Introduction
Introduction
This chapter is historiographical and conceptual in focus. It explores and critiques the paradigm of urban oligarchy, which has exercised a profound influence upon the history of late medieval English towns. It demonstrates that the emphasis upon the comparative stability of English towns is misplaced and that division was as much a part of urban politics as was consensus. It introduces the category of citizenship, upon which there is a recent continental scholarship, much of it connected to the theme of revolt. Finally, it explains the choice of the five towns of Bristol, Coventry, London, Norwich, and York, and the historical period.
Keywords: oligarchy, consensus, conflict, citizenship, historiography, revolt
Oxford Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
Please, subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.
To troubleshoot, please check our FAQs , and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us .