(I) The tenth century in Europe witnessed a remarkable growth of towns and cities. (II) For instance, in England, by the middle of the eleventh century, 10 per cent of the population lived in towns, making it the most highly urbanized country in Europe. (III) Therefore, the prosperity of the medieval Italian cities rested mainly on their trade with the Byzantine Empire and the Muslim world. (IV) Cities also grew rapidly in France and Germany. (V) In Spain, especially the growth of Barcelona was beginning to transform the political and social life of the country.