Merchants emerged with new industry, referred to as Burghers, became politically powerful
Towns often formed alliances with each other
Hanseatic League
Romanesque to Gothic - especially reflected in cathedrals
Flying buttresses: tall windows and vaulted ceilings
Often had art and sculpture, music
Growth of education and knowledge - founding of universities for men
philosophy, law, medicine study
ideas of Muslims and Greeks - came in conflict with religion
Inquisition: formal interrogation and prosecution of perceived heretics with punishments like excommunication, torture, execution
church often referred to as Universal Church or Church Militant
Trade - cities usually were around trade routes
Silk Road cities were the most populous - Baghdad, Merv, Chang’an
Constantinople, Paris, Italian City-States
Great diffusers of culture
Prevented Russia from culturally developing
World trade, cultural diffusion, global awareness grew as they spread through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia
improved literacy with printed books from early form of movable type which increased productivity and growth
Had some of the largest cities in the world and a powerful navy
Utilized gunpowder, magnetic compass, advanced ships
Their iron production between 800-1100 rivalled the British production centuries later
The Hanseatic League
The Silk Road
The land routes of the Mongols
Trade between China and Japan
Trade between India and Persia
The Trans-Saharan trade routes between west Africa and the Islamic Empire
Dominated by Persians and Arabs - western India to Persian Gulf to eastern Africa
Great Zimbabwe: trading empire in Africa from 11th to 15th centuries
China to Mediterranean cultures in early days of Roman Empire and from 1200 to 1600
Cultural exchange through travellers stopping at trade towns - Kashgar, Samarkand
Silk, porcelain, paper, religion, food, military technologies
Made up of over 100 cities
Created substantial middle class in northern Europe
Set precedent for large, European trading operations
Ran out of room in certain places, but cities were always increasing in size as opportunities grew in them
New cities and empires drew people in
Muslim pilgrimages