Life in Medieval Towns

What were Medieval Towns like? Explain. Why were pictures hung around shops and businesses?

~Protected by thick stone walls; visitors entered through gates; inside, homes and businesses lined paved streets. ~Most people could not read.

Where did most people live at the start of the Middle Ages? Where did they live by the 12th century?

~In the countryside, either on feudal manprs or in religious communities. ~Towns were growing around castles and monasteries and along trade routes.

What were the streets like? What were the town squares like?

~Streets were very narrow. ~Squares were crowded with people, horses, and carts; no garbage collection-unpleasant smells.

Where were towns in medieval Europe often located, and why?

Located next to rivers, which made trade easier.