(Ebook) City and Society in the Low Countries, 1100-1600 by Bruno Blonde, Marc Boone, Anne-Laure van Bruaene ISBN 9781108645454, 1108645453

(Ebook) City and Society in the Low Countries, 1100-1600 by Bruno Blonde, Marc Boone, Anne-Laure van Bruaene ISBN 9781108645454, 1108645453

The Low Countries was collectively one of the earliest and most heavily urbanised societies in European history. Present-day Belgium and the Netherlands still share important common features, such as comparatively low income inequalities, high levels of per capita income, a balanced political structure, and a strong 'civil society'. This book traces the origins of this specific social model in medieval patterns of urbanisation, while also searching for explanations for the historical reproduction of social inequalities. Access to cheap inland river navigation and to the sea generated a 'river delta' urbanisation that explains the persistence of a decentralised urban economic network, marked by intensive cooperation and competition and by the absence of real metropolises. Internally as well, powerful checks and balances prevented money and power from being concentrated. Ultimately, however, the utmost defining characteristic of the Low Countries' urban cultures was located in their resilient middle classes.‘This is a sophisticated overview of urbanity in the southern Low Countries from the central Middle Ages into the early modern period, a time of extraordinary economic, political, and cultural achievements. Written by experts and supported by up-to-date bibliographies, the chapters explain the creativity of these cities and describe their legacy in Europe thereafter.' -Martha Howell - Columbia University, New York
‘This is a multi-faceted, longue durée account of the rise of the urban system of the Low Countries up to the Dutch Revolt which demonstrates how distinctive it was in European terms – decentralized, dominated not by urban elites but by middle-rank groups and institutions. Written by an all-star team of Belgian scholars, drawing on massive recent research, this book will be essential reading for urban historians and medievalists.' -Peter Clark - University of Helsinki