WEEK 3
As the Roman Empire fell into confusion and chaos and war, the first casualties of the empire were the big cities of Europe. Cities always need peace and trade along open highways and open rivers in order to survive and the first problems for the post imperial world was safe travel. It was unsafe to go anywhere. Therefore, the great cities declined for all of the 6th century, the 7th century, the 8th century, the 9th century, and then in the 900s some cities were rebuilding. The earliest European cities to grow were the great Italian cities such as Venice, Milan, Genoa, Florence, and Naples. These Italian cities began to flourish for one simple reason: the naval fleets of the sea powers joined together to reestablish peace in the western Mediterranean. Once the new peace was visible, trade began to flourish once again and these Italian cities benefited the most the earliest. Then after the year 1000, some northern cities began to rebuild and chief among these was Paris, which benefited from the successful unification of France under the Franks. During all of this process of decline and rebirth in Europe, the biggest city of all in the Mediterranean was always Constantinople which reached one million inhabitants at its peak (matching the same number for Ancient Rome).
On and around the year 1000 AD the cities of Europe, and especially of Italy, turn a corner. After centuries of war and invasion, almost suddenly, there is peace. Travel on land ad sea is safer. Products move around more easily. People move around more easily. And thus during the Eleventh Century, there is a general resurgence of the European economy and especially that of the cities. The cities grow fast. They expand fast. They build bigger walls. They build huge new cathedrals and huge new city halls like the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.
THE GREAT MEDIEVAL CITIES:
Venice
Genoa
Naples
Florence
Pisa
Milan
Paris
London
Toledo
Cordoba
Seville
REQUIRED READING FOR THE WHOLE ACADEMIC YEAR
This new history of the Middles Ages has just appeared from the best-selling author Dan Jones. It is perfect for us. The organization and the coverage is excellent. It reads well and is a pleasure. The cost of it is about 20$ from Amazon, either hardcover or paperback. If you prefer the lighter paperback then choose it, but the hardcore will endure better. Please use our link on this page to buy from Amazon because we get credit($) for each purchase.