VART 1101 Lecture 19: Medieval Cities - Europe
Document Summary
Medieval cities (middle ages in europe approximately: 5th to 15th century) Christian domain: characterized by the rise of kings and leaders, construction, castles, city walls, markets, cathedrals, monasteries. Increased food production lead to the increase in market squares became a key feature of cities. Transportations was a concern because they only had horses: days and weeks of travels. Market trading relied on bartering because there was no unified currency: trading goods for goods rather than goods for money, trading goods for services. Only 3. 5% of europeans were living in cities: by 1500 europe had about 100 cities with a population of more than 25,000. Fall of the roman empire occurred and a lot of the achievements and knowledge the roman society had made have been forgotten. Hierarchy class system: royals vs. majority who had no chance to cross class barriers.