits. Such cooperation
enabled them to acquire more capital. These guilds, arising
from the needs of protecting their social and economic gains,
conducted business over long distance by the early twelfth
century. The business grew and operations became
complicated, the merchant stopped performing all the works.
He delegated buying and selling to his employees and transport
of his goods to organizations.
The objective of merchant guilds was to preserve a trade
monopoly in the town market. The ideal guild was to maintain
stables prices under normal conditions.
Craft Guilds
The guilds in the Middle Ages were an important part of
Medieval life. A higher social status could be achieved through
membership to Craft guilds. There were two main kinds of
Medieval guilds - Merchant Guilds and Craft Guilds. The word
“guild” is from the Saxon “gilden” meaning "to pay" and refers
to the subscription paid to the Guilds by their members.
Masons
Carpenters
Painters
Cloth Makers
Tanners
Bakers
Shoemakers, or cobblers
Apothecaries
Candle makers