Urban Growth, Trade, Crafts, and Cultural Transformation in Medieval Europe

Apuntes

**THE RESURGENCE OF EUROPEAN CITIES** • Introduction: From the 11th century onwards, the first European cities appeared. At the same time, some other events took place: 1. The revival (impulso) of trade. 2. The development of craftsmanship (artesanía). 3. The appearance of the bourgeoisie. The emergence of cities brought some consequences, including political, economic, social, and cultural developments (such as schools and universities). • The Expansion of Agriculture and Trade: There were some improvements in agriculture that led to an increase in population. These improvements include: 1. The Roman plough was replaced by the heavy plough. 2. Irrigation was introduced, which had two advantages: - Fewer crops were lost during droughts. - New crops such as citrus fruits and rice were introduced. 3. The introduction of the three-year crop rotation. As a result of population growth, the demand for products also increased, leading to an increase in trade. There were two main types of trade: 1. Trade between cities and the countryside. 2. Trade between regions. Goods were brought from far away and sold in markets. There were two main trade routes: • Mediterranean Route: - Spanish and I...