Manufaktuur

Manufaktuur is a term derived from the Latin words "manus" meaning hand and "factura" meaning making. Historically, it refers to a form of handicraft production that emerged in Europe during the early modern period, preceding the Industrial Revolution. Unlike the guild system which often limited production to skilled artisans, manufakturs employed a larger number of workers, often within a single workshop or building.

The key characteristic of a manufaktuur was the division of labor. Tasks were broken down into smaller, specialized operations, with each worker performing a specific part of the production process. This specialization allowed for increased output and efficiency compared to traditional artisan methods, although the production was still largely manual. The scale of these operations varied, but some could employ hundreds of workers.

Manufakturs played a significant role in the growth of mercantilism by producing goods for domestic consumption and export. They were particularly prominent in the production of textiles, but also in industries like shipbuilding and luxury goods. The development of the manufaktuur system is seen as a transitional stage between the medieval craft economy and the factory system of industrial capitalism. It laid some of the groundwork for later mechanization by demonstrating the benefits of organized labor and specialized tasks.