Process of Urbanization in Western Europe During the High to Late Middle Ages
European society in the Middle Ages was predominately rural. The great urban centres of the Roman Empire had either decayed or remained as administrative and religious centres. The societal wealth and power rested within the countryside. The countryside began to experience economic growth in the 11th century. This economic growth would trigger a series of changes to the European societal order in the 12th century. While the majority of the population remained in the countryside, an influx of people migrated from the countryside to towns. A process of urban revival was seen throughout Western Europe. Industries emerged, trade flourished, and the societal structure began to change, leading to a shift in power dynamics. Conflict arose in the 11th century as lay and clerical powers struggled to sustain authority and quarreled over the jurisdiction each possessed. Each of these powers began to test the changes, in the 12th century, in hopes of extending their influence. The following analysis will discuss how the economic growth in the countryside stimulated changes in lay and clerical authority beginning in the 12th century.
In order to understand how the lay and clerical powers changed it is essential to understand what ignited the economic growth and the consequences of this growth had on the medieval European society. The economic growth in the countryside occurred due to several factors. Advanced farming techniques, such as the three-field system with the introduction of heavy horse-drawn plows, iron horse shoes and advanced harnessing techniques allowed for peasants to work more efficiently therefore reaping greater harvests. Combined with the use of wind and water mills to grind the grain, peasants would get as much from their harvest as possible, creating large surpluses.
The economic growth in the countryside brought surpluses to towns, and with the surplus came people. Saint-Bertin, a late medieval chronicler commented on this process, “first merchants with
In order to understand how the lay and clerical powers changed it is essential to understand what ignited the economic growth and the consequences of this growth had on the medieval European society. The economic growth in the countryside occurred due to several factors. Advanced farming techniques, such as the three-field system with the introduction of heavy horse-drawn plows, iron horse shoes and advanced harnessing techniques allowed for peasants to work more efficiently therefore reaping greater harvests. Combined with the use of wind and water mills to grind the grain, peasants would get as much from their harvest as possible, creating large surpluses.
The economic growth in the countryside brought surpluses to towns, and with the surplus came people. Saint-Bertin, a late medieval chronicler commented on this process, “first merchants with