An Urban Network in its Landscape

The Dynamics and Functions of the Norman Towns, Fourteenth to Fifteenth Centuries

Abstract

A densely populated and wealthy centre of textile production in medieval Europe, Normandy, certainly merits the attention of economic historians. Looking at the province‘s urban network at the time, we find numerous agglomerations that can be perceived as towns for various reasons, without institutional unity among them. Norman towns often lacked features that are assumed to define town status in the historiography of other regions, like a strong municipal organisation. Furthermore, though these towns were important for textile production and trade, significant trade activities for both local and foreign markets took place also in rural areas. The Norman market network thus comprised towns as well as rural agglomerations. For the rural economic activities, the bourgs ruraux were most important. These settlements usually spread around seigniorial establishments like castles or abbeys. These bourgs with their markets specialised in the more profitable final phases of productive processes. In particular, the recovery from the destruction suffered in the course of Hundred Years War brought about an adaption of the economic structures, creating proto-industrial structures in the rural areas.