An introduction to life in towns and cities in the medleval period After a long decline in urban life following the fall of the Roman Empire, towns became centres of trade and of liberty during the medieval period. Here, the author describes how, as Europe stabilized after centuries of strife, commerce and the commercial class grew, and urban areas became an important source of revenue for royal coffers. Towns enjoyed various levels of autonomy, and always provided goods and services unavailable in rural areas. Hazards abounded in towns, though. Disease, fire, crime and other hazards raised mortality rates in urban environs. In this introduction to life in towns and cities in the medieval period, eminent historian Norman Pounds brings to life the many pleasures, rewards, and dangers city-dwellers sought and avoided. Annotated primary documents such as the Domesday Book, sketches of street life, and descriptions of fairs and markets bring the period to life, and extended "biographical" sketches of towns, regions, and city-dwellers provide readers with valuable detail. In addition, 26 maps and illustrations, an annotated bibliography, glossary, and index round out the work. Part of the Greenwood Guides to Historic Events of the Medieval World series Written by a leading scholar of medieval history