Shifting Work Patterns Introduction number of things about the history of accounting can be learned by studying ancient civilizations. It is important to look at the shifting work patterns in Greece, Rome and London in the 12th and 13th centuries to gain a better insight to these cultures.

Ancient Greece

In the 12th and 13th centuries, Greek men "ran the government, and spent a great deal of their time away from home. When not involved in politics, the men spent time in the fields, overseeing or working the crops, sailing, hunting, in manufacturing or in trade (www.cedarville.edu/dept/ed/resource/schools/chca/othergrades/gree...)."

Most Greek women were not allowed much freedom outside of their homes, however inside the home, they were the boss. The main job for the woman was "to run the house and have children. Most Greek women did not do house work themselves, but instead had slaves (www.cedarville.edu/dept/ed/resource/schools/chca/othergrades/gree...)."

It was the female slave's job to "cook, clean and work in the fields. Male slaves were responsible for watching the door, making sure no one came in when the man of the house was away, except for female neighbors, and acting as tutors to the young male children (www.cedarville.edu/dept/ed/resource/schools/chca/othergrades/gree...)."

Ancient Rome

In the 12th and 13th centuries, Rome was involved in "the Crusades, which have been called 'the first Renaissance', and one which did for a civilization that had long been dormant one thing which the World Wars did for the civilization of the 20th century,-- it let one part of the race know more of what other parts were doing and thinking and hoping (www.magicdragon.com/UltimateSF/timeline2.html)."

Ancient London

The Norman Conquest in the late 11th century was responsible for "awakening and uniting England, and showed her what the Continent had for her in the way of science and art (www.magicdragon.com/UltimateSF/timeline2.html)."

In the 12th century astronomy became an acceptable and noble profession. Also during the 12th and 13th centuries, London citizens found employment as "streetsweepers, fishmongers, grocers, and haberdashers (http://homepages.gold.ac.uk/genuki/LND/Indexes/MEDMCHTS.txt)."

For example, Threadneedle Street was the tailor's district, Bread Street had bakeries, and on Milk Street, cows were kept for milking. There was also a very active livestock market at Smithfield (http://www.britainexpress.com/London/medieval-london.htm)."
Changes in Rome and England

The various factors of the Crusades and Norman Conquest influenced the work patterns of Rome and England in the 12th and 13th centuries. They began to enter a "new era, one in which cathedral building, church reform, renewed attention to the arts, political experiment, and scientific achievement played great parts (www.magicdragon.com/UltimateSF/timeline2.html)."

High Middle Ages

In the 12th century, an economic revival began as towns began to be erected or increased in size. These towns "pioneered town liberties, especially self-government, as they learned how to govern themselves through town courts, selecting a mayor, and learning how to tax (www2.austin.cc.tx.us/rebhist/2311IIIa.html)."

Medieval Careers

During the Medieval times which encompassed the 12th and 13th centuries, citizens of Rome and England found a wide array of professions available such as "actor, apothecarist, baker, barrister or professional lawyer, bookbinder, bricklayer, candlemaker, carpenter, cartographer or map-makers, cook, farmer, furrier, gravedigger, innkeeper, jeweler, leatherworker, peddler, playwright, politician, potter, sailor, shipwright, and stone carver (www.stud.ifi.uio.no/~gahegsvo/dnet/book/x7439.html)."

Shifting Patterns

There began to be a shifting of work patterns in a number of professions. This was noted in some of the more important and higher paid jobs such as architects who "built structures, towns and buildings, and were highly in demand and paid high wages for their services; and armorers who were usually blacksmiths as well, but as war became a more frequent event many blacksmiths could afford to relinquish their skills of crafting metalworks and strictly pursue the field of marking armor. Most Armorers were members of the Middle Class and were…