Towns and Trade Flashcards
Where did most towns originate from?
Roman urbanisation
Why were cities important to the early medieval church and what was the practical reality of cities?
That is where the bishops were sat/elected
A city is really just the seat of a bishop
How do bishoprics create demand?
Need for special products
What secular reasons were there for cities and how did they affect the landscape of Northern Europe?
Founded for defensive and political reasons (seat of power, council etc.)
Lots pop up in Northern Europe
What was the average population of cities in N. Europe?
2500-5000
How many towns in France in 1200 had a population of 5k+?
30
What were walls and gates both a function and symbol of for cities?
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
What creates distinction between the city and the Bourg?
When cities out-grow their walls
How were cities divided and give an example
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
What shows that cities were not peaceful, with lots of political, cultural and economic conflict?
Families fighting each other (eg towers of San Gimignano)
Also the massacres in spain
How deep did city independent run?
- Own corporate ID
- Independent law codes; cities have jurisdiction over inhabitants and surrounding hinterland
- Can even war if want to (eg Florence)
What is important to remember about the political power of cities?
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)
What was the population growth of Paris and Bologna?
1240 Paris 160,000 –> 210,000
1200 Bologna had 4x the surface area as in the classical period
What was the birth-rate in cities and how does this help explain the growth of cities?
Low: 2-3 kids
Many people not in a family situation, most growth = immigration (mainly from countryside)
What was the relationship between towns and the countryside?
They needed each other (eg countryside needed market to produce for, towns needed people)
What was a diocese?
Territory under the authority of a bishop
What was the name given to the immediate rural hinterlands of a city?
Contado
What was a Distretto?
The further rural hinterlands of a city
What does fulling mean?
Cleaning wool
What is carding?
Combing wool into separate strands
Who were the Hansa?
Association of German merchants trading in the north Atlantic
eg Starved Bergen out when stopped trading cos King and them disagreed on something
What percentage of people weren’t taxed and why?
75% exempted cos too poor
Who held privileges and distinct citizenship in cities?
The elite
What were two main pull factors for migrating to a city?
- Charities and hospitals; this cos rich people live here
2. Work and jobs; cities drivers of intense economic activity
What were some non-economic activities of cities?
- Political and ceremonial centres
- Princely/episcopal/seigneurial residences
- Seats of justice and government
- Religious ad educational centres
What did you have to do if you wanted to carry out legal action?
Go to a city
What was an urban phenomenon?
Prostitution
How accurate is the phrase ‘city air makes you free’?
Reasonable, if stayed in city long enough then no longer a serf
Independent law codes there
Generally freer in cities
What were two main push factors for migrating to cities?
- Escaping lordship
- 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)
Where did most trade happen?
Locally Short distances (eg city to villages or Bruge to London) - even big international trade was mostly a series of many smaller steps
What happens from 1180 onwards?
New ship tech, new canals, new roads and bridges
What indicates a limit to demand?
1250, warships outgrow trade ships
What happened in 1360 and why?
First French gold coin minted
Indicates need for higher value money and gold trade is stronger
Also bank and trade profession at this time
What was prevalent in central Germany?
Lots of mines
What was good and well used in Germany for the movement of goods and people?
Rviers
What does Alfonso X explicitly state is a factor in some towns being more prosperous than others? Where is this found?
Las Siete Partidas
“merchants with their merchandise…[make cities frequented by them]…more wealthy, better provided, and more populous” - hence law protecting them
What shows fairs were valued and made big buck?
There were two fairs annually at Aachen they were of such great importance
