Maybe something will do ... Cities in medieval Europe were small. Our usual scales of "metropolis" do not apply to them at all. Even Great Rome in the heyday of the empire had only about 1 million inhabitants. In the average city of Western Europe in the times described, no more than 5-7 thousand people lived. A city with a population of 15-20 thousand was already considered large, and a population of 40-50 thousand was only in the capitals of large states, such as London or Paris. A very small town could have only 2-3 thousand inhabitants.

The situation was somewhat different in Italy and Byzantium. There, in general, the relative part of the urban population was larger. And the largest cities, such as Venice, Milan or the "heir of Rome" Constantinople, had up to 100 thousand inhabitants. But we will no longer remember about Italy and Byzantium in this text.

Sometimes there are discrepancies in the assessment of the population of medieval cities, due to the fact that in the documents of that time, as a rule, not the entire population was indicated, but only adults, and sometimes only adult men. Therefore, if you read that there are 700 citizens in the city, then most likely the total population of the city is about 2000.

Note that in a small town where only 3 thousand people live, as a rule, everyone knows everyone and the arrival of a group of strangers cannot go unnoticed. In such a city, with the exception of fairs, festive processions and other special occasions, there is almost never a crowd of such a size that one can really get lost in it.

Distances between cities were small. In densely populated areas, the distance between neighboring cities did not exceed 1-2 days of horse riding (30-50 km).

Cities were built along the banks of rivers, along large tracts or around castles. If the city was placed on the road, then the section of this road within the city turned into the main city street. In coastal cities, the main street usually became the road leading from the seigneur's castle (or other main building of the city) to the coast. Less commonly, the main street stretched along the river or the seashore (this is typical for cities that grew out of fishing villages).

Almost every city is surrounded by walls. Moreover, the larger and richer the city, the more powerful and high walls protect it. In the smallest and youngest towns, just an earthen embankment and a wooden palisade on it can serve as protection, in larger cities - stone walls with towers and loopholes. All townspeople had to participate in the construction and maintenance of city fortifications, however, almost everywhere "working off" could be replaced by a cash contribution.

Gardens and orchards owned by the townspeople usually extend around the city walls. Often the nearest rural district (3-5 miles around the city) was considered to belong to the city and was under the jurisdiction of the city authorities.

The city gates were locked at sunset and unlocked at dawn.

Life in the city began at dawn. Usually the beginning of the day was announced by the sound of the cathedral bells, gong or bugle. The chiming clock on the tower of the town hall was an expensive pleasure and only a wealthy city could afford such a "miracle". The clock was the pride of the townspeople. By the way, this clock did not show "minutes".

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Medieval cities were surrounded by high walls with towers, as well as deep pits to protect against attack from outside. In the event of an attack, the citizens of the city formed a military militia. The walls limited the growth of the city, so the streets became extremely narrow, and the upper floors of houses often protruded above the lower ones. The narrow and crooked streets of the cities were often dim, street lighting did not exist, which made merchants and boyars, as well as ordinary people, an easy hindrance for thieves and robbers. The central place in the city was usually the market square, not far from which the city's cathedral was located. Garbage and sewage in cities was usually dumped into rivers or into nearby ditches, or even on the heads of passers-by. In cities, due to sewage, epidemics often broke out, which were carried by cockroaches with rats, as well as vagrants, there were often fires that easily spread from roof to roof and often people did not have time to put out and if a small city burned a good half of the city. The main population of medieval cities made by artisans. They became peasants who fled from their owners or went to the cities on the terms of payment of dues to the owner. Becoming townspeople, they gradually freed themselves from personal dependence on the feudal lord. If a peasant who fled to the city lived in it for a certain period, usually one year and one day, then he became free. Only later did merchants appear in the cities. Although the bulk of the townspeople were engaged in crafts and trade, many residents of the city had their fields, pastures and gardens outside the city walls, and partly within the city. Small livestock (goats, sheep and pigs) often grazed right in the city, and the pigs ate garbage, leftover food and sewage, which were usually thrown directly into the street. znanija.com/task/865607 Composition on the history of "Journey through the medieval city" or "Medieval city" I entered this French city in the morning through the gate in the fortress wall. The guards had just opened the city gates, locked at night. Therefore, with me, many peasants entered the city, who carried goods on carts to the fair. I found myself in a maze of narrow streets. On some of them even a wagon could not pass. In addition, the second floors of the houses protruded strongly above the first. I had to make my way in the semi-darkness, holding on to the walls. The women were talking loudly from the windows above my head. Once, slop was thrown from above directly onto the street. I barely managed to jump back. The streets were very dirty. On one of them, a fat pig was lying in a puddle. In dead ends, garbage dumps often came across, along which rats calmly walked around. The locals told me that only a year ago a plague appeared in the city. But the devastating epidemic, fortunately, did not happen. I got to the street of artisans. Tanners, blacksmiths, carpenters, weavers, tailors, shoemakers, engravers, gold and silver craftsmen worked here. The doors of each workshop were open and the emblem of the workshop, that is, the association of artisans, hung over the entrance. I also learned from local residents that there is a spinning factory in the city, where many people work. I went out to the central square, paved with cobblestones. I admired the town hall tower, in the building of which the mayor and municipal authorities sit. Next to it is the main city cathedral. It is built in the Gothic style. Its narrow towers with sharp spiers seem to be trying to reach the heavens. A hill rose above the city, on which I saw a castle surrounded by a wall and a moat. It was the residence of the Duke of Alençon, a feudal lord and owner of all the surrounding lands. The inhabitants of the city did not work on his estate, but still completely depended on his wrath and favors.

MBOU "Secondary school of the village of Mariets"

Project work on history

Journey to the medieval city

I've done the work:

Fatykhov Sultan, 6th grade student

Head: Nabieva I.M.,

teacher of history and social studies

Mariets

2016

CONTENT:

Introduction:

- goals and objectives.

Main part:

- working process.

Conclusion.

List of sources.

Introduction

Many cities existed in the Middle Ages. I decided to take a virtual trip to the medieval city. This is a collective image of all Western European cities that existed in the Middle Ages.

Putgoal: find out what the medieval city looked like, how its inhabitants lived and what they did.

Tasks:

1. Study the Internet - resources on this topic.

2. Select the required material.

3. Prepare a presentation.

Main part

To prepare my project, I turned to Internet resources. Selected the required information. Made a plan:

1.1. Causes of cities in Western Europe.

2. What the city looked like in the Middle Ages.

.

1. The history of the origin of medieval cities.

1.1. Reasons for the emergence of cities in Western Europe .

Successes in the economy, the separation of craft from agriculture, the escape of artisans from estates, their settlement near castles and fortresses, the development of trade - all this contributed to the emergence of medieval cities.

1.2. Locations of medieval cities.

Cities in Western Europe appeared in various places, as evidenced by their names: near castles and fortresses (Augsburg, Strasbourg, Brandenburg, Hamburg), around monasteries (St. Albans, St. Germain, Sant Jago), near bridges (Bruges, Cambridge), near river crossings (Erfurt, Frankfurt, Oxford), near sea harbors (Marseille, Genoa).

In German, the word "burg" means a fortress, "fort" a ford, "hafen" a harbor; in English the word "ford" means a ford, "bridge" a bridge, "chester" (from the Latin "castrum") a camp.

2. What the city looked like in the Middle Ages .

The sizes of Western European medieval cities were small.The population of cities rarely exceeded 5-6 thousand. Therefore, all residents could live outside the fortress walls. The walls ended with canopies and loopholes designed for defense. Sentinels were located in the towers, and wells were built in their cellars or underground passages were dug out. The city could be entered through the gates located between two towers or under the tower.

Tax collectors were housed here. They took money to enter and sometimes to leave the city.The city gates were closed at night. The walls that surrounded the medieval city became cramped over time and could not accommodate all the city buildings. Around the walls that formed the original center of the city, urban suburbs gradually arose - settlements, settlements, inhabited mainly by artisans. Craftsmen of the same profession usually lived on the same street. The suburbs, in turn, were surrounded by a new ring of walls and fortifications. The central place in the city was the market square, not far from which the city cathedral was located, and in cities where there was self-government of the townspeople, there was also the city hall (city council).The town hall was guarded by troops, since it contained the city treasury and the city seal. A clock was placed on the tower of the town hall.

Beyond the city walls, and sometimes within their borders, lay fields, pastures, vegetable gardens that belonged to the townspeople. Small livestock (goats, sheep and pigs) often grazed right in the city. The walls prevented the city from growing in breadth, so the streets became extremely narrow, the houses (often wooden) closely adjoined each other, their upper floors often protruded in the form of ledges above the lower ones, and the roofs of the houses located on opposite sides of the street almost touched each other .

The rays of the sun often did not penetrate into the narrow and crooked city streets. Garbage, leftover food and sewage were usually thrown directly into the street. Due to the unsanitary condition in the cities, epidemics broke out, there were devastating fires.

There was no street lighting.The townspeople, forced to leave the house in the evening, armed themselves with a long stick and a smoky lantern, which had to be protected from the wind with a raincoat.

The street bore the name of some saint or was designated by the name of the craft whose representatives settled on this street. Gardeners, Dyers, Tanners, Saddlers - these are the names of streets that do not require explanation. Sometimes the streets owed their name to those foreigners, "guests" who often visited the city: the English street in Lübeck, the Lombard street in Basel, the Russian street in Wroclaw. There was no numbering of houses, to which we are accustomed. Usually the house was decorated with the emblem of its owner. The shoemaker proclaimed his profession with a brightly painted wooden boot of impressive size. The baker decorated his dwelling with a huge gilded pretzel. And if it was impossible to find the proper emblem of the craft, then a wooden shield of one color or another was simply nailed to the house. The address sounded peculiar: "Street of St. Jacob, house of the blue boot, on the right ...". The houses were wooden, they were coated with clay on the outside and covered with boards or straw, less often with more expensive tiles.

3. Inhabitants of a medieval city and their occupations .

The main population of medieval cities were artisans. They became peasants who fled from their masters or went to the cities on the terms of payment of dues to the master. Becoming townspeople, they gradually freed themselves from from the feudal If a peasant who fled to the city lived in it for a certain period, usually one year and one day, then he became free. A medieval proverb said: "City air makes you free." Only later did merchants appear in the cities.

Craftsmen of a certain profession united within each city in special unions - . In Italy, workshops arose already from the 10th century, in France, England, Germany and - from the XI-XII centuries. In most cities, belonging to a guild was a prerequisite for doing a craft. The workshop strictly regulated production, and through specially elected officials ensured that each master - a member of the workshop - produced products of a certain quality. For example, the weaver's workshop prescribed what width and color the fabric should be, how many threads should be in the warp, what tool and material should be used, etc. The workshop charters strictly limited the number of apprentices and apprentices that one master could have, they forbade work at night and on holidays, limited the number of machines for one artisan, and regulated the stocks of raw materials. In addition, the guild was also a mutual aid organization for artisans, providing assistance to its needy members and their families at the expense of an entrance fee to the guild, fines and other payments in case of illness or death of a member of the guild. The workshop also acted as a separate combat unit of the city militia in case of war.

In almost all cities of medieval Europe in the XIII-XV centuries there was a struggle between craft workshops and a narrow, closed group of urban rich ( ). The results of this struggle varied. In some cities, primarily those where craft prevailed over trade, workshops won ( , , ). In other cities, where merchants played a leading role, handicraft workshops were defeated ( , , ).

Medieval cities always arose on earth , who was interested in the emergence of a city on his land, since crafts and trade brought him additional income. But the desire of the feudal lords to get as much income from the city as possible inevitably led to a struggle between the city and its . Often, cities managed to obtain the rights of self-government by paying a large sum of money to the lord. In Italy, cities achieved great independence already in the 11th-12th centuries. Many cities of Northern and Central Italy subjugated significant surrounding areas and became ( , Milan and etc.)

Complete equality of all citizens during the Middle Ages was not achieved anywhere. Far from all the population were full-fledged burghers: hired workers, servants, women, the poor, in some places the clergy did not enjoy the rights of citizens, but - even the last beggars - remained free people.

The poor in the medieval city were all those who did not have their own real estate and were forced to work for hire. During the training period, the master's students were a low-income stratum of the population. But they had the hope after the end of the training period to buy a craft workshop, become craftsmen and receive the status of full-fledged burghers. More sad was the fate of the apprentices, who worked all their lives as hired workers for the master and received for this miserable pennies, which were barely enough to live on.

Medieval students, whose universities were most often located within city limits, were also extremely poor. It is possible to carry wandering actors, troubadours to poor layers of the population of cities. Among the poor there were also those who did not work anywhere, but lived off alms, which they begged for on the church porch.

Conclusion

While working on the project, I learned more about the life of the medieval cities of Western Europe. I was interested to learn about the origin of the names of European cities. I think that this work can be useful for a history lesson.

List of sources :

Today in the lesson we will make an amazing journey through the medieval city. You will be part of this journey. We will meet brave knights, beautiful and mysterious ladies, hardworking and craftsmen, Catholic priests, famous burghers, dukes, barons. Archivists will help us on the journey - connoisseurs of history, keepers of secrets. This role will be performed by students of grades 6a and 6b of Kosyakov. N, Letavina G, Yartsev L.

In the first centuries of the Middle Ages, there were almost no cities in Europe. And in the 19th century, cities covered the whole of Europe with a dense network. Cities arose on the lands of feudal lords and experienced severe oppression. However, in the 11th-13th centuries, the townspeople emerged victorious from this struggle and achieved many rights and freedoms. The city is a state in miniature. The medieval city, freed from the power of the lord, stood, as it were, outside feudal law, since it was guided by its city law. The city lived its own dissimilar life, both the world of the village and the world of the feudal castle were equally alien to it. What did medieval cities look like? An example for us can be the German city of Nuremberg:

There were houses in it without an account - High, low, new, old. Not forgetting about the fires, They were built: a protective wall was erected Between every two houses; With intricate carvings, teeth Decorated there smartly And the slopes of the roofs and their skates. Look how harmonious and beautiful Here the streets are. From here you can see them all. They are here - not a lot and not at all - Five-odd now it has become. A surplus - twenty-eight for sure! Wells - one hundred and sixteen by the count Are full to the top, and there are also a dozen Fountains with free water. We have six big clocks. Of these, four hit all of a sudden. Twelve in the city of hills, Eleven large bridges (And all of stone, everything as it is!) Gates - exactly six, Ten markets for the people. The counters are never empty: There are more than enough grains, cabbages ... (Hans Sachs, 1530)

A special spirit of freedom and brotherhood reigned in the city. It was in medieval cities that a new attitude to work was born. Labor is not a punishment, but a merit before God. A person is valued not by origin, but by talent, which manifests itself in everyday work. People of different classes lived in the cities, but most of the population was made up of artisans - artisans: gunsmiths, jewelers, potters, bakers, shoemakers. In the city, the production of goods was concentrated in small workshops. A master, an apprentice, apprentices worked in the workshop. To protect the interests of artisans, workshops-unions of masters of one specialty were created. How many handicraft professions existed in the city, so many shops were in it. The rules that artisans were required to adhere to were spelled out in the charter of the workshop. The craftsmen manually worked on each item from beginning to end and created masterpieces - products that met all the requirements set by the workshop. Let's look at the masterpieces of our masters. The guys go to the fair, carry their masterpieces: swords, spears, pikes, vases, lace, gloves, shoes, coats of arms, hats, bagels. At the head of each group of children is a master leader, followed by apprentices and students. Each workshop greets others, names its address, motto, announces the profile of the workshop.

The dyer, the carpenter, the hatter and the weaver, the upholsterer with them - did not start galloping, But with importance, with a consciousness of wealth, In the clothes of a magnificent guild brotherhood of the Mighty, praying all the time to God, They kept apart all the way. The cloth is solid, the knives are framed - Not copper, but silver. Who is equal to Wealth, wisdom to such men of the Council and honorary foremen, Accustomed to work, contentment, chole? (J. Chaucer, English poet, XIV century)

The children present their masterpieces. Workshop teams briefly talk about the process of manufacturing products in their workshop, introduce the technology of creating each thing. We continue our journey through the medieval city. Entering the city, the first thing we see is the main market square (shops, tables, covered galleries, pillory for punishment). It wasn't just trades here. On the market square, the most important decrees of the king were announced, criminals were executed, and legal disputes were resolved. Festivities and carnivals were organized on the square, where one could meet brave, courageous knights - heroes of the Crusades, defenders of the Christian faith. Let's get acquainted with the military class called chivalry.

The word "knight" comes from the German "horseman". A knight in the narrow sense of the word is a heavily armed warrior. The main occupation of a knight is war. Knightly tournaments were held in cities, here they could show skill and fearlessness, make the hearts of beautiful ladies tremble, whose love they wanted to win.

In chivalric culture, much attention was paid to the upbringing of a knight. From the age of 7 he was taught to ride a horse, hunt, fencing, wield a sword and a spear. At the age of 12, the boy was taken to tournaments and even to real battles. He cleaned the knight's weapons, helped him put on heavy armor, watched the horse, stood behind his back at feasts. He grew, matured, resounded in the shoulders, became strong and dexterous. On the day of majority, 21 years, the long-awaited rite of passage into the knighthood began. We will now see the rite of knighting. Enter the stage: the king, the Duke of Nemsky, the Marquis Ogier, the knight Roland. Present at the initiation are great warriors - the knight Lohengrin, the son of Baron Persifal, the knight Boleslav, the son of the Marquis of Reims, the knight Guillaume, the son of Duke Alfred. The roles are played by students of the 6th and 7th grades.

Holding the sharp Durandal in his hands, the King drew it from its scabbard and wiped the blade, Then girded it around his nephew Roland. And so the apostle consecrated him. The king, with a low laugh, said to him: “I encircle you with this sword with the wish that God grant you courage and bravery, Strength, power and great courage A great victory over the infidels.” And Roland answered with joy in his heart: "May I gain them by the Lord's good providence." When the king girded him with a steel sword, the Duke of Nem knelt down And fitted Roland's right spur, And the noble Dane Ogier put on his left. (“The Song of Roland” (XII century.))

The wealthiest part of the population of the city were merchants. The richest merchant families were related to the families of wealthy artisans (these families made up the city patriciate). Over time, it was the merchants who began to combine trading functions with banking, usury, and then with production. As early as the 12th century, the first merchant bankers appeared in Italy. By the end of the 15th century, in many countries of Western Europe, there were merchant families and their companies, which, as a rule, were engaged in trade, usury, and production. So, we see that most of the city's population lived an active life, in connection with which the idea of ​​\u200b\u200btime also changed. The townspeople, unlike the peasants, realized that time does not move in a circle, but in a straight line, and quite quickly. Already in the XII-XIV centuries, the towers of many European cities were decorated with mechanical clocks with a fight. This suggests that people have learned to value time in connection with a change in the rhythm of production and household activities. The clock was installed on the main building of the city - the Town Hall. Here, members of the city council gathered for meetings, lavish receptions were held in honor of noble guests, important agreements were signed, the treasury, the seal and the charter-document dear to the heart of the city dweller, which approved the independence of the city, were kept.

Statutes, guards and laws All the city creates obstacles For all malicious attempts, And the best of all governments - Our magistrate - we appreciate the lords of Any rank by people. (Eulogy to the city of Nurberg)

It is impossible to imagine the life of a medieval city without a Catholic church, without the clergy-servants of the church. The Gothic cathedral stood in the center of the city and symbolized the inviolability of the church and created the illusion of proximity to God. Christianity was the axis of civilization. All the most important moments of human life (birth, marriage, death) were associated with Christianity. Christian morality ordered everyone to keep their place in life - "ordo" - order. Clergy - to pray, chivalry - to fight, peasants - to work. The world of the city did not fit into the Christian scheme. It was in the cities that a new type of person was formed - prudent, businesslike, energetic, who knows how to value time. Especially the church condemned the work of merchants. Thomas Aquinas, one of the church fathers, argued that trade is something ugly, dirty, and in general, according to church teaching, most artisans and merchants will go to hell, since they worked for the sake of wealth, while Christ called not to collect either silver or gold, but take care of the soul. But in general, we observe a huge positive influence of religion and the church on the softening of morals and the regulation of social relations in the Middle Ages.

"Listen, laity, and memorize Christian truths! Do not boast of wealth, if you have it, Nor of your friends, if they are powerful, But boast of God, who grants all this. Do not admire the strength and beauty of the body, For even a small illness can disfigure it or destroy. Do not admire talent and quickness of mind, so as not to anger God, After all, everything that you have good is given by God! (Monk Berthold Schwartz.)

With the development of production, the emergence of workshops, the growth of cities, there was a stratification of the townspeople into wealthy craftsmen, merchants, bankers and eternal apprentices, laborers. This was clearly manifested in the settlement of the townspeople. The inhabitants of the city were usually settled according to their social status and guild affiliation. Therefore, streets of money changers, gunsmiths, butchers, etc. appeared. The higher the position occupied by a layer of the population, the closer to the center it settled. Groups of beggars, robbers, parasites also formed. It was a constant source of shocks, explosions, uprisings, spontaneous bloody riots. Of course, there was a sharp struggle inside the city: the nobility against the merchants, the poor against the rich. But as soon as an external danger arose, everyone instantly rallied and acted as a united front. "A bubble of popular arrogance, fear for the kingdom, decay for the clergy!" wrote chronicler Richard Devizsky about the city commune.

So, we see that the city valued its independence, freedom and, if necessary, could stand up for itself, repel enemies. It is important to note that cities in the Middle Ages were centers of science and culture. By the beginning of the 13th century, universities were opened in Padus, Palermo, Bologna, Paris, Prague, Oxford, Montpellier. Universities were often hotbeds for the spread of freethinking and heretical ideas. The medieval city was also the birthplace of secular theater, dating back to the carnival loved by the people. City poets and singers enjoyed great honor. Like artisans, they created their own workshops and composed poems in strict accordance with established rules. The treasury of the spiritual food of the townspeople was the “Roman of the Rose,” which was revered as secular literature, teaching and legend. Summarizing the above, we can firmly say that the medieval city became the axis of the birth of a young, energetic European civilization, the beginning of the modernization of traditional society.

Composition on the topic “My Journey through the Medieval City”

Sometimes people ask where would you like to go, what to see and where to stay. People answer this question in different ways, sun lovers tend to visit azure beaches and tropical jungles. Scientists might want to go up into space and fly to the farthest planet in the solar system. And even though at the moment it is impossible, but thanks to dreams, we are able to change and change our lives, improving them and creating amazing things.

So I thought about the question of where I would like to visit. Without thinking twice, the answer came to me by itself - in the Middle Ages. This time of human history is considered stagnation, when art was suspended, people for several hundred years did not seek to create something new, to improve old habits. Describing it in such colors, probably not many people would like to visit this time, but each era keeps a piece of beauty in itself, which I want to consider in my journey through the medieval city.

Probably, stepping into the city beyond the line, I will be surprised, because I will be surrounded by a strong movement, all people will be busy with their own affairs, everyone will be part of this city. The old men will practice their craft, passing the skill on to their son or grandson, the girls will run to the fairs and buy beautiful goods, after which they will go to brag to their girlfriends. Sometimes the heads of the royal guards will flash, they will be very easy to see - all in heavy armor, as if they are about to rush into battle and give their lives for their king.

The castle itself will be a little further than the urban settlement, it will be hidden behind a high gate, where a circus performance will unfold on the square. Many kings loved such amusements, because the work of the ruler was by no means fun. Any work was forbidden to them, even elementary washing they did with the help of their servants. Depending on the area and neighbors, the raids were not so frequent, so the king only sent people to deal with minor problems. It was because of boredom that the royals loved various performances and often had several jesters in their service who had to entertain them day and night.

But only the king, the beautiful half of the castle, lived so carelessly, ladies of royal blood had to conduct grueling workouts, learn etiquette and correct speech. They could not afford to take a break from classes, because the future marriage depended on it, which was the main goal of any girl.
Of course, the life of kings is unusual, but the peasants, who are not limited by etiquette, live much more interesting. These guys find happiness in their difficult work, they are able to work all day under the burning sun, and then take a dip in the cool water of the lake. In the evening or on big holidays they get together to drink ale and have a good time.

Despite the fact that time is indeed considered the stagnation of history, it still managed to revive the great people who left a mark on history. For example, Shakespeare and his famous tragedies, so many years have passed, and the glory does not leave this name. The writers of that time were able to convey the romance of that era, where love reigned in the hearts of people. Where men fought for the heart of their beloved lady, where honor and duty to their neighbor ruled the world. People of that time did not seek to earn money, the kings were already in abundance, and the peasants were quite satisfied with their situation.
The Middle Ages is a beautiful place that I would like to visit. I have traveled to many cities, but none of them is able to convey the era of that time. I want to see everything in person and capture these wonderful moments in my memory.