Handicraft industry and workers, History

Assignment Help:

 Handicraft Industry and Workers

Those who did not work on the land in early modern Europe were mostly involved in manufacturing, which took place primarily in cities and towns. Such work, prior to 1800, was almost all handicraft -- that is to say, the main source of power was the worker's muscle power and the main technology was the worker's skill. Such workers are called artisans, and any tools or machines used by an artisan were less important than muscle and skill.

Artisans worked in small workshops and, for the most part, artisans worked on all aspects of their craft. For example, a shoemaker would assemble the materials and build each shoe that he worked on entirely by himself cut and shape the leather, then attach the wooden sole and metal buckle rather than making only one part of many shoes.

Artisans generally produced goods on a "bespoke" (or what we might think of as special order) basis. So, our shoemaker would make only the number of shoes that were ordered ahead of time by his customers, rather than making many and hoping to sell them later. This was because, in part, artisans had little capital -- other than their tools and their skills. So they could not afford to produce shoes ahead of time and then keep them in stock to sell to customers; they had to wait for someone to order an item before they could acquire the raw materials to produce it. This limited artisans to producing primarily for local demand. This meant producing for those customers who lived nearby, in the same town or village, rather than producing goods that could be shipped elsewhere to be sold. 


Related Discussions:- Handicraft industry and workers

What were some of the rhetorical devices kennedy used, What were some of th...

What were some of the rhetorical devices Kennedy used in his speeches? Why did he do so and are they effective in your opinion?

Likeable characters as the tale progresses, Do either Paris or Helen reveal...

Do either Paris or Helen reveal qualities that make them more likeable characters as the tale progresses?

How did the us navigate the apparent contradiction, How did the US navigate...

How did the US navigate the apparent contradiction of remaining active in world affairs while avoiding entry in WW2?

World history, which was not a cause of the European enlightenment

which was not a cause of the European enlightenment

What was martin luther religious doctrine, What was Martin Luther religious...

What was Martin Luther religious doctrine and what influence did his ideas have on Western Europe?

Ancient China, What are the geographic setting of china''s first known civi...

What are the geographic setting of china''s first known civilization?

Best interests of the child, While we may agree that the "best interests of...

While we may agree that the "best interests of the child" should be a determinant of custody, at what age should the child have the final say about custody? Or should the child

Review, what is the mayflower

what is the mayflower

How did fdr capitalize upon hitler''s turncoat, How did FDR capitalize upon...

How did FDR capitalize upon Hitler's turncoat actions toward the Soviets in 1941?

Do you think jemison views as better, Which way of life, Indian or European...

Which way of life, Indian or European, do you think Jemison views as better? What are her reasons for this point of view?

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd