The Medieval Magazine No. 110: THE RISE OF THE MEDIEVAL CITY | Page 4

THE RISE OF THE
MEDIEVAL CITY
In this issue, we take a look at the role of the city in medieval life.
I grew up in a city of almost three million people, then moved to a city of eight
million. I’ve been a “city slicker” my entire life, and have always loved the hustle and
bustle that comes with city living. Idyllic notions of escaping to the country have
never appealed to me. Let others be eaten alive by mosquitoes, spend a night in
a sleeping bag with twigs jabbing their back, or eat beans in a pot over a Coleman
stove. No thanks. Give me the bright lights, the honking cars, the noise, and people-
watching all day long, any day of the week. The pulse of the city gives me life.
Given my love of urban living, I really looked forward to this issue. I was excited to
learn about what city life was like in the Middle Ages. What was the medieval “hustle
and bustle”? Who were the important players? What did city life entail for women, the
religious, the poor, or the average citizen? What was trade like for medieval merchants?
In this issue, we also explore places outside
of traditional go-to centers such Paris and
London. We look at the Indus Valley and its
role in establishing trade relations in the
Near East. We travel to Constantinople to
understand how cities thrived in the Byzantine
empire after the collapse of Rome. We jump
back Europe and visit late medieval Barcelona,
look at slavery and compare the wills of two
freedwomen. We examine the impact of
Hanseatic trade routes on travelling musicians,
and attend a huge wedding in medieval
Bologna. Finally, we take on a Norwegian
foundation story. A city trip around the globe.
Whether you love, or hate the city, we hope
you find this issue informative, interesting, and
enjoy our sneak peek into medieval city life.
~Sandra and Caroline
The medieval port city of Rhodes, 1490