What if the Sea were Different? Urbanization in Medieval Norway
Richard Holt
When Sir Michael Postan described medieval towns as ‘non-feudal islands in the feudal seas’ he was expressing conviction that urbanization of middle ages an exotic intrusion into a society based on subsistence agriculture, village and castle.1 knew about volume international commerce acknowledged its role local economy. In insisting, however, urban merchants needed to establish legal political detachment from knights villeins countryside, lent support traditional view urbanization, associated most with name Henri Pirenne, essentially inimical trade traders. Attributing rise Europe's interests requirements trading luxury goods, Pirenne had suggested community arose unintended almost despite surrounding which, through distinctive culture activities, it...
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