Urbaniseringsprocessen i det medeltida Sverige : en forskningsöversikt

• The report was written for the XVII Conference of Scandinavian Historians in Trondheim, 1977. It was published together with summaries of the research carried out in the other Scandinavian countries in Urbaniseringsprosessen i Norden. 1. Middelaldersteder, edited by Grete Authén Blom, Oslo 1977.The report summarizes the present state of research on Swedish medieval towns. Towns which belonged to Denmark or Norway before the mid-17th century are not included. The report is divided into two main parts: urban society up to c 1350 (p 5-32) and the late medieval development (p 32-35). The headings in the table of contents give the subject of each chapter. Some general ideas relating to the process of urbanisation are presented in a couple of summaries. The author looks upon the development in the earlier period as follows (p 31-32):In prehistoric times places appear where the existence of trade and specialized crafts can be observed (Helgö, Birka, Paviken, Köpingsvik, Eketorp), sometimes together with a densely built-up settlement (Birka, Eketorp). Helgö, Birka and Paviken cease to exist before the Middle Ages but other places continue during the early Middle Ages. As regards these places there is no evidence that they had other central functions than the economic, with the possible exception of Birka.A partly parallel development to these places, which in one instance began already in prehistoric times, was the emergence of densely populated areas which simultaneously or somewhat later can be shown to have had functions other than purely economic. To begin with they were very few: Sigtuna, Lödöse, Kalmar, Visby, and perhaps Skara, but in the late 12th century their number increases considerably with a concentration to the eastern part of central Sweden. All these places were in one way or another closely tied to administrative structures, either secular or ecclesiastical. Some of them were episcopal seats and/or deaneries, in others there were royal citadels or mints. Several of these places can also be connected with an even older structure of provincial centres, which were the sites of markets, things, and perhaps cult ceremonies and the later ecclesiastical division was probably based on this structure. It can thus be shown that in these early towns there was a close connection between economic, ecclesiastical and secular administrative functions. In many instances the structure of provincial centres can be traced far back.The development during the late part of the 13th century is in some respects different. The new towns do not seem to have been tied to existing administrative structures in the same way as the old ones. The division into bailiwichs does, it is true, follow the existing forts-towns, but already in the beginning of the 14th century the ties between fort-town-bailiwick began to be loosened up. Skara was replaced by Axvall and Lödöse by Älvsborg. Most of the new towns never became centres of bailiwichs. The towns developed mainly into instruments for regulating and controlling the economic activity of a region. Privileges were granted and laws made. The civic administration was reorganised but the strong influence of the Crown was maintained. Prohibitions against trade outside the towns were issued. This process was subjected, at times, very strongly, to external influences, not least due to the position of the Hanseatic trade. It is more difficult to decide if, apart from the administrative reorganisation, any decisive changes took place, for instance with regard to topography.As for the commercial centres, or to express it more cautiously -the nonagrarian communities, it is possible that the disappearance of some of these around 1300 should be interpreted as a result of a failure to incorporate them into the regulated urban communites. On the other hand it needs pointing out that the existence of regulated towns did not exclude small trading places, particularly in areas which completely lacked towns as was the case in Norrland.The economic activities which gave rise to the development of the towns were the mining and agriculture in the central parts of Sweden.Mining on an industrial scale can be followed back to the late 13th century and can be connected with the process of urbanisation in the region around Lake Mälaren: the establishment of new towns, most notably Stockholm, and the development of the existing towns.The role of agriculture in relation to urbanisation is much more difficult to establish. But an examination of the early towns shows that they were all to a marked extent situated in, or close to, good farming districts. The question arises whether it was of importance for the development of urbanisation in these parts that they were the relatively speaking most densely populated districts.On the basis of this evidence it would seem that the development in Sweden after the emergence of the prehistoric trading centres shows two well-defined transitional periods, namely the decades before and after 1200 and the latter half of the 13th century. The last-mentioned period was mainly characterized by administrative reorganisation whereas topographical and functional conditions were established during the earlier period. As for the functions of the town it is possible that to a certain extent they became more limited to the purely economic aspects during the latter part of the period under discussion.The late Middle Ages, which in Sweden has been studied much less than the early period is characterized as follows (p 35):Only a few points are referred to with regard to the towns of the late Middle Ages. Generally speaking there were no decisive changes in the structure of the towns. New towns arose but only a few of these were of importance. There was, however, a shift in status among the towns. This is particularly true of Stockholm which was markedly different from other Swedish towns also with regard to its physical form. New Lödöse was the only new town which could assert itself, due to the fact that it succeeded to the role of the most important port on the west coast, but also perhaps due to the changes in the economy and the agricultural geography which can be followed in the late Middle Ages, an increase in animal production and a change in outlook as regards the border trade.One scholar has called the late Middle Ages the period of urban decline. As a matter of fact this is the period when the towns established their positions and gained increased economic importance. During this period urbanisation began to expand outside the central settled regions. A foundation was laid for the spread of urbanisation to Norrland. But the lasting impression is the picture of continuity from the early Middle Ages.Translation: Birgitta Frykman

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- Archaeology (hsv//eng)

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arkeologi

medeltidsarkeologi

medeltiden

stadsplanering

urbanisering

städer

Sverige

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