Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Merchants in seventeenth and eighteenth century Europe moved production to the countryside because they could not expand within towns due to the power of urban craft guilds. These guilds controlled production, regulated prices, restricted entry of new producers, and held monopoly rights granted by rulers. It was therefore impossible for new merchants to set up or expand businesses in towns. In the countryside, poor peasants and artisans — who had lost access to common lands — eagerly worked for merchants to supplement their income from cultivation.

Source: Chapter 4, Proto-Industrialisation section

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What examiners look for (3 marks):

• Point 1 (1 mark): Guild power in towns — control over production, prices, and monopoly rights.
• Point 2 (1 mark): This blocked new merchants from expanding in towns.
• Point 3 (1 mark): Countryside peasants/artisans were available and willing due to loss of common lands.

Don't just say "guilds were powerful" — briefly state what they did (regulated prices, restricted entry, held monopolies). The answer about peasants' motivation (loss of commons, need for extra income) completes the picture for full marks.