The Middle Ages is a period characterized by decline of
cities and reduced movement of people. People stayed in the rural areas rather
than in the cities, and there was little trade or immigration. The common people
were tied to their land (manors), farmed it, and send portions to their lords. Change
came when farmers and small-scale craft producers increasingly met in towns or
cities to trade goods, and developed into trade guilds. These guilds became
powerful as financiers backed merchants/farmers/craft producers, stimulating
trade and development of market economy. The resulting growth of wealth urged peasants
to flock into cities, bringing an end to manorialism.
