After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in Europe the epoch of the "dark ages."During this period, almost all the city fell into disrepair and deserted.The feudal lords preferred to live in their residences.Greatly reduce the value of money in the economy.Monasteries just exchanged gifts.If one Abbey forged iron products, and in another, for example, beer was brewed, they sent each other of the products.Peasants also engaged in barter trade.
But gradually, crafts and trade began to recover, resulting in the formation of medieval towns.Some of them have been rebuilt in place of the ancient polis, others occurred near the monasteries, bridges, port villages, busy road.
ancient and medieval city
The Roman buildings policies carried out in accordance with pre-approved plan.Every major city has been an arena for sports and gladiator fights, water, sewerage.Streets made smooth and wide.The emergence and growth of medieval towns took place in a different scenario.They built up chaotically, without a single plan.
Interestingly, in the early Middle Ages many of the ancient buildings were used not for the purpose for which they were originally constructed.So, spacious Roman bath is often converted into a Christian church.Inside the Coliseum, directly in the arena, built houses.
role of trade
Renaissance cities in Europe began with Italy.Maritime trade with Byzantium and Arab countries led to the emergence of money-capital from the merchants to the peninsula.Gold began to flock to the Italian medieval town.The development of commodity-money relations has changed the way of life of the northern Mediterranean.In place of the natural economy, when each feudal inheritance provides himself with everything you need, come regional specialization.
Development of Crafts
Trade has a key influence on the formation of medieval towns.Urban Craft became a full-fledged way of earnings.Previously, farmers were forced to engage in farming, and, and other crafts.Now we have the opportunity to be professionally engaged in the manufacture of a specialized product, to sell their products and used the money to buy food.
Artisans in the cities were united in the guild, called workshops.Such organizations were created for the purpose of mutual aid and anti-competitive.Many kinds of crafts were allowed to deal only with the members of the workshop.In the attack on the town from the enemy army guild members formed self-defense units.
religious factor
Christian tradition of pilgrimage to religious sites also had an impact on the formation of medieval towns.Initially, most of the most revered relics are in Rome.To venerate them, the city receives thousands of pilgrims.Of course, to go on a long journey in those days could only be non-poor people.For them, Rome was opened many hotels, restaurants, shops with religious literature.
Bishops other cities, seeing how much income bring Rome devout travelers, too, wanted to get some relic.The sacred objects were brought from distant lands or miraculously found on the site.It could be the nails that crucified Christ, relics of Apostles, Jesus or the Virgin's clothing and other such artifacts.The more pilgrims managed to attract, the higher the income of the city.
military factors
the war is largely the history of the Middle Ages.The medieval town, among other functions, can be an important strategic object of protecting the country's borders from invading enemies.In this case, its outer wall makes it particularly strong and high.And in the city housed a military garrison and a large supply of provisions in barns in the event a long siege.
In the late Middle Ages, many army consisted of mercenaries.This practice is especially widespread in the rich Italy.Residents there the cities do not want to risk on the battlefield, and preferred to contain mercenary army.It serves many Swiss and Germans.
Universities
Educational institutions also contributed to the formation of medieval towns.The history of European universities started in the XI century.And here, too, the primacy of the Italians.In 1088 in Bologna it was founded the oldest university in Europe.He continues to teach students in our day.
Later universities appeared in France, in England, and then in other countries.They conducted the teaching of theological and secular subjects.Universities exist on private money, and therefore have a sufficient degree of independence from the authorities.In some European countries still have laws that prohibit police enter the territory of the higher educational institutions.
Citizens
So, there were a few classes, which occur due to the emergence and development of medieval towns in Europe.
1. Merchants: various goods transported by sea and land.
2. The estate of the craftsmen: masters, manufactures industrial products, have been the foundation of the city's economy.
3. Clergy: the church and the monastery is not only religious rituals, but also scientific and economic activities, as well as participating in political life.
4. Soldiers troops not only participated in the campaign and defense operations, and maintained order in the city.Rulers attracted them to the capture of the thieves and robbers.
5. Professors and students: universities had a considerable influence on the formation of medieval towns.
6. class aristocracy: the palaces of kings, dukes and other nobles also were located in urban areas.
7. Other tradesmen educated: doctors, clerks, bankers, surveyors, judges and so on. D.
8. Urban poor: the servants, beggars, thieves.
struggle for self-government
land on which the town arose, originally belonged to local lords, or church abbey.They levied taxes on the middle class, the size of which was set arbitrarily and frequently was too great.In response to harassment by landlords came medieval commune medieval towns.Artisans, merchants and other residents united to jointly resist the feudal lords.
basic requirements of urban communes were feasible taxes and non-interference of the landlord in the economic activities of residents.Typically, negotiations ended in drafting the Charter, which had been prescribed the rights and obligations of all classes.The signing of these documents has completed the formation of medieval towns, providing the legal foundation of their existence.
Democratic Governance
Once the right to self-government has been reclaimed from the feudal lords, it is time to determine the principles on which is built the medieval town itself.Corporate guilds and craft guilds of merchants were the institutions from which grew the system of joint decision-making and electoral authorities.
mayors and judges in the medieval towns were elected.In this election procedure itself was often rather complex and multi-stage.For example, the Doge of Venice elections were held in 11 stages.The right to vote was not universal.Almost everywhere there was a property qualification and estates, that is able to participate in the elections only the rich or well-born citizens.
When the formation of medieval towns finally ended, there was a system in which all control levers in the hands of a limited number of aristocratic families.The poor were dissatisfied with this state of affairs.Social tensions are sometimes poured into a mob uprising.As a result, the urban aristocracy had to make concessions and expand the rights of the poor.
historical significance of
Active development of the city began in Europe in X-XI centuries in central and northern Italy and in Flanders (modern Belgium and Holland).The driving forces of this process were trade and handicraft production.Later the city began flourishing in France, Spain and the German lands of the Holy Roman Empire.As a result, the continent has changed.
is difficult to overestimate the impact that has had on the development of the formation of medieval towns in Europe.Urban Craft contributed to technical progress.Trade has led to the improvement of shipbuilding, and ultimately to the discovery and exploration of the New World.Traditions municipal government became the basis of the democratic structure of modern Western countries.Charters and Magna Carta that defined the rights and freedoms of various classes, formed a system of European law.A development in the cities of art and science to prepare the advent of the Renaissance.
