The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-03-16
Elements of
Political Education
Il. WHAT WAS THE CITY ECONOMIC SYSTEM
IN FEUDAL SOCIETY?

The most trustworthy data about the formation of
the medieval city explains the economic system of the
majority of cities result of the economic develop
ment of the fueda domain or village communities (the
German cities). Being originally nothing but the es-
tate of lord peasant settlements distinguished
from villages only by their Notifications the cities
(walled places fortresses became market places
In the cities of the ancient world the city inhabit
ant is at the time landowner carving on agri-
culture with the help of slaves or essees; there is not
yet any division of labor between the city and the vii
lage The medieval European cities which arose in
the 9th century separated before all by their econ
omc activity. The village produces raw materials and
food products, and the city engages in the worngun
OF these raw materials and by means of trade begins
TO attract from other countries whatever cannot pro-
uuce se1 The peasants and burghers exchange their
products thru the medium of the city market In con-
erast with the ancient city which predominantly
consuming center, the medieval CITY do not live on
slave labor the tribute of subject peoples m did
the Greek and Roman cities They live if thew are
landlords, on the rent and compulsory labor of their
peasants; they artisans on the product of their
handicraft work; if they are merchants. nv the ex
change OF products, by the sale of them beyond the
borders of the city.
Thus within the city there develop two classes IN
known to former societies-the class of independent
artisans, and the class of merchants These classas
arise the basis of exchange economy which is can
able OF development to much greater degree than the
cosed-n natural economy of the feudal domain Less
dependence upon the landlord, from whom the artisan
mas bought himself off by paying rent and consequent
~ comparatively free labor the growth of the special
zaton OF labor, the development of ways of commune
cation and commercial relations the raising of the pro-
ductV1ty OF labor, result of technical improve
ments-all this made possible the enrichment of the
cltles the growth of the economic influence and mower
OF the two chief city classes-the artisans and the
merchants
While the city in the of several centuries de-
veloped great economic and political strength beyond
Its borders in the village localities there was stagna-
ton There land ownership the only form of pro.
perty and agriculture the chief and almost the sole
occupation. The land the property of the land
lords and the church, and agricultural labor lay on the
shoulders OF the peasants bound to the SOIL personally
not Tree, lmmovabe, heavily oppressed and the COM
pete opposite of the burgherenergetic mobile freed
from the power of the lord and therefore rapdlv ac
curing an exclusive influence over the path and de-
velopment OF the whole economic life
Attic the city in the first centuries of its existence
was still not completely cut off from agriculture y
Lrsuy TOOK on more intensive forms-snecial c,,I+iva
ZION, gardening, wine-makng, and secondly. an indie.
pendent varegated, branch of labor-the handicraft
was developing and quickly reached flourisb;n, S+ot
mus the city is the center of Industrial o+;it Al
ce'er Oh exchange, the market the place where the
circulation OF money first takes place and develons TIL
cIcuiatlon OF money draws the village into tL hos
oI exchange, making possible the rapid annibi+; ;:
II Oh natural economy with its limited noss;h;I;+;
tne development of the productive forces ~