ABSTRACT

The emergence of a town involves the creation of a distinctive physical and social environment, which is 'urban', different from the countryside. Recognition of recurrent types of site, situation, or specialised function may each serve as a basis of classification, and the characteristics common to each different class find expression in the urban geography. The architectural prominence of religious buildings as urban landmarks throws emphasis upon contrasts in the faces of towns that express differences of faith. Towns are extremely potent agents in the spread of cultures and are among the most notable illustrations of the process whereby forms and patterns developed in a particular setting are introduced elsewhere as exotic features. The mediaeval towns of eastern Germany also showed distinctive German and Slav quarters, and the feature is equally typical of the urban products of modern imperial expansion.