An artisan, also called a craftsman, is a skilled manual worker who uses tools and machinery in a particular craft.Artisans were the dominant producers of goods before the Industrial Revolution.
Artisan origins
According to Classical economics theory, the division of labor occurs with internal market development (Adam Smith). However, according to economist John Hicks, merchants and artisans originated as servants to the rulers, which occurred much earlier.Artisans employ creative thinking and manual dexterity to produce their goods.==Artisan guilds==During the Middle Ages in Europe, artisans usually organised into guilds. Guilds were associations of master artisans that were granted charters by the local sovereign authority. The guilds controlled all aspects of production and distribution to ensure quality and to prevent competition from outside markets. Along with merchants, artisans occupied the middle tier of the European and Indian social hierarchy, below the landowning aristocr