An “urban society”?

The settlement of the Franks in cities and the creation of a Frankish “urban society” are presented as “exceptional phenomena,” which makes examination of their nature all the more difficult. It is not easy to define a Frankish “city” or a Frankish “town” and it is even harder to define an “urban society” of the twelfth century, the difficulties emanating from the absence of clear criteria, and the lack of any parallel to so dramatic a process of urbanization. The terms “town” or “city” might refer to a certain type of spatial organization, to a minimal number of people living on the same site, or to the existence of an encircling wall. It might also refer to a place where certain occupations are practiced or indicate the volume of trade and services. The term “city” might also be used as an historical reference to a Roman “civitas.” It might indicate the existence of a bishopric see or of a certain legal status.

There is no doubt that Antioch, Edessa, Acre, and Jerusalem were cities in the twelfth century, even though we know practically nothing about their urban structure. However, can we define the other “cities” of the Latin Kingdom as such? Was Nablus a city or a village? And what about Nazareth, Le Safforie, Bethsan, Sebaste, Gaza (Gadres), Hebron, and the other major Frankish settlements? Do we know anything about their geographical structure or about their services, and volume of trade?