The Medieval Town

A 'gem' of a book that propels the reader back in time, allowing them to experience the delights of medieval life.

"Medieval Towns will become a standard sourcebook." - Martha Howell, Miriam Champion Professor of History, Columbia University

This book brings together twelve outstanding articles by eminent historians to throw light on the evolution of medieval towns and the lives of their inhabitants. The essays span the period from the dramatic urban expansion of the thirteenth century to the crises in the fifteenth century as a result of plague, population decline and changes in the economy. Throughout the breadth of current debates surrounding the history of urban society is fully explored.

The reissue of Joseph and Frances Gies’s classic bestseller on life in medieval villages. This new reissue of Life in a Medieval Village, by respected historians Joseph and Frances Gies, paints a lively, convincing portrait of rural people at work and at play in the Middle Ages. Focusing on the village of Elton, in the English East Midlands, the Gieses detail the agricultural advances that made communal living possible, explain what domestic life was like for serf and lord alike, and describe the central role of the church in maintaining social harmony. Though the main focus is on Elton, c. 1300, the Gieses supply enlightening historical context on the origin, development, and decline of the European village, itself an invention of the Middle Ages. Meticulously researched, Life in a Medieval Village is a remarkable account that illustrates the captivating world of the Middle Ages and demonstrates what it was like to live during a fascinating—and often misunderstood—era.

Provides an overview of the towns, trades, crafts, and travelers in Medieval Europe.

In an interesting narrative illustrated with select documents, this Anvil Book presents a clear picture of medieval town life and institutions throughout Europe/ The authors have kept in mind the controversial questions in the field of medieval urban history, and have considered such varied subjects as religion and customs, the history of social groups, and the developments of commerce and industry. Thus, they offer a concise but penetrating analysis of constitutional, economic and social history, giving due attention to Mediterranean as well to Northern Europe.