The word artisan broadly describes any craftsman who is pursuing a particular kind of profession where some manual skills are required. It includes various professionals in itself like carpenter, potter or a goldsmith.
Before the industrial revolution when almost everything was being done manually the artisans were in much demand. Even few decades back in non-developed countries artisans constitute a major workforce, though they didn't command as much respect as they used to command in the Middle Ages in Europe.
In Middle-Ages Europe they were an organised force and formed guilds. These guilds used to control all the aspects of production and also the distribution. They made sure that the quality was good so that they can prevent their market from outside competition. They were at par with merchants and along with them occupied the middle tier of the European social hierarchy.
Before the industrial revolution when almost everything was being done manually the artisans were in much demand. Even few decades back in non-developed countries artisans constitute a major workforce, though they didn't command as much respect as they used to command in the Middle Ages in Europe.
In Middle-Ages Europe they were an organised force and formed guilds. These guilds used to control all the aspects of production and also the distribution. They made sure that the quality was good so that they can prevent their market from outside competition. They were at par with merchants and along with them occupied the middle tier of the European social hierarchy.
