Cover Italian Cities in the Middle Ages
series "Le vie della civiltà"
pp. 336, Brossura, 978-88-15-13825-5
publication year 2012

FRANCO FRANCESCHI, ILARIA TADDEI

Italian Cities in the Middle Ages

From the 12th to the 14th Century

The history of Italy in the later centuries of the Middle Ages is the history of its cities, and the importance of urban areas has continued to shape the peninsula's destiny ever since. This book focuses on the period stretching from the end of the 11th century to the first half of the 14th century, exploring the urban universe in its political, institutional, economic, social, and cultural facets, against the backdrop of Italian cities' extraordinary growth. The communes lie at the heart of this narrative, with their self-governing nature that was unique in Europe. Much attention is also devoted to the urban realities of the South, which are often neglected by historians when they emphasise the opposition between the "commune model" and the "monarchical model".

Franco Franceschi teaches Medieval History at the University of Siena.

Ilaria Taddei teaches Medieval History at the University of Grenoble.

Premessa
Parte prima: Il dinamismo demografico ed economico
I. Uomini in movimento
II. Le città come poli di sviluppo mercantile
III. Le attività produttive
Parte seconda: La società urbana nell'Italia comunale
IV. L'esperienza politica
V. Culture, identità religiosa, autocoscienza cittadina
Parte prima: Il dinamismo demografico ed economico
VI. Solidarietà, conflitti, progetti di disciplinamento
Parte terza: Le città dei regni
VII. La fisionomia politica
VIII. Coscienza cittadina e vocazioni culturali
Bibliografia
Indice dei nomi