Leads the reader into the real villages and cities of European society. This book offers description of family and community structure, social conflict, and religious beliefs. Featuring the fundamental traits of both rural and urban society, it considers the elites, armed rebellion, poverty, criminality, sexual behavior, and marriage practices.

For this second edition, George Huppert has added a new chapter on the incessant warfare that was characteristic of this age and on its transformation by the new commercial capitalism. He has also thoroughly revised and updated the bibliographical essay. "Interdisciplinary Studies in History", Harvey J. Graff, General Editor.

Preface to the Second Edition
Preface
1.
The Eternal Village
2.
The Freedom of the City
3.
The Urban Community
4.
The Urban Elite
5.
The Privileged Estates
6.
The Evolution of Rural Society
7.
Rebellion
8.
On the Margins of the Community
9.
Private Lives
10. Worldly Minds
11. War and Plunder
12. Conclusion
Notes
Bibliographical Essay
Index