Figure 1.--This photo was taken Faenza, 30 miles southeast of Bolonia in northern Italy (1910). We see the Casalini Furniture Workshop. It depicts a group of specialized inlay and carving craftsmen with two boy apprentices. (There may be athird appretice in the very back.) They all wear long smocks. One of the apprentices is barefoot.

We suspect that what we now call apprenticeships were common ancient societies including Rome. although we no little about thec sysrem. This had to be the case without modern public school system. Of course in the ancient world, most socities were agricultural with reltively small urban populations were the opportunities for appreticeships old exist. We know much more about the the medieval era. And here Italy is where the European economy first began to quicken after the collapse following the fall of Rome. As urban society began to develop again the medieval system of appreticeships developed. Most available records are from the high middle ages, but the system began to develop earlier. The system evolved first in the Italian city stes, but became fairly standard throughout Europe. It came to be supervised by craft guilds and town governments to protect both the bos and the interests of the mastders who acceopted them. Master craftsman were entitled to take in young people, for the most part boys. Both the boys amd masters benefitted. The boys/appretices receibed room and board as well as training in a craft. This all took place before any system of public educatiin existed. The master bernefitted from inexpensive if untrained labor. The boys common begun at about 10-15 years of age. They lived in the master's household. There were formal contaracts ivolving the master, the apprentice and, usually the boy's parents. It was a form of indenture. 【Morgan, p. 126.】 The boys sought to becaome master craftsmen upon fulfilling their contracted appreticeships, often 7 year duration. This commonly began as working as a journeyman in the masters shop. Many never rose to the level of becoming a smaster with is own workshop. This depended on his skills and business acumen. And there were differences from country to country as to status, econimic opportunity, status and legal systems. The apprentice system began to decline wityh the develoment of the modern economy, child labor laws, and public education (19th century). The system largely disappered in Rurope and America, although related ecperiences continued such as internships. Many craft Labor Unions have a system for young people to learn their ctaft and develop their skills. The apprentice system has persisted in Italy more than other country we know of and is recognized in Italian law. the system is desigsned to achueve educational qualification and/or an occupational qualification. There are differentv types of apprenticeship. They involve a combination of work-based learning and education and training. 【Article 41】

Sources

Morgan, Kenneth O. "The Early Middle Ages". The Oxford History of Britain (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2001).

Article 41 of Legislative Decree 81/2015.

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Last updated: 6:11 PM 2/13/2023