Towns and Trade

Question 1

Where did most towns originate from?

Answer 1

Roman urbanisation

Question 2

Why were cities important to the early medieval church and what was the practical reality of cities?

Answer 2

That is where the bishops were sat/elected

A city is really just the seat of a bishop

Question 3

How do bishoprics create demand?

Answer 3

Need for special products

Question 4

What secular reasons were there for cities and how did they affect the landscape of Northern Europe?

Answer 4

Founded for defensive and political reasons (seat of power, council etc.)
Lots pop up in Northern Europe

Question 5

What was the average population of cities in N. Europe?

Answer 5

2500-5000

Question 6

How many towns in France in 1200 had a population of 5k+?

Answer 6

30

Question 7

What were walls and gates both a function and symbol of for cities?

Answer 7

Function: Military defence and commerce
Symbolism: Social distance and judicial status too (eg which court you answered to)

Social distinction between city and country folk

Question 8

What creates distinction between the city and the Bourg?

Answer 8

When cities out-grow their walls

Question 9

How were cities divided and give an example

Answer 9

Had specialised neighbourhoods, usually by trade/industry or family or lordships

eg Paris some parts directly under the king, some under Notre Dame cathedral chapter etc

Question 10

What shows that cities were not peaceful, with lots of political, cultural and economic conflict?

Answer 10

Families fighting each other (eg towers of San Gimignano)

Also the massacres in spain

Question 11

How deep did city independent run?

Answer 11

• Own corporate ID
• Independent law codes; cities have jurisdiction over inhabitants and surrounding hinterland
• Can even war if want to (eg Florence)

Question 12

What is important to remember about the political power of cities?

Answer 12

Each town a political entity in its own right like bishops and lords
eg Agreement between Robert, Count of Dreux and the town of Dreux (1180)

Question 13

What was the population growth of Paris and Bologna?

Answer 13

1240 Paris 160,000 –> 210,000

1200 Bologna had 4x the surface area as in the classical period

Question 14

What was the birth-rate in cities and how does this help explain the growth of cities?

Answer 14

Low: 2-3 kids

Many people not in a family situation, most growth = immigration (mainly from countryside)

Question 15

What was the relationship between towns and the countryside?

Answer 15

They needed each other (eg countryside needed market to produce for, towns needed people)

Question 16

What was a diocese?

Answer 16

Territory under the authority of a bishop

Question 17

What was the name given to the immediate rural hinterlands of a city?

Answer 17

Contado

Question 18

What was a Distretto?

Answer 18

The further rural hinterlands of a city

Question 19

What does fulling mean?

Answer 19

Cleaning wool

Question 20

What is carding?

Answer 20

Combing wool into separate strands

Question 21

Who were the Hansa?

Answer 21

Association of German merchants trading in the north Atlantic

eg Starved Bergen out when stopped trading cos King and them disagreed on something

Question 22

What percentage of people weren’t taxed and why?

Answer 22

75% exempted cos too poor

Question 23

Who held privileges and distinct citizenship in cities?

Answer 23

The elite

Question 24

What were two main pull factors for migrating to a city?

Answer 24

1. Charities and hospitals; this cos rich people live here

2. Work and jobs; cities drivers of intense economic activity

Question 25

What were some non-economic activities of cities?

Answer 25

• Political and ceremonial centres
• Princely/episcopal/seigneurial residences
• Seats of justice and government
• Religious ad educational centres

Question 26

What did you have to do if you wanted to carry out legal action?

Answer 26

Go to a city

Question 27

What was an urban phenomenon?

Answer 27

Prostitution

Question 28

How accurate is the phrase ‘city air makes you free’?

Answer 28

Reasonable, if stayed in city long enough then no longer a serf
Independent law codes there
Generally freer in cities

Question 29

What were two main push factors for migrating to cities?

Answer 29

1. Escaping lordship
2. Predatory relationship (natural trade imbalance, unequal taxation and goods in exchange for cash - eg, Florence and contado = contado taxed more but Florence 5x as wealthy)

Question 30

Where did most trade happen?

Answer 30

Locally
Short distances (eg city to villages or Bruge to London) - even big international trade was mostly a series of many smaller steps

Question 31

What happens from 1180 onwards?

Answer 31

New ship tech, new canals, new roads and bridges

Question 32

What indicates a limit to demand?

Answer 32

1250, warships outgrow trade ships

Question 33

What happened in 1360 and why?

Answer 33

First French gold coin minted
Indicates need for higher value money and gold trade is stronger

Also bank and trade profession at this time

Question 34

What was prevalent in central Germany?

Answer 34

Lots of mines

Question 35

What was good and well used in Germany for the movement of goods and people?

Answer 35

Rviers

Question 36

What does Alfonso X explicitly state is a factor in some towns being more prosperous than others? Where is this found?

Answer 36

Las Siete Partidas

“merchants with their merchandise…[make cities frequented by them]…more wealthy, better provided, and more populous” - hence law protecting them

Question 37

What shows fairs were valued and made big buck?

Answer 37

There were two fairs annually at Aachen they were of such great importance