Medieval Towns and Trade

Medieval towns were centres of economic activity, social change, and growing political influence. During Edward I's reign, towns expanded, trade flourished, and the urban population grew. Understanding medieval towns and trade is important for grasping the economic and social context of the period.

---

The Growth of Towns

In the 13th century, English towns were growing rapidly. Population increase, agricultural surpluses, and expanding trade all contributed to urbanisation.

Town	Approximate Population (c.1300)	Key Features
London	80,000–100,000	By far the largest city; major port; centre of government and trade
York	15,000–20,000	Second-largest city; important for wool trade and northern administration
Bristol	10,000–15,000	Major port for trade with Ireland, France, and the Mediterranean
Norwich	10,000–15,000	Centre of the East Anglian cloth and wool trade
Lincoln	8,000–10,000	Important wool market; cathedral city
Winchester	8,000–10,000	Former capital; declining in importance but still significant