ABSTRACT
The statistical description of European urbanization provided thus far depends on the information contained in the data base of the 379 largest cities in the period 1500-1800. This I then placed in a broader framework by gathering information on the larger cities before 1500 and after 1800. These large cities accounted for the lion’s share of certain important urban functions (such as banking, long-distance trade, higher governmental activities, manifestations of high culture) and they concentrated within their walls and precincts a large part of the total urban population.
