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Formation of medieval cities. The emergence and development of medieval cities in Europe

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in Europe came the era of the "Dark Ages". In this period, almost all the cities fell into decay and emptied. The feudal lords preferred to live in their residences. The value of money in the economy has drastically decreased. Monasteries simply exchanged gifts. If iron ware was forged in one abbey, while in another, for example, they brewed beer, they sent out a part of the produce to each other. The peasants also engaged in barter trade.

But gradually handicrafts and trade began to revive, resulting in the formation of medieval cities. Some of them were rebuilt in place of ancient policies, others arose alongside monasteries, bridges, port villages, and lively roads.

Antique and medieval towns

In the Roman Empire, the construction of policies was carried out in accordance with the previously approved plan. In every major city there was an arena for sports and gladiatorial fights, running water, sewerage. The streets were flat and wide. The emergence and growth of medieval cities occurred in a different scenario. They were built up chaotically, without any single plan.

It is interesting that during the early Middle Ages, many antique buildings were not used for the purposes for which they were originally built. So, spacious ancient Roman baths were often turned into Christian churches. And inside the Colosseum, right in the arena, built houses.

The role of trade

The revival of cities in Europe began with Italy. Sea trade with Byzantium and the Arab countries led to the emergence of money capital from merchants from the Apennine peninsula. Gold began to flow into the Italian medieval cities. The development of commodity-money relations has changed the way of life of the northern Mediterranean. In place of subsistence farming, when each feudal destiny independently provided itself with everything necessary, regional specialization came.

Craft development

Trade had a key influence on the formation of medieval cities. Urban craft became a full-fledged way of earning. Previously, peasants were forced to engage in farming and other crafts. Now it is possible to professionally engage in the manufacture of a specialized product, sell their products and buy food on the proceeds.

Artisans in cities were united in guilds, called workshops. Such organizations were created with the aim of mutual assistance and struggle against competition. Many kinds of crafts were allowed to deal only members of the shops. When attacking the city of the enemy army, guild members formed self-defense units.

Religious factor

The Christian tradition of pilgrimage to religious relics also influenced the formation of medieval cities. Initially, most of the revered relics were in Rome. To worship them, thousands of pilgrims came to the city. Of course, to go on a long journey in those days could only people are not poor. For them, many hotels, taverns, and shops with religious literature were opened in Rome.

The bishops of other cities, seeing what income pious travelers bring to Rome, also sought to acquire some kind of relic. Sacred objects were brought from distant lands or miraculously found on the spot. These could be nails with which Christ was crucified, the relics of the apostles, the clothes of Jesus or the Virgin and other similar artifacts. The more pilgrims managed to attract, the higher the income of the city.

Military factor

Of wars, to a large extent, is the history of the Middle Ages. The medieval city, among other functions, could be an important strategic object protecting the country's borders from the invasion of the enemy. In this case, its external walls made it particularly strong and high. And in the city itself, there was a military garrison and a large supply of provisions in the barns in the event of a long siege.

During the late Middle Ages, many armies consisted of mercenaries. This practice is especially widespread in rich Italy. Residents of the cities did not want to expose themselves to the risk on the battlefields and preferred to maintain a mercenary army. It served many Swiss and Germans.

Universities

Educational institutions also contributed to the formation of medieval cities. The history of European universities begins in the XI century. And the championship here is also the Italians. In 1088, the oldest university in Europe was founded in Bologna. He continues to teach students today.

Later, universities appeared in France, England, and then in other countries. They taught the theological and secular disciplines. Universities existed on private money, and therefore had a sufficient degree of independence from the authorities. In some European countries, laws still exist that prohibit police from entering the territory of higher education institutions.

Townspeople

So, there were several estates, thanks to which the emergence and development of medieval cities in Europe occurred.

1. Merchants: transported various goods by sea and by land.

2. Estate of artisans: masters who manufactured industrial products, were the foundation of the urban economy.

3. Clergy: churches and monasteries were engaged not only in the administration of religious rituals, but also in scientific and economic activities, and also participated in political life.

4. Soldiers: the troops not only participated in campaigns and defense operations, but also maintained order within the city. The rulers attracted them to capture thieves and robbers.

5. Professors and students: universities had a considerable influence on the formation of medieval cities.

6. Class of aristocracy: the palaces of kings, dukes and other noble persons were also located in the cities.

7. Other educated petty bourgeois: healers, clerks, bankers, surveyors, judges, etc.

8. Urban poor: servants, beggars, thieves.

The struggle for self-government

The land on which cities arose originally belonged to local feudal lords or church abbeys. They taxed the philistines with taxes, the amount of which was set arbitrarily and was often too large. In response to the oppression by the landowners, a communal movement of medieval towns arose. Craftsmen, merchants, and other residents combined to jointly resist the feudal lords.

The basic requirements of the city communes were feasible taxes and the non-interference of the landowner in the economic and economic activities of the inhabitants. Usually negotiations ended with drawing up of the Charter, in which the rights and duties of all classes were registered. The signing of such documents completed the formation of medieval cities, providing a legal foundation for their existence.

Democratic Governance

After the right to self-government was won from the feudal lords, it's time to determine on what principles the medieval city itself will be built. The guild organization of the craft and the guild of merchants were those institutions from which the system of collegial decision-making and the election of power grew.

The posts of mayors and judges in medieval cities were elected. At the same time, the very procedure of election was often quite complex and multistage. For example, in Venice the doge elections were held in 11 stages. The suffrage was not universal. Almost everywhere there was a property and class qualification, that is, only rich or noble citizens could participate in elections.

When the formation of medieval cities was finally completed, a system was formed in which all the levers of control were in the hands of a limited number of aristocratic families. The poor were dissatisfied with this state of affairs. Social tension sometimes resulted in a rabble uprising. As a result, the urban aristocracy had to make concessions and expand the rights of the poor.

Historical meaning

Active development of cities began in Europe in the X-XI centuries in central and northern Italy, as well as in Flanders (the territory of modern Belgium and Holland). The driving forces of this process were trade and handicraft production. A little later, the heyday of cities began in France, Spain and the German lands of the Holy Roman Empire. As a result, the continent has transformed.

It is difficult to overestimate the influence that the formation of medieval cities had on the development of Europe. Urban craft contributed to the technical progress. Trade led to the improvement of shipbuilding, and ultimately to the discovery and development of the New World. Traditions of city government became the basis of the democratic structure of modern Western countries. Charters and charter liberties, which determined the rights and freedoms of various classes, formed a system of European law. And the development of science and art in the cities prepared the advent of the Renaissance.

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