In the mediaeval town, on the contrary, communication was quite a secondary matter, and more of a luxury than a necessity.

Each town was really a self-sufficing entity, both materially and intellectually.

The modern idea of a town is that of a mere local aggregate of individuals, each pursuing a trade or calling with a view to the world-market at large.

Their own locality or town is no more to them economically than any other part of the world-market, and very little more in any other respect.

The mediaeval idea of a town, on the contrary, was that of an organization of groups into one organic whole.