The towns of Italy in the later Middle Ages

Late medieval Italian towns, particularly during the 13th and 14th centuries, represented a pinnacle of urban society and culture in Europe before industrialization. This study provides a comprehensive and inclusive analysis of Italian communal cities, focusing on their unity with dependent countryside, population stability, urban functions, public space development, social composition, institutional autonomy, and civic culture. It examines diverse aspects such as civic religion, economic activities like production and commerce, social tensions among various groups, and the political regimes prevalent in these cities. The research synthesizes descriptions from sources like Bonvesin da la Riva's account of Milan and Giovanni da Nono's depiction of Padua, alongside an anonymous verse on Genoa, to offer a nuanced understanding of urban life during this period.

Dean, T. (2013). The towns of Italy in the later Middle Ages. https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526112644