An introduction to life in towns and cities in the medleval period After a long decline in urban life following the fall of the Roman Empire, towns became centres of trade and of liberty during the medieval period. Here, the author describes how, as Europe stabilized after centuries of strife, commerce and the commercial class grew, and urban areas became an important source of revenue for royal coffers. Towns enjoyed various levels of autonomy, and always provided goods and services unavailable in rural areas. Hazards abounded in towns, though. Disease, fire, crime and other hazards raised mortality rates in urban environs. In this introduction to life in towns and cities in the medieval period, eminent historian Norman Pounds brings to life the many pleasures, rewards, and dangers city-dwellers sought and avoided. Annotated primary documents such as the Domesday Book, sketches of street life, and descriptions of fairs and markets bring the period to life, and extended "biographical" sketches of towns, regions, and city-dwellers provide readers with valuable detail. In addition, 26 maps and illustrations, an annotated bibliography, glossary, and index round out the work. Part of the Greenwood Guides to Historic Events of the Medieval World series Written by a leading scholar of medieval history

諾爾曼•龐茲長期從事學術研究和教學，共齣版著作30餘部，是一位真正的多産學者，西方學界評論傢贊譽他是一位具有百科全書式知識和能力的學者，是個“令人尊敬的多麵手”。2005年，龐茲以93歲值高齡，齣版瞭新作《中世紀城市》，這是一部可作為中世紀城市史領域入門的研究著作，是美國格林伍德齣版社推齣的“中世紀曆史指南”書係之一種。中譯本譯者還為該書撰寫瞭詳細的譯序，對中世紀城市研究的學術背景，龐茲的學術生涯和成就。