How did the rise of the cities challenge the economic and social order of the time?

1. What environment? 2. What time period?

The rise of city presented a large consolidated market place with large numbers of customers living near each other. Things were becoming centralized.

Instead of an individual based economy and social order, the shift had begun to a mass market and a mass society. People no longer had to masters of all trades. They could begin to specialized and develop their talents and depend on others to do the same. ( A man could become a skilled leather worker, and depend on skilled farmers to provide him with food.)

Groups of people living in close proximity with each other prompted changes in behaviours and attitudes. With varying degrees this has been happening every since, with the economic model better defined and more 'ordered' than the social order.