[TheForge] historcial blacksmith status in the community

[Dan Scheid]

1) thinking that a Blacksmith could read and write is a big stretch I would
bet like most craftsman he would be illiterate  
2) his station would be as a craftsman.  Just like a potter or a weaver. 
Dan Scheid

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of terry l. ridder
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 9:06 PM
To: theforge e-mail list
Subject: [TheForge] historcial blacksmith status in the community

hello;

given what i have been reading and from the numerous examples of highly
detailed iron work throughout the UK and Europe, what was the status of the
blacksmith in the community.

we may infer that the blacksmith had to be able to read and write which set
him apart from most of the local community. the serfs and feudal tenants on
the nobels lands were probably not able to read nor write.

we may also info that the blacksmith had to be knowledgable in math and
geometry. we may be pushing it a bit to infer that the blacksmith had a
working knowledge of trigonometry.

given this knowledge what was the social status of the blacksmith in the
local community? the nobels may have had a love/hate relationship with the
blacksmith. they needed the blacksmith to make new weapons, armor and to
maintain the old weapons and armor. they did not like the fact that he could
read and write. that would appear to be a threat to the nobels.

given the blacksmith's relationship with the nobels, the peasants probably
did not like the blacksmith very much.

so where did the blacksmith fit in the social status of the local community?

what do we know of the historical blacksmith's social status?

--
terry l. ridder ><>
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