A medieval town
In this lesson you will be learning:
• Why medieval towns grew up
• What medieval towns were like
• What medieval townspeople were like
• What jobs medieval townspeople did
• How medieval towns were different to
modern towns
How did towns form?
There were very few large towns in medieval Europe. Most
were no bigger than a modern village with a population of
between 2000 and 10,000. In the 13th century, the largest
cities (Flemish cities and in northern Italy) had populations
of as many as 50,000 inhabitants.
How did towns form?
One of the biggest Medieval cities was Bruges
How did towns form?
One of the biggest Medieval cities was Bruges
How did towns form?
Towns grew up for different reasons and had different
functions as a consequence.
Some had religious functions. The church or cathedral
was usually the most important building.
Other towns had political functions. Towns were freed
from the control of feudal lords and gained liberty. The
town hall was in charge of the government of each city
and its surrounding territory.
Towns also had economic functions. Craft production
and commerce was concentrated in cities. The market
square was the main point for exchanges.
.
How did towns form?
Towns had to be safe. Merchants would not come unless
they felt sure their goods were safe. So the lords built
wooden fences or walls around, them. At night, the gates
were locked to stop foreigners (outsiders) from getting in
How did towns form?
As towns grew in size and became prosperous they
were able to buy a charter, a document which gave
them freedom from the lord of the manor on whose land
the town had grown up.
By the 12th century, many lords of
the manor were short of money
and were glad to sell the rights of
the town to pay off their debts.
The town charter allowed the townsfolk to have a mayor,
whom they elected, and a law court of their own.
A typical town street
What jobs did people have in the towns?
Men of the same craft or trade lived in the same street,
and often gave their name to the street.
Look at the plan of the town. What sort of
occupations could you find there?
A medieval town?
A medieval town