Western Civilization - History Of European Society

Economic Development and Urban Growth in the High Middle Ages 191

was the fear of infidels, and the nobles were every-
where a threat to the freedoms of the town. Peasants
were seen as deceitful, sexually promiscuous, and vio-

lent. In even the largest cities, the countryside was

never more than a few minutes’ walk away, and the ur-

ban economy could not have existed without its rural

suppliers. However, mutual distrust was universal. The

city’s gates were locked every evening, and all visitors

had to secure permission to enter even in broad day-

light. Jews and foreigners were commonly restricted to

ghettos, often for their own protection. The word ghetto

Illustration 10.6

An Urban Street Scene in Fourteenth-Century Siena.The

mules are carrying wool and wood. On the left, a teacher con-

ducts a class.