Zunftrevolution

European history

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July 15, 2026

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The term "Zunftrevolution" translates to "guild revolution" in English. This refers to a period in late medieval Europe, primarily the 13th and 14th centuries, when craft guilds gained political and economic power, often at the expense of the ruling merchant guilds. Merchant guilds, associations of traders involved in international commerce, were prominent in medieval Europe. However, social upheavals led to the decline of merchant guilds as craft guilds rose to prominence, taking over political and economic functions. By the early 15th century, most merchant guilds had disappeared or become insignificant.1

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merchant guild
…and 14th centuries, the so-called Zunftrevolution (“guild revolution”), which transferred all or part of the political and economic powers of the patriciate to the craft guilds, or mysteries. By the early years of the 15th century most European merchant guilds had disappeared into oblivion or survived as attenuated bodies, deprived…
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…and 14th centuries, the so-called Zunftrevolution (“guild revolution”), which transferred all or part of the political and economic powers of the patriciate to the craft guilds, or mysteries. By the early years of the 15th century most European merchant guilds had disappeared into oblivion or survived as attenuated bodies, deprived…
Read More