Burghers Society
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In medieval times, the relationships between town and village inhabitants were not very good. Townspeople (not just those fully enjoying municipal rights, but also the poor) considered themselves superior to the rural farmers. This was often true due to their significantly higher profits from trade and business.
Towns served as economic and cultural centres, while the countryside provided goods and, most importantly, food. In a medieval town, the best plots around the square and market were owned by wealthy councillors and merchants. Artisans lived around them, and the poor lived near the walls. Townspeople’s livelihood mainly came from trade, crafts, and many associated professions, and they went to the market for food, just as they do today.
According to some sources, Prague could have had around 40,000 inhabitants during the reign of Charles IV. London at the same time had about 80,000. Paris was comparable to Prague, although the Czech city covered a larger area. Nobles did not live in towns; they resided in their own estates.
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