The period after the year 1000 Europe developed rapidly. The population grew and political organisation took recognisable forms. Our modern fairs have their origins in this re-ordered world where Church and Commerce vied for supremacy.

In the 11th century many fairs grew out of religious events, such as the dedication of a church or the transfers of a saint’s relics. In the 11th century Western Europe suffered from countless invasions by the Vikings. In 1066 the famous Battle of Hastings took place. Fairs developed quickly in the 12th century. They attracted not only traders, but also acrobats, musicians and quacks. In the 12th century European crowned heads such as emperor Friedrich I Barbarossa and king Richard Lionheart organised the crusades. In the 13th century special fairs were created by royal charter. This way the authorities could keep control of the proceeds. In 1215 the Magna Charta was written. In the 13th century England conquered Wales. In Italy Genoa was a powerful city-state. So-called schuttersfeesten and Schützenfeste (a sort of archers’ feast-days) were the origin of some fairs in Belgium, the Netherlands and the German states. The 14th century saw the rise of Venice. England and France were engaged in the Hundred Year’s War. In the 15th century several spontaneous fairs appeared. There were frost-fairs, for example. They were organised on frozen canals or rivers. The 15th century was the high point for the Hansa towns.