The Emergence of City and Urbanization in the Medieval Europe: from Craftsmen's Desire for Equality Till Rule of Trade Guilds

With Germanic invasion of Western Roman Empire and its consequent fall, monetary-exchange economy and urbanization reached its nadir in Western Europe. In Western society, economy and production began to rely on agricultural products and a system of barter. Villages became the central arena for political, social, and economic life, as urban life began to lose its central position of political and economic importance. Nonetheless, from the twelfth century onward, a set of developments happened in Western Europe which led to re-establishment of cities and their gradual rise in political power. This paper aims to illustrate a systematic and comprehensive picture of the logic and developments that led to reemergence of cities in the medieval Europe via relying on documents and using historical methods. From the twelfth century, as a result of developments in geographical conditions and productive tools and techniques, the production increased so much that it could feed a very greater population than before. Population, therefore, rose exponentially and a surplus of agricultural workers emerged who inhabited newly-built cities and turned to crafts and services. By the end of the medieval ages, the cities began to fight feudalism while claiming their freedom and independence and seeking the support of the monarchs.