LECTURE 5 MEDIEVAL CITIES 900 TO 1500 PROF. DR. NACIYE DORATLI
ARCH 354 CULTURE OF CITIES
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TO REMEMBER The Medieval period or Middle ages is a period of
European history from the 5 th century to 15 th century. The
Medieval ages is the middle period of western history, Classical,
Medieval and Modern. The Medieval period following the collapse of
the Roman Empire and cities in the west declined in population and
influence.
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TO REMEMBER In the Early Middle Ages the trends of the Late
Antiquity (depopulation, deurbanization, and increased barbarian
invasion) continued. North Africa and the Middle East, once part of
the Eastern Roman Empire, became Islamic. Later in the period, the
establishment of the feudal system.
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TO REMEMBER During the High Middle Ages (c. 10001300),
Christian-oriented art and architecture flourished and Crusades
were mounted to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim control. The
influence of the emerging nation-state was tempered by the ideal of
an international Christendom.
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To Remember MEDIEVAL PLANNING Medieval planning can be studied
in three different phases: 1. The Dark Ages and under the Arab
influence when Islamic effects on the design of European cities as
well as individual buildings can be found in some places in Europe;
2. A European recovery period when some new urban forms were
created by the invaders themselves. As trade routes between
northern Europe and the Mediterranean were cut by the invasions so
many cities were deserted or at least fell into decline then. Some
of the walled Roman cities survived only. 3. As the third phase
irregular urban form was determining.
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EMERGENCE OF MEDIEVAL CITIES Towards the end of the Roman
Empire: As a result of the barbarian invasion, there was a
disintegration of the old way of life. The life throughout Europe
became crude and chaotic. A new way of life started to be shaped.
Thus, when the Roman Empire collapsed, a new religious vision
emerged.
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EMERGENCE OF MEDIEVAL CITIES The Christian took the first step
towards building up a new fabric out of the ruin. Many of the old
Roman buildings became obsolete not only because they had pagan
images and symbols, but also functionally worthless, like the
theater, the arena, and the bath, because they were incompatible
(even against) the Christian way of life. Only the old basilicas
and temples have been transformed into Christian churches.
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EMERGENCE OF MEDIEVAL CITIES Since protection against the
barbarian became necessary and inevitable, fortification of the
cities became extremely important. The cities had been reduced to a
third of their previous sizes. The new Christian culture that arose
under these circumstances did not assume an urban form until the 11
th century. But the seeds of it were already planted in the church
and the monastery; for the surviving architecture expresses the
needs of this trouble age, with its emphasis upon enclosure,
protection, security, durability, and continuity.
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According to Prienne (1925), by the 9th century, even with the
cathedral cities and the monasteries, were not enough to resist
invaders. The walls of the existing cities had to be strengthened,
rebuilt and properly fortified. And after attacks became more
sophisticated, the castle started to be formed.(1066)
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EMERGENCE OF MEDIEVAL CITIES Uniform imperial organization of
Roman Empire has shifted to an economy of local production and
barter. The Walled enclosure not only gave protection from outside
invasion, it had also a political function. At the beginning the
castle or the monastery was the town center. After the 11 th
century the fresh activities of the community began to shift
towards the market place. There was a balance between the warriors,
the merchants, the priest, the monk, the craftsman, the
tradesman.
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MEDIEVAL CITIES As a result, both physically and politically,
the medieval city (although having some traces of the earliest
urban order) was unique. Freedom Corporate order Democratic
participation Autonomy were never fully achieved in a medieval
city.
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MEDIEVAL CITIES Much of western Europe by the late 9th and 10th
centuries had been politically fragmented into feudal estates. By
11 th century there has been a revival of trade activities. This
has been responsible for city building and civilizing activities
that took place in the 11 th century. But before this could happen:
Surplus of rural products Surplus of population (for good to trade,
customers to buy them)
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MEDIEVAL CITIES The regular market, held once or twice a week,
under the protection of Bishop or Abbot, was an instrument of LOCAL
LIFE. In addition to trade: political unification (Normandy,
Flanders etc) land reclamation (ISLAH) and forest clearance immense
building program The town was a place of exchange of local
agricultural and handicraft production.
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MEDIEVAL CITIES When we evaluate the medieval town from an
economic history point of view : TRANSFER OF POWER From: A group of
protected producers (earning a modest living, achieving a state of
relative equality; To: A small group of privileged wholesale
merchants (the friends and rivals of princes) WITH THIS TRANSFER A
new hierarchy (with rank and station based mainly on money) The
attitude of PROTECTION AND SUBMISSION Characterized SUPERIOR AND
INFERIOR under the feudal regime. The most powerful monarchs were
somehow controlled (influenced) by those who held finance in their
hands.
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MEDIEVAL CITIES The cities movement, from the 10 th century on,
is a tale of old urban settlements becoming more or less self
governing cities, and of new settlements being made under the
auspices of the feudal lord. Citizenship (free association)
replaced the ancient ties of blood and soil, of family and feudal
allegiance. The city: Political interest centers on the struggle
between the urban bourgeoisie and its overlords, the counts, the
bishops, the kings. In the modest beginnings of the new towns of
the Middle Ages, military considerations were always dominant. A
strong ruler conquered a distinct adjacent to his old dominions, or
wished to defend his frontier against a neighboring enemy. He built
rude fortresses.
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Revival of industry and trade (11 th 13 th centuries) EXPANSION
Immense extension of arable land throughout Europe; and Application
to the land of more adequate methods of husbandry.
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When a feudal lord desired money to equip an army, join the
Crusades, the only source he had was his land. Sources of urban
income: tolls at the bridges and the local markets; customs imposts
fines from the court While the battlefield and tournament and the
chase (War & Struggle) were the focal points of feudal life,
the town offered economic and cultural resources.
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Importance of the Church After the fall of Roman Empire, the
one powerful and universal association was the CHURCH. It was very
important to be part of the communion. And it was the greatest
punishment to be cut off. The Church Universal gave all
communities, big and small, a common purpose The fundamental
political division of society, underlying all ties and allegiances,
were the PARISH and the DIOCESE (PISKOPOSLUK BOLGESI) This is not
marked on the map, but each having, as its center, a common
habitation for worship, and an appointed spiritual authority
representing the Pope.
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Importance of the Church The resident officers of the church,
apart from those in monasteries formed a considerable proportion of
the community. A good share of the economic activities of the
community was devoted to support of the clergy. A large portion of
its capital, diverted from other enterprises by the Church went
into the construction and maintenance of the ecclesiastical
buildings cathedrals, churches, monasteries, hospitals, schools
etc. The main business was not trade, however, some merchants as
individuals had made a fortune.
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Importance of the Church The Church was a many sided
institution. The Church building performed many functions that were
later separated and assigned to specialized secular institutions.
The city parish, the church was a neighborhood center, a focus of
the daily community life. No neighborhood was so poor that it
lacked such a church. At the center ---- The Cathedral for
all.
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Importance of the Church Despite its manifold origins and its
ambivalent results, the medieval city in Europe may be described as
a collective structure whose main purpose was the living of a
Christian life. Hospital and isolation ward were direct
contributions of the monasteries. The almshouses (darulaceze): a
medieval municipal institution. At no point were these urban
institutions separated from the Church. At no point was the Church
itself separated from the community.
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SOCIAL STRUCTURE While the Universal Church was concerned with
the individual soul, the medieval community was based on CLASSES
and RANKS, within a limited and local order, feudal or municipal.
The unattached individual during the Middle Ages was one condemned
either to excommunication or to exile: close to death. To exist,
one had to belong to an association a household, manor, monastery
or guild. There was no security except through group protection and
no freedom that did not recognize the constant obligations of a
corporate life. One lived and died in the identifiable style of
ones class and ones corporation.
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SOCIAL STRUCTURE Outside the church, the most widespread
representative of the corporate life was the guild: TWO BASES FOR
FELLOWSHIP: THE CHURCH & THE GUILD Common work and a common
faith were united in the medieval town.
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SOCIAL STRUCTURE - THE GUILD The guild has a sort of linkage to
the religion. The members of the guilds ate and drank together on
regular occasions; They formulated ordinances for the conduct of
their craft; In prosperity periods, they built chapels, endowed
chantries, and founded grammar school (at the height of their power
built guild halls).
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SOCIAL STRUCTURE - THE GUILD The merchant guild a general body
organizing and controlling the economic life of the town as a
whole: Regulating conditions of sale; Protecting the consumers and
the honest craftsmen from unfair competition Protecting the traders
of the town from the disorganization of their market by outside
influences.
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SOCIAL STRUCTURE - THE GUILD The craft guild: An association of
master working up their own product banded together to regulate
production Established standards for fine workmanship. In time,
each of these institutions found its expression in the city: The
Town Hall or The Market Hall The Guild hall The early guild halls
were modest houses or rented rooms.
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SOCIAL STRUCTURE - THE GUILD The large function of the guild in
the medieval city up to the 15 th century: A general elevation of
the status of the work (particularly manual work).
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MEDIEVAL CITY A city: a majority of its members were free
citizens, without an under layer of slaves (a new fact in urban
history). In the medieval town: the organization of industry was
SIMPLE & DIRECT; between master and journeyman (ustaba) in the
workshop; seller and buyer in the market place
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But the primary fact was ASSOCIATION. In fulfillment of its
social purposes, the Guild became, through self help: A health and
old-age insurance society A powerful group An educational
foundation
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The center of the municipalitys activities was the Town Hall,
which sometimes also served as Market Hall. At the beginning, the
Town Hall was a free standing building in the market place, usually
two stories, containing two halls. The builders of the Middle Ages
usually kept MORE PRACTIAL MATTERS firmly in hand. One of the great
markets in Bruges, the commercial center of the north before 15 th
century: Wasserhalle. It spanned a canal and brought the cargoes by
barge (mavna) directly into the market from beneath.
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Towards the close of the Middle Ages, the leading families
(from the wealthier of the wholesale merchants) hold their dances
and routs in the town hall. Thus: The town hall became a sort of
collective palace of the patriciate ( a playhouse). At the close of
the Middle Ages, Wealthy individuals began to endow schools, build
asylums for the aged and orphans, taking functions performed by the
guilds
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NEW DESPOTS Taking over for the country as a whole the
political privileges and regulations of the free cities. URBAN
PARTICULARIZM NATIONAL PARTICULARIZM and MERCHANTAILISM
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UNIVERSITIES Bologna 1100 Paris 1150 Cambridge 1229 In the
cathedral schools of the12th century the university laid down a
cooperative organization of knowledge on an inter-regional basis.
Combination of sacred knowledge, scientific knowledge, offered at
the universities had no exact parallel in any other culture.
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UNIVERSITIES With the universities, medieval planning made its
most original contribution to civic design: the superblock and the
urban precinct differentiated from the ancient network of streets
and alleys. As the Church ceased to be repository of new values,
the university gradually took over some of this office.
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MEDIEVAL URBAN HOUSEKEEPING In most aspects of medieval life,
the closed corporation prevailed. Medieval urban family ----- a
very open unit (it included): (This held for all CLASSES) As part
of the normal household: Relatives by blood A group of industrial
workers Domestics whose relation was that of secondary members of
the family.
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MEDIEVAL URBAN HOUSEKEEPING The workshop was the family;
likewise the merchants counting house. The members - Ate together
at the same table - Worked in the same rooms - Slept in the same or
common hall (converted at night into dormitories).
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MEDIEVAL URBAN HOUSEKEEPING The guild itself was a sort of
patriarchal family, which kept order in its own household. Even the
prostitutes formed guilds. The intimate union of domesticity and
labor, surviving in the city only in petty shops or in the
household, dictated the major arrangements within the medieval
dwelling of an occasional painter, architect, or physician.
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MEDIEVAL HOUSES Only two/three stories high at the beginning
(built in continuous rows around the perimeter of their rear
gardens; sometimes in large blocks they formed inner courts.
Freestanding houses, as they were harder to heat, were relatively
rear. The material for the houses came out of the local soil
(varied with region), stone or brick etc. Continuous row houses
forming the closed perimeter of a block, with guarded access on the
ground floor, served as a domestic wall. Earliest houses had small
window openings with shutters (for protection against weather)
Later permanent windows of oiled cloth, paper later glass
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MEDIEVAL HOUSES
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In the 15 th century, glass (costly) was used for public
buildings. In 16 th century, glass became cheaper and started to be
used widely. Heating arrangements Fireplace and chimney Originally
lacking proper materials (the poorer burghers houses with wooden
chimney) Great fires: Ordinances enforcing the use of fire proof
materials.
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MEDIEVAL HOUSES PLANS OF HOUSES French Houses: A shop at ground
floor, connected by an open alley to the kitchen at the rear
(forming a courtyard) A chimney in the kitchen and in the living
room above the shop An access from the living room to the
dormitories above.
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MEDIEVAL HOUSES
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In Italy: In 13 th century more modest dimensions In Genoa and
Florence (16 th century) High ceiling (to be comfortable in summer
and an innate love to the grandeur/ Roman sense of scale)
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MEDIEVAL HOUSES As one went downwards in the economic scale,
arrangements would be less differentiated and the space more
restricted. One room apartment for the whole family in multiple
story dwelling (common among the poor in many countries). The
burgher house served as: A workshop A house A Store A counting
house Prevented any municipal zoning between these functions.
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When the business has expanded this function grew into the
original back gardens by sheds, storage bins and special workshops.
Mass production and concentration of looms in great sheds was known
in Flanders in the 14 th century (part of Belgium today): Milling
Glass making Iron making Earliest break between domestic life and
work (both in space and function)
Slide 47
In the castles of the 13 th century the noble owners had
private bedrooms. Separation of the kitchen from the dining room is
not characteristic. Such a separation was seen in the monastery
because of the scale of preparation. This was copied in the
manorial hall, the college and the fine town house.
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TO CONCLUDE To summarize the medieval dwelling was
characterized by a general absence of functionally differentiated
space. There was not PRIVACY AND COMFORT. In the cities this lack
of internal specialization was offset by a complete development of
domestic functions in public institutions. Lack of private bake
oven at private house ------- A public bake oven in the bakers
shop. Lack of private bath at home-----municipal bath house in the
neighborhood. The domestic environment: Under the pressure of
crowding and high rents --- many diseases.