Demographics, Economics and Politics: Italy’s Urban Network between the 13th and the Early 14th Centuries (IT)

Abstract

This paper portrays Italian urbanization trends between the end of the 13^th century –when the process was at its highest– and the 14th century, including the period of severe demographic depression caused by the many recurrent epidemics of the plague. It highlights the outstanding differences that existed in urban layout between Northern and Central Italy, on the one hand, and, on the other, the southern part of the Italian Peninsula: differences that were shaped by geographic, economic and political reasons. For the period taken into account the author stresses the crisis of the polycentric model that characterized the economy during the 12th and 13th centuries as well as the leading role played by a few cities (Milan, Venice, Florence, Genoa) that also took advantage of the changes in the political situation between the 14th and the 15th centuries.