1) During the Middle Ages, most people lived in the countryside after the fall of Rome, but towns grew again during the High Middle Ages due to improved farming, surplus crops, and increased trade along waterways. 2) Towns established independent rule by obtaining royal charters that granted self-governance and tax rights, shifting power away from feudal lords. Trade and production became organized under guilds of merchants and craftspeople. 3) Life in medieval towns was difficult, with crowded/unsanitary conditions and frequent disease outbreaks. However, towns also saw the growth of commerce, guild apprenticeships, and cultural activities like plays and festivals.