s, by the merchants, and for the merchants. Also it functioned in its ability to grant social status and political rights on its residents, rights that are crucial to the conduct of business and to freedom from outside interference. These cities became gateways to freedom.Migration to cities improved the income and status of the migrants. Self-emancipation in Western Europe was directly linked to the franchised villages and urban communes. But where cities were few and not free, such as Eastern Europe serfdom remained and worsened. The population and economic growth increased up to the Black Death. After this plague came a time of rebuilding and the continue development of the economy.This long multi centennial maturation, between 1000-1500, rested on an economic revolution. New forms of energy, the invention of agriculture and livestock shifted hunting and gathering to substantial growth of population and the new concentration of settlements. The medieval economic revolution built on these gains in production and energy. One result of active trade was selection by merit. It was not possible to maintain uniformity of performance. Craftsman just did better work and attracted customers beyond their ability. Masters and journeymen were brought together and now was the beginning of division of labor and putting out. Putting out was the process of putting out the raw material and them later collecting the finished product.The economic expansion of medieval Europe was promoted by a succession of organizational innovations and adaptations. The rulers were trying to keep pace, show hospitable, make labor available, to attract enterprise and the revenues it generated. Meanwhile the business community came up with new ways of association, contract, and exchange designed to secure investment and facilitate payment. Most of this commercial revolution came from the mercantile community inventing new venues for encounter and exchange.However, Mercha...
