New agricultural practices that increased the food
supply helped spur a commercial and urban revival
that, accompanied by a rising population, created
new dynamic elements in a formerly static society.
Townspeople themselves were often great
enthusiasts for their new way of life. In the twelfth
century, William Fitz-Stephen spoke of London as
one of the noble cities of the world: “It is happy in
the healthiness of its air, in the Christian religion, in
the strength of its defenses, the nature of its site,
the honor of its citizens, the modesty of its women;
pleasant in sports; fruitful of noble men.” To Fitz-
Stephen, London offered myriad opportunities and
pleasures. Fairs and markets were held regularly, and
“practically anything that man may need is brought
daily not only into special places but even into the
open squares.” Any man, according to Fitz-Stephen,
“if he is healthy and not a good-for-nothing, may
earn his living expenses and esteem according to his
station.” Then, too, there were the happy inhabitants
of the city: Where else has one “ever met such a
wonderful show of people this side or the other side
of the sea”? Sporting events and leisure activities
were available in every season of the year: “In Easter
holidays they fight battles on water.” In summer,
“the youths are exercised in leaping, dancing,
shooting, wrestling, casting the stone; the maidens
dance as long as they can well see.” In winter, “when
the great fen, or moor, which waters the walls of the
city on the north side, is frozen, many young men
play upon the ice; some, striding as wide as they
may, do slide swiftly.”^1 To Fitz-Stephen, “every
convenience for human pleasure is known to be at
hand” in London. One would hardly know from his
cheerful description that medieval cities were
overcrowded, smelled terrible from rotting garbage
and raw sewage, and faced the constant challenges of
epidemics and fires.
By the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, both the
urban centers and the urban population of Europe
were experiencing a dramatic expansion. New forms
of cultural and intellectual expression also arose in
this new urban world. Although European society in
the High Middle Ages remained overwhelmingly
agricultural, the growth of trade and cities along
with the development of a money economy and new
commercial practices and institutions constituted a
veritable commercial revolution that affected most of
Europe.Land and People in the High
Middle Ages
Q FOCUSQUESTIONS:What new agricultural practices
arose in the High Middle Ages? What roles did
peasants and aristocrats play in the civilization of
the High Middle Ages?In the early Middle Ages, Europe was a sparsely popu-
lated expanse dotted with villages of farmers and war-
riors and covered with forests, which provided building
and heating materials and food in the form of game.
The climate began to improve around 700 after centu-
ries of wetter and colder conditions, but natural disas-
ters remained a threat. Drought or too much rain could
mean bad harvests, famine, and dietary deficiencies
that made people susceptible to a wide range of dis-
eases. Life expectancy remained low.
The period from 1000 to 1300 witnessed continued
improvement in climate as a small rise in temperature
made for longer and better growing seasons. At the
same time, Europe experienced a dramatic increase
in population, from 38.5 to 73.5 million people (see
Table 9.1). This was physically evident in the growthTABLE 9.1 Population Estimates (in millions), 1000
and 1340
AREA 1000 1340
Mediterranean
Greece and Balkans 5 6
Italy 5 10
Iberia 7 9
Total 17 25
Western and Central Europe
France and Low Countries 6 19
British Isles 2 5
Germany and Scandinavia 4 11.5
Total 12 35.5
Eastern Europe
Russia 6 8
Poland 2 3
Hungary 1.5 2
Total 9.5 13
Grand Total 38.5 73.5
SOURCE: J. C. Russell,The Control of Late Ancient and
Medieval Population(Philadelphia: American Philosophical
Society, 1985), p. 36. Demographic specialists caution that
these are merely estimates. Some figures, especially those
for eastern Europe, could be radically revised by new
research.Land and People in the High Middle Ages 199Copyright 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
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