How did medieval towns and cities become wealthy and powerful?

Question

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Answer 1

Many cities became rich because of thier strategic location. For example, London was located on a crossing point over the river Thames. Also the Thames was navigable to this point. So, by placing London in it's location the city could get revenue from goods travelling up and down the river, and from goods crossing the river. In other towns, local lords (or bishops) would pass laws that would create markets in settlements attached to their castles (or cathederal) , this way they could regulate the gathering of taxes more efficiently. The lords would attempt to stimulate trade by making the tax rates more favourable than neighbouring towns.
Once the market has been founded other services would follow (Inns, blacksmiths and the such). Generally the wealth created would create further wealth as more people migrated to the town to service these interests, then more people would be needed to provide services for them etc. Towns did fail, Roxboro on the Scottish borders was extremley wealthy at one time, now it is a small town with little evidence of it's former glory.

Answer 2

Resources, population, location.

Resources - if they had something that others wanted and few people could provide. People would have to come to them to get what they wanted.

Population - A larger population gave the city a chance to do more. More men for the military, more workers for projects.

Location - Cities in certain locations would be important. Trade routes would make cities wealthy (though others would want to take them). Some of them could be important militarily because where they are.

Answer 3

You should start by going to the library and finding out about your local area. Imported goods were very good business, especially cotton, tea, spices etc., which made people extremely rich and added to the prosperity of the town, by building more shops, more factories etc.,

Answer 4

By allowing their citizens to engage in trade and banking (including international trade and international banking) and resisting takeovers by kings. London, for example, used to forbid the king of England and courtiers to stay overnight...

Answer 5

wool, trade