Medieval Cities [antikvár]

Preface to the 1Q25 Edition This little volume contains the substance of lectures which I delivered from October to December 1922 in several American universities. It is an attempt to expound, in a general way, the economic awakening and the birth of urban civilization in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. The bibliography placed at the end of the volume will permit the reader, who may be interested in the subject discussed herein, to inform himself more fully of the details and to verify my assertions. It would be obviously impossible, in a general outline such as this, to go into particulars or take up exceptions and anomalies, and still more so to engage in controversy. Here, then, will be found only a synthesis, the result of long years of study and research. It is particularly gratifying to me to see this book published by the Press of a University which showed me so cordial a sympathy during the war, and to which I am very happy to dedicate the work as a mark of my profound gratitude.