Stad-achterland in de geschiedenis van Westeuropa

Samenvatting

Most historical studies of the city country in the development of Western Europe have handled the city and the country separately, rather than dealing with their interrelationship. The urbanization process began in the 11th and 12th centuries. The 1st phase (from 1100 to 1350) is characterized by signs of urban growth. Ur law, differed little from land law, on which it was based. Social structures were different in that rural society was, in most places, feudal. The most important aspect of this relationship was that the city functioned as a market for goods produced in the country. The second phase, characterized by mercantile capitalism, lasted from 1450 to 1750 during which time the cities grew significantly in population and began to exert more economic influence in the form of buying land and going to the country for cheap labor. In the third phase (from 1750 to the 19th century), the cities became increasingly industrialized and continued to grow partially due to improved transportation offered by the development of railroads. Soon the differences between ur and ru became clearer, which led to the present phase. P. Tiersma.