The article is an attempt to present urbanization processes on the estates of Greater Poland monasteries in the period from the 12th to the 14th century. The author, using archaeological findings and available written sources, conducted a detailed analysis of the formation of cities in nine monastic settlements until they reached the so-called location threshold. Based on the collected material, it can be concluded that monastery towns in Greater Poland were not a common phenomenon. Of the total number of 95 towns existing at the end of the 14th century, only nine belonged to Greater Poland monasteries, two of which were founded in the 13th century and seven in the 14th century. Typically, these were small towns, serving as centers of estate complexes, local trade and the seats of small parishes. The internal structure of monastic cities resembled those of other private cities and, like them, was based on proven patterns of royal cities. All the mentioned towns were built in areas rich in forests and surface water, and their physiographic location provided natural defense opportunities for the inhabitants. The creation of an urban settlement was always related to a given settlement situation and the network of old Greater Poland roads leading from Silesia through Kujawy to Pomerania. Monastery towns were built mainly on the site of earlier market settlements, and less often on the site of settlements located next to castles and villages. The foundation of the cities was purely economic in nature. They were always preceded by the consolidation processes on the abbey lands and their thorough reconstruction, clearly indicated in the sources. After fulfilling their economic and administrative functions, most of the described cities returned to the role of rural settlements.
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