Medieval cities experienced a period of growth and development between the 12th and 13th centuries. Advances in agriculture led to increased food production and population growth, allowing cities to reemerge as centers of trade, artisan production, and new social classes like the bourgeoisie. However, the 14th century brought crises like wars, famine, plague, and subsequent social unrest that marked the Lower Middle Ages. Despite this, Gothic art and architecture flourished as new styles emphasized taller, lighter structures like cathedrals.

1. Medieval cities
Víctor Marín Navarro
http://labrujuladeltiempo.wordpress.com
@VictorMarinNav

2. Medieval cities
In the 12th and 13th centuries, a period of
economic growth led to the rebirth of cities.
Cities became important centres of artisan
activity and trade.
A new social class appeared called the
bourgeoisie. It was made up of traders, artisans
and bankers.
At the beginning of the 14th century, social
tensions increased due to food shortages,
rising prices and a general decline in the quality

4. The return of urban life
At the end of 11th century, in Western Europe,
agricultural production increased and
population grew. This situation was produced
by different causes:
● The number of wars and invasions
decreased sharply.
● New technical innovations in agriculture,
such as triennial rotation, which increased
production.
● New farming tools, such as fertiliser, ploughs
and mills.

5. The return of urban life
Triennial rotation Windmill

6. The return of urban life
Mouldboard plough

7. The return of urban life
Trade increased as a result of extensive agricultural production. Farmers began
to produce more than they could consume, and sold the excess crops.
This increase in production also meant an improvement in diet and health,
which caused population to grow.

8. The return of urban life
Cities began to develop, as farmers looked for places to sell their
surplus crops. In the cities, farmers exchanged crops for
products made by artisans.

9. Medieval cities
The new urban centres were
called burghs, and their
inhabitants were called
burghers.
Medieval cities were protected
by high walls. Inside the walls,
the streets were narrow and
unpaved.
There was usually a square in
the centre of the city. This
square had the most important
public buildings: the cathedral,
the town and the marketplace.
Monarchs and nobles
sometimes built urban palaces
in these cities.
Around the city centre were
houses. There were also
hospitals, schools and inns.
There were a lot of religious
buildings, such as churches or
convents.

10. Medieval cities
View of Carcassonne (France)

11. Medieval cities
Medieval cities and urban streets

12. Medieval cities
The Cathedral in Reims (France)

13. Urban activities: artisan workshops
and trade
Medieval cities became
production centres of
artisan products. Artisans
that made the same
products lived on the same
street, which was named
after them.
Artisans worked in
workshops. The owner of
the workshop was the
master artisan. The house
where he lived was also
used as the workshop.

14. Urban activities: artisan workshops
and trade

15. Guilds
Artisans who made the
same products formed
guilds that were made up of
apprentices, artisans and
masters.
The guilds ensured that all
the artisans respected the
same rules concerning:
● Working hours
● Tools
● Quality of the products
● Price of the products

16. Guilds

17. Fairs
There were markets in the
cities where farmers from
the countryside exchanged
their agricultural products
for artisan products.
There were also fairs, or big
markets, that took place at
the same time each year in
a particular city.

18. Fairs

19. Money, banking and trade routes
The development of trade
made money and banks
necessary. Many cities
began producing their own
silver or gold coins again.
Long distanced trade was carried
out by ship:
● The Mediterranean route joined
the West with the Near East and
the Byzantine Empire. Luxury
products such as silk and spices
were imported. Fabrics,
weapons and tools were
exported.
● The Atlantic and Baltic routes
joined the ports of the Iberian
Peninsula with Northern Europe.
Wool, wine, leather, wood and
wheat were transported through
the Dutch ports.

20. European medieval fairs and trade

21. Urban society
The growth of cities
transformed feudal society. A
new social class was formed:
the bourgeoisie. The
bourgeoisie worked as
artisans or traders.
They lived more freely than
peasants in fiefdoms as they
were not dependent on feudal
lords.
The origin of their wealth was
money, due to they worked as
bankers and traders.

22. Urban society
Other social groups also
lived in cities. There were
also minorities such as
Jews. Jews worked as
doctors, moneylenders or
artisans and lived in a
separate neighbourhood
called the Jewish quarter.
Jews were frequently
prosecuted by the rest of
the population in many
European countries.

23. City government and culture
Local governments appeared in a lot of European cities, as a privilege
recognised by the kings.
Cities were governed by magistrates, who worked under the mayor in the areas
of finance, order and justice.
Most of the cities were governed by the richest urban families.

24. City government and culture
During the 12th century, the bourgeoisie and the nobles began to
develop an appreciation for knowledge. This appreciation,
together with economic and urban growth, led to development of
schools, and later, universities.
Students could study medicine, law, poetry and theology.

25. City government and culture
The most important European universities were in Paris (France), Oxford and
Cambridge (England) and Bologna (Italy). In Spain, the main university was
Salamanca.

26. Crisis in the Lower Middle Ages
The Lower Middle Ages
was the final period of the
Middle Ages and it lasted
during the 14th and 15th
centuries.
It was conformed by a deep
crisis:
1. Several wars
2. The agricultural crisis
3. Plagues
4. Revolts in cities and the
countryside

27. Crisis in the Lower Middle Ages
The determination of some
European monarchies to
consolidate their power and
establish clear borders
between kingdoms led to
serious conflicts such as the
Hundred Year’s War (1337-
1453) between England and
France.
Although the English occupied
a large part of French territory
for many years, the war ended
with the victory of Charles VII
of France.

28. Evolution of Hundred Year’s War

29. At the beginning of the 14th century
there was a serious agricultural crisis.
The crisis was due to a series of bad
harvests over a number of years.
During the crisis, the production of
wheat decreased and hunger was
common across Europe.
In the middle of the 14th century
(1347), the plague broke out in
Europe, causing many deaths. The
Black Death was a terrible disease
which decreased the third part of
European population. The outbreak
came by ship from Asia and it spread
from Italian ports to the rest of the
continent.
Crisis in the Lower Middle Ages

30. The Black Death Outbreaking Map

31. Social tensions increased
as the lack of food and
rising prices led to a decline
in the quality of life.
Numerous revolts broke out
in cities and in the
countryside. These revolts
were forcefully suppressed
by the nobility, the
bourgeoisie and the kings.
Crisis in the Lower Middle Ages

32. Gothic Art
Beginning in the 13th century, a new
style of art called Gothic art, was
born. In cities, many Gothic buildings
began to be constructed, especially
cathedrals. Taller and lighter
buildings became popular.
● Pointed arch
● Groin vault
● Big stained glass windows
● Flying buttresses to reinforce the
walls
● High towers
● Rose windows
● The floor plan was in the shape
of a Latin cross

33. Gothic architecture

34. Gothic sculpture and painting were
used to decorate churches and
cathedrals. This was a significant
change from Romanesque Art.
● More realistic
● The scenes had depth and the
people showed emotions
● Sculpture and painting were
especially developed in France,
Italy, Spain and Belgium
● Some gothic painters were
Giotto and Jan Van Eyck
Gothic Art

35. Jan Van Eyck, The Ghent Altarpiece