The Transformation of European Urban Society in the Middle Ages
1. The European Urban Renaissance
From the 11th century, a number of changes transformed medieval society in Europe. The cities revived, and a new social class emerged: the bourgeoisie. For the population, growth necessitated the expansion of arable land and increased agricultural yields. More farmers were needed to work the land, but life expectancy remained low.
The Medieval City: Agricultural expansion in the 11th century favored trade. Artisans created districts for artisans and merchants, known
Read MoreMedieval Innovations and Early Colonial Expansion (15th-18th Centuries)
Innovations in Agriculture, Crafts, and Trade During the Middle Ages (pp. 40-44)
Agricultural output growth resulted from technological change. Innovations from the Roman era and early Middle Ages continued into the twelfth century, creating an agricultural system encompassing energy, equipment, and cultivation organization. Key innovations included controlling animal energy and hydraulic systems through herding, water mills, and windmills. Iron tools improved versatility and efficiency. Cultivation
Read MoreSpanish Urban System: Hierarchy, Functions, and Influence Areas
Spanish Urban System
1. The Size of Cities
The population size of cities is one of the bases of the urban hierarchy. It is established according to the rank-size rule, which relates the population of a city and its range in larger demographic areas. The Spanish system corresponds to seven metropolitan areas. Including Madrid, which has the largest population and ranks number one in the system. Barcelona has a much larger size than what usually corresponds to the second city in a national system, so
Read MoreIndustrial Revolution: Phases, Impacts, and Global Transformation
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution is a process of change that shifted production from craftsmanship to mechanized work. It ended traditional production methods and influenced the decline of the Old Regime’s societal structures in Britain. Beginning in the 18th century, it spread globally throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. It is distinguished by three phases:
First Industrial Revolution (1750-1870)
- Originated in Great Britain.
Second Industrial Revolution (1870-1950)
- Extended to
Rural Settlements in Spain: Evolution and Agricultural Policies
1.3.1. Rural Settlement and Recent Changes
1 – Rural Settlement
A set of existing human settlements in rural areas. In Spain, rural municipalities are classified as under 10,000 inhabitants, with those below 2,000 considered rural and semi-rural from 2,000 to 10,000. Rural settlement is related to physical factors (relief and water availability), economic factors (resource availability), and historical factors (Reconquista). Growth or decline has been conditioned by the circumstances of each period.
Read MoreEurope’s Old Regime and Enlightenment: Society, Politics, and Economy
The Old Regime
The Old Regime defines the political, social, economic, and demographic features of Europe and its colonies between the 16th and late 18th centuries. In the 19th century, these traits were replaced by capitalist society. This term was used after the French Revolution to define the previous society, considered unfair and decadent.
Politics
The government of Ancien Regime states settled on absolutist regimes, mostly justified ideologically under the formula of “Divine Right monarchy,”
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