Small towns 600–1270
John Blair
In part III of this volume, towns are considered ‘small’ if they had populations fewer than 2,000. For the early middle ages such a clear-cut division by size is both impossible and inappropriate – not merely for lack data. During ninth to twelfth centuries urbanising potentials variety places were gradually being realised in range different ways, urban characteristics remained fluid. 1200 Oxford Cookham very sorts places; 800 may have been quite similar. To apply cut-off line across whole period would be nonsensical, though point comes when certain town (notably planned fortified tenth century) rise above come within scope previous chapter rather one. It seems more useful here concentrate on processes categories, treat earlier modest stages urbanisation process as continuum these centuries.
Cambridge University Press eBooks