HUMAN SETTLEMENT

LECTURE 7 : MEDIEVAL PERIOD

Ar. Nihal Singh Verma

Department of Architecture NIT Raipur
 INTRODUCTION

The eclipse in the European civilization between the fall of the Roman Empire in the
West (4th and 5th centuries) and the re-emergence of activity in the Early Middle Ages
(10th-12th centuries), is known as the DARK AGES.
A period of tribal migration
Break-up of the Mediterranean economy and the end of Ancient World.
Sacking of Roman towns by barbarian invaders (3 rd century onward)
Came to possess warmer, easier life of cities nearer the Mediterranean
Lacking experience of urban life, they did not run cities
extinction of civic life
Ties between eastern and western Europe were cut.
Western Europe was forced to live on its own resources
 EUROPEAN TOWNS DURING THE DARK AGES

The Barbarian Invasions caused:

The general destruction of Roman cities (except in Spain)
Townsmen, having lost urban livelihood, to move to the safer countryside
Establishment of a complete small medieval town within the circumferential walls
of the Roman arena
Establishment of a new pattern of life in the former Roman provinces (i.e. most of
Europe).
Centre of gravity moves northward to Frankish and Carolingian Empires.
 NEW LORDS OF EUROPE

After 450 A.D.

Were bound to the soil, to nature, and led a rural existence.
They were hunters, animal breeders and warrior peasants of youthful, unbridled
vigor and strength.
Seized land where possible, as their ancestors had done 1,000 years before them.
considerations were:
Self protection
Tilling of enough soil to support human life
 URBAN AND RURAL IDEAL

1 the world of Nature, of open countryside and rural settlements

is that known to the Germanic tribes, who did not possess a word for city in their
vocabulary but called it bourgh (fortress) (originally indo-european concept, also found
in India)

2 the world of the Urban Culture of Rome, of classical antiquity

while Roman cities were largely destroyed in the physical sense, the spiritual legacy of
the urban example of Rome remained in the minds and souls of Europeans. Roman
urban concepts continued to live in the languages of Italy, France and Western
Germany.
 THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN URBAN AND
RURAL IDEALS
The new powers which crystallize within the secular and ecclesiastical worlds
People were subject to 2 forms of government in Western Europe, each of which
had its symbolic head:
Secular Power (worldly or temporal)
The Secular Power was characterized by Rural tendencies
Ecclesiastical Power (the Christian Church)
The church exhibited strong Urban tendencies
The General state of Insecurity and Uncertainty
Growing need and desire for goods and services
 ORIGINS OF MEDIEVAL CITIES

The Medieval city developed out of a variety of nuclei.

Important original growth points or take-off points on which the development of the
medieval city is based:
Cathedral, Church, Cloister, Monastery i.e. the Bishops seat
cathedral or church precinct, or monastery would attract Christian settlers
in time, suburb or town would grow around such spiritual centers: starting a natural growth
process, usually at the gateways/entrances of the precinct then fanning out along roadways.
such growth logically assumed a radio-concentric pattern
Fortresses (Royal castles, palaces; princely courts)
a radio-concentric growth pattern centred on fortresses or castle nucleus. Offered protection
to peasant population in the Umland:
 ORIGINS OF MEDIEVAL CITIES

Palatinate (Pfalz)
name given to a territory ruled by a Count Palatine
a nobleman, who for some deed or service rendered, is granted jurisdiction over his territory
such as elsewhere belongs to the royal sovereign alone.
palatinates, many of which evolved in Germany, attracted many merchants, artisans, and
servants who wished to serve, support or work under a palatine master where they could enjoy
relative freedom and fewer tiers of authority.

The Market Place/Staging Points

a trade route - market settlements, warehouses and business centers would form.
crossing points of two or more trade routes would also often result in birth and development of
a settlement.
growth point of settlements of free merchants and artisans, who were free agents dependent
only on King and Church.
the market-place is, in the final analysis, most important in urban development; it ultimately
proved victorious over the castle, the palatinate, and the cathedral.
 ORIGINS OF MEDIEVAL CITIES

The Free Settlements (i.e. independent)

granted special rights (e.g. to market, to law courts) privileges established spontaneously for
a particular reason.
The Historic Towns (usually old Roman ones)
resurrected through the growth of its remaining inhabitants and immigrants
old Roman towns were changing and reviving their great public buildings: amphitheatres,
baths, law courts presented ideal containers of high-density housing.
often identical to 1 and 2
 MEDIEVAL TOWN FOUNDATIONS (9th & 10th
Centuries)
Accelerated urban growth begins and developments can be distinguished around that
time within the chaos of Dark Ages.
Coronation of Charles the Great in 800, who founded many towns
Population growth accelerates and living standards rise
Trade revives
Charlemagne introduced gold currency to replace silver as less volatile
Adoption of advanced techniques of bookkeeping based on Arabic numerals
Christianity virtues combine with ideals of chivalry and knighthood
New and completely transformed towns and cities begin to emerge in Western Europe.
These grow out of a variety of urban nuclei, which over time, develop into a new urban
fabric: the medieval city.
 MEDIEVAL TOWN FOUNDATIONS

Cities grew more rapidly in size and numbers

The 11th and 12th centuries (1000 1200 AD) saw the transition from an
open plan to a structurally definable and more closed and compact form.
The loose arrangement or network of rulers, clergy, handicraft, and trade
solidified.
by the early 13th century, the number of German cities had risen to 2000.
the century produced the most active colonization and town foundation- it
was a veritable new town boom
 MEDIEVAL TOWN

Types of Locations
Medieval cities did establish in many and varied locations:
In plains, on hillsides, on hilltops, on island, in valleys, on river crossings.
Site selection would depend on a combination of traditional needs such as protection, commercial
advantage, suitable communications or fertile hinterland.
City layouts, therefore, follow different planning styles depending on location and topography

Orientation
Medieval Cities of Europe were orientated in relation to their topography.
Intentional orientation is not noticeable; layouts of towns and cities do not observe the four cardinal
points as in Antiquity.

Shape
The shape or outline of town plans was delineated by the wall which would best protect the city.
A wall had to have the shortest circumference possible and take advantage of topographical features.
Limited use of geometric shapes; yet simple, geometric plans were adopted whenever possible,
especially in flat country.
Layout of medieval cities was not based on any symbolic geometric figure.
 CLASSIFICATION OF MEDIEVAL TOWN

Medieval towns can be classified according to plan type

Farm Towns - Scandinavia and Britain
Fortress Towns - Toledo, Edinburgh, Tours, Warwick
Church Towns - York, Chartres
Merchant Prince Towns - Florence, Siena
Merchant Guild Towns - Hanseatic League towns
 CLASSIFICATION OF MEDIEVAL TOWN

Medieval towns can be classified according to function

Spontaneous or Organic Towns
A. Linear plans
B. Radial or radio-concentric plans
C. Network plans
D. Triangular plans
E. Combination of types A B and C
F. Natural or Historic plans

Planned or Geometric Towns

CLASSIFICATION OF MEDIEVAL TOWN

Plan of
Nordlingen
 CLASSIFICATION OF MEDIEVAL TOWN

Plan of Caernavon, Wales

Greifswald, north-eastern
Plan of Monpazier
Germany
 THE ELEMENTS OF THE MEDIEVAL CITY

The Individual House

The Market Place
Street Markets
Central Markets
Civic Buildings
Town Hall
Guild Hall
Hospital
Colleges
City Walls, Gates, Towers
Cathedral, Church
Streets
WHAT IS NEXT ?

Renaissance in Europe.
Islam in India

Thank