The aim of this thesis is to explain why differences arose between Norwegian, Danish and English towns with regard to their economic functions
NEW! The Medieval Magazine, No. 110: THE RISE OF THE MEDIEVAL CITY
May 6, 2018 by
In this issue, we focus on cities. From Barcelona, to Constantinople, to Bologna, we cover marriage, trade, slavery, and foundation stories. Take a trip with us around the world and learn about the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the medieval city.
Wild animals and medieval towns
April 7, 2018 by
In the year 1166, the town of Carmarthen in southern Wales was attacked by a rabid wolf, which bit 22 people.
Walking in Sixteenth-Century Venice: Mobilizing the Early Modern City
February 12, 2018 by
By studying physical motion, we can capture the dynamism of early modern cities and, drawing on all the rich meanings of the Italian verb movimentare, move, mobilize, invigorate, and enliven the history of early modern urban society and culture.
Krakow, the Old Town – A Continental Venice
January 18, 2018 by
Surviving the destructions of the war, the old town of Krakow is a lesson of architecture and urbanism through the multitude of architectural styles, coherence and urban continuity.
Mensuration in Early Medieval Barcelona
October 10, 2017 by
Various units of length are found in use in early medieval Barcelona, but the dexter is by far the most common. However, the interpretation of its value is by no means straightforward.
Decline or Transformation? Archaeology and the Late Medieval ‘Urban Decline’ in Southern England
September 10, 2017 by
Decline or Transformation? Archaeology and the Late Medieval ‘Urban Decline’ in Southern England By Ben Jervis Archaeological Journal, Vol.174:1 (2017) Abstract: Archaeological evidence is used to examine how urban life changed in the later medieval towns of Sussex, Surrey, and Hampshire in southern England, in light of ongoing debates about the existence of a fifteenth-century urban […]
Constraining Elites: The Self-Enforcing Constitution of the Patricians of Venice
July 28, 2017 by
This paper analyzes how late Middle Age and Renaissance era Venice achieved economic prosperity despite being ruled by elite patricians.
Death of a Renaissance Record-Keeper: The Murder of Tomasso da Tortona in Ferrara, 1385
May 4, 2017 by
Beginning with a description of the murder of an Italian record-keeper at the hands of an angry mob in the late fourteenth century, this essay explores the historical background of official records destruction during the Renaissance
A millennium of Belgrade (Sixth-Sixteenth centuries): A Short Overview
April 17, 2017 by
This paper gives an overview of the history of Belgrade from the reign of Justinian I (527–565), i.e. the time of Slavic settlement, to the Ottoman conquest in 1521.
Changing Places: a comparative discussion of London and Tours in the Early Medieval Period
March 29, 2017 by
This paper examines the developmental stages that occurred at two settlements which saw significant changes from the 5th to 12th centuries AD; London and Tours.
How and when Venice became Venice: Framing the urban development of a trading town in Italy
March 29, 2017 by
Venice was one of the most important cities in Europe in the late Middle Ages and the Modern era, when it formed an independent state which controlled trade across the Mediterranean and towards the Levant.
Leprosy and Plague in St Giles in the Fields
March 3, 2017 by
Author and historian, Rebecca Rideal, on leprosy in London during the Middles Ages and Early Modern period.
1390 AD: London in the Late Middle Ages
October 26, 2016 by
Last week, we spoke with Dr. Matthew Green about his new History of London course. This week, we take a peek into the first lecture of the series, a ‘teaser’ on Medieval London in 1390.
The Mayor of London: The First, The Cursed, and the Worst Mayor in London’s History
May 13, 2016 by
London is an old city, with over 2,000 years of history under its belt. When did London have its first mayor? Who were some of Londons best loved, most reviled, and scandalous mayors from days gone by? The role of mayor has a long and rich history going back over 800 years to the reign of Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199). We’re hoping back in time to take a look at three of London’s more memorable mayors.
BOOK REVIEW: Medieval Medicine: Its Mysteries and Science by Toni Mount
May 3, 2016 by
Our review of Toni Mount’s fascinating look at medicine in the Middle Ages in – Medieval Medicine: Its Mysteries and Science by Toni Mount.
The Cathedral and the City
April 30, 2016 by
Another fantastic talk. Professor Caroline Bruzelius talks to us about medieval art, architecture, and the role of the cathedral in Medieval society.
Medieval Survivals In Modern Rome
March 7, 2016 by
An analysis of medieval buildings in Rome with “defensive” characteristics has been ongoing for the past four years (towers, fortified houses, fortifications on ancient monuments).
Municipal problems in mediaeval Switzerland
January 21, 2016 by
In Switzerland the chief cities were by this time either component parts of the Confederation or in alliance with it. Municipalities, therefore, entered into the borders of the higher state-craft and of diplomacy.
Medieval Traffic Problems
January 17, 2016 by
The medieval city was seen as a crowded, bustling place, with people, horses, carts and wagons all moving around. Just as in our modern city, this would all lead to inevitable traffic problems.
The Power of Poo: Waste and the Medieval Environment
October 20, 2015 by
This study will compare the ways in which three vastly different European cities and their civic institutions, London England – the Chartered Capital of a Kingdom, Siena Italy – an Oligarchic Republic, and Gdansk Poland – the reluctant territory of a Theocratic state
Fair Trade?: A Look at the Hanseatic League
October 11, 2015 by
In the 14th century, an ongoing feud ensued between the Hanseatic League and non-Hanse merchants. Here’s a quick look at the rise and fall of the one of the most powerful organizations of the Late Middle Ages.
Small-town life in a late medieval Burgundy: the case of Cluny
October 2, 2015 by
To serve the domestic needs of the mother community, a town grew up at the gates of the abbey in which traders and merchants, men of law and craftsmen of all sorts soon established themselves.
The Politics of the Gate: Byzantine City Walls and the Urban Negotiation of Imperial Authority
August 17, 2015 by
From its violent birth as the surviving portion of a civilization engulfed by invaders to its violent death as a lone city overwhelmed by irresistible assault, the Byzantine Empire was a state walled against perpetual siege.
Prostitution in the Medieval City
July 21, 2015 by
Prostitution was a vice that was was considered a necessary evil because of “men’s lust”. Ecclesiastics felt that if brothels weren’t available to men in cities, they would find other inappropriate outlets for their entertainment. In an effort to curb potential problems, civic officials permitted prostitution to function within the city walls so long as it was regulated and turned a profit.
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