Final answer:
A guild was an association governing the practice of a craft in a town. To join, one usually became an apprentice, progressed to a journeyman, and ultimately aimed to become a master craftsman. However, guilds could be exclusive, often restricting master positions to family members of existing masters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Guilds and Their Membership Process
A guild was an association of artisans or merchants who control the practice of their craft in a particular town during the medieval period. Guilds played a significant role in the social and economic life of the time. To join a guild, one typically had to go through three steps:
- Apprenticeship: Initially, an individual would become an apprentice to a master craftsman. Apprentices worked for the master for a period, often several years, to learn the trade.
- Journeyman: After completing the apprenticeship, the person became a journeyman, during which time they were allowed to work for wages.
- Master Craftsman: Finally, after proving their skill and often producing a 'masterpiece' to satisfy guild standards, a journeyman could become a master craftsman themselves, running their own shop and taking on apprentices.
However, over time, guilds could become exclusive, and rules were sometimes altered to favor the relatives of existing masters, limiting the opportunities for others to reach the highest ranks within the guilds.