Publisher's description:
This ambitious work focuses on the emergence and the development of medieval towns in the two Romanian principalities of South-Eastern Europe, Wallachia and Moldavia, from their earliest days, in the 13th century, up to the 16th. It is the only work of its kind in English, but at the same time the first in the field seeking to identify and substantiate common elements between towns in this area of Europe. It also covers Poland, Hungary and the lands south of the Danube. By relying both on various written sources, and on archeological finds, the author addresses several controversial issues, starting from the particulars of urbanization, through an analysis of local institutions, of urban society and economy, and concluding with thorough case studies. The result is a book which shows that medieval towns in the Romanian Principalities, despite being on the outskirts of Europe, were nevertheless part of it.

Table of contents
XI Acknowledgments
XIII Abbreviations
XV List of rulers until c. 1550
XVII List of illustrations and maps
1 Introduction
PART ONE: MEDIEVAL TOWNS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
27 Chapter One. Towns in the Kingdom of Poland
27 Emergence and organization
39 Population, society and economy
46 Topography
47 Case studies: Wrocław and Kraków
53 Chapter Two. Towns in the Kingdom of Hungary
53 Emergence and organization
61 Population, society and economy
65 Toponymy and topography
67 Case studies
87 Chapter Three. Towns South of the Danube
87 Towns in Serbia, Bosnia and on the Dalmatian coast
104 Towns in Bulgaria
PART TWO: TOWNS IN WALLACHIA
115 Chapter One. Urbanization
115 Background
133 The emergence of towns
143 Terminology
170 Main residences of the prince
171 The târgs
183 Chapter Two. Institutional, social, ethnic and economic structures
183 Administration, law, and relations with the ruler
202 The town domain
206 Social and ethnic structures
223 Economy
243 Chapter Three. Case studies
243 Arges
248 Brăila
255 Bucharest
261 Buzău
264 Câmpulung
271 Craiova
275 Floci
277 Gherghita
280 Ocna Mare
282 Pitesti
286 Râmnic
291 Râmnicul Sărat
293 Slatina
295 Târgoviste
303 Târgsor
306 Târgul Jiului
PART THREE: TOWNS IN MOLDAVIA
311 Chapter One. Urbanization
311 Background
323 The emergence of towns
371 Terminology
381 Main residences of the prince
383 The târgs
393 Chapter Two. Institutional, social, ethnic and economic structures
393 Administration, law, and relations with the ruler
418 The town domain
421 Social and ethnic structures
431 Economy
451 Chapter Three. Case studies
451 Adjud
453 Bacău
458 Baia
465 Bârlad
469 Botosani
471 Cernăuti
473 Cetatea Albă
484 Cotnari
487 Dorohoi
489 Fălciu
490 Galati
491 Hârlău
495 Hotin
497 Husi
501 Iasi
506 Kilia
514 Lăpusna
514 Milcovia and Putna
517 Neamt
520 Orhei
522 Piatra lui Crăciun
525 Roman
529 Siret
533 Soroca
534 Suceava
541 Târgul Frumos
542 Tecuci
543 Tighina
544 Trotus
547 Vaslui
551 Conclusions
557 Short Glossary
559 Bibliography
595 Index