1. Medieval towns The Medieval World HI127

3. What makes a town? Is size a determinant? Is a legal deed crucial?

4. Types of town 1. A town with Roman origins 2. New political centres of the middle ages 3. Outgrowth of prosperous villages 4. Artificial creations (These categories overlap)

5. Why do towns grow? They are dependent on agricultural productivity Sometimes they spring up around ecclesiastical communities Interdependence of town and countryside

10. Trade Position of a town is important Development of long-distance trade during this period Trade facilitated by growth in money supply Italian ports are important in ‘opening up’ trading opportunities

12. Trading routes

13. Trade by conquest: Genoa, Pisa and Venice

14. Banking and fairs Banking facilitates trade through loans Fairs provide an interface between long-distance and local trade to the countryside

17. Social relations Why do people move to cities in this period? Legal advantages; economic opportunities; flight from poverty (and many other reasons) But poverty and social exclusion are real problems