This document summarizes key developments in medieval European cities between the 12th and 15th centuries. It discusses how improved agriculture led to population growth and increased trade between different routes. This stimulated the development of banking and finance. More people migrated to cities for work opportunities and freedom, causing urban populations to expand. Cities became centers of trade, crafts, and governance, though they remained small overall. Craftsmen organized themselves by street and trade, while citizens represented a diversity of social classes and religions. Monarchies grew stronger by collecting more taxes, creating professional armies, and establishing parliaments to reduce noble power and approve budgets and legislation.

1. Medieval cities
Unit 3 - 2º ESO

2. 1- Why did Europe become more prosperous?
The improvements in agriculture made the population increased.
Some of the improvements were:
.More land available.
.New crops.
.New techniques.
.New machinery.
.More irrigated areas.
.Greater use of mills.

3. Activities
Exercises 1 and 2 on page 31.

4. 2- How did trade grow?
Trade developed quickly from the 12th Century.
There were two main trade routes:
1. The Mediterranean route
2. The Atlantic and Baltic route -> dominated by the Hanseatic League.

5. The development of banking
Due to the increase in trade, banking systems developed as well, and new
techniques appeared:
.Payment by credit.
.Bills of exchange.

6. Activities
Exercises 1 to 3 on page 32.

7. 3- Why did cities grow?
The importance of cities
From the 12th Century cities grew again.
Some were old cities, but others were new cities.
Medieval cities were small.

8. The causes of urban growth
1. Many peasants migrated to
cities due to the
improvements in
agriculture (less workers
were necessary).
2. The revival in trade made
cities the centre of the
exchanges.
3. Cities offered a better life
and freedom.

9. Inhabitants of the cities
1. Rich merchants, who governed cities.
2. Craftsmen, shopkeepers or domestic service (most of the population)
3. Poor people with no job.
Religion
Most of the cities population were Christians, but there were also other
groups who lived in separated quarters:
.Ghettoes: Jewish people lived there
.Moorish quarters: muslim people

11. Activities
Exercises 1 and 3 on page 33

12. 4- What was the role of craftsmen?
CRAFTSMEN
The number of craftsmen raised because of
the increase in the demand.
They worked on different products and with
different materials, but they always worked
by hand.
Their place to work was the workshops,
usually located in their own houses. They also
had a shop to sell the products in the same
space.
Craftsmen of the same profession often lived
in the same street, named after trades.

13. TRADES
There were 3 categories of craftsmen:
1. Master craftsmen
2. Journeymen
3. Apprentices

14. Practise
Look carefully.
-Could you identify the people in
this picture?
-And what would be the trade?

16. 5- Why did monarchies grow stronger?
The growth of Royal authority
Due to the economic improvement Kings collected more taxes. They created now
their own armies (so they did not depend on nobles anymore). They reinforced
their power by restoring Roman law.
In cities, the kings began to take power from the nobles.
They gave charters of liberties to the cities to gain citizen help.
Kings began to have political power.

17. The creation of Parliaments
The kings created the Parliaments.
In the Parliaments a few people was represented:
● the king
● the nobles
● the clergy
● the city mayors
Kings used Parliaments in order to reduce nobles
importance with the aid of cities.
The main functions of the Parliaments were:
● establish new taxes
● approve special budgets for wars

18. Conflicts between European kingdoms
The main reasons for having conflicts in that time were:
● War of succession: when a king died with no heirs.
● Border conflicts: regarding kingdom’s borders or new lands.

19. Activity
Exercise 1 on page 34 and 1 on page 35.

20. Revision activities
-Work on pages 36-37: exercises 1, 2 a, 3 and 5.