complete, so it was in Italy that these walled towns first asserted
their importance. Venice indeed, protected by her marshes, we have
seen establishing a somewhat republican form even from her foundation.
She and Genoa and Pisa defended themselves against the Saracens and
built ships and grew to be the chief maritime powers of the
Mediterranean, rulers of island empires. They fought wars against one
another, and Pisa was overwhelmed and ruined in a tremendous conflict
with Genoa. Genoa's fleets carried supplies for the first crusaders.
In later crusades, when the deadly nature of the long journey by land
was more clearly known, the wealthy maritime republics were hired to
carry the crusaders themselves to the East--and profited vastly by the
business.

Gradually the inland cities took courage from their sea-board
neighbors. Florence became the centre of reviving art, her citizens
the chief bankers for all Europe. Milan became chief of the Lombard
cities, leading them against Barbarossa. And when he captured and
destroyed the metropolis in 1161, the burghers of the surrounding
lesser towns rallied to her help. No sooner was the Emperor out of
reach than walls and houses rose again with the speed of magic, till
Milan stood reincarnate, fairer and stronger than before.

A similar though slower growth can be traced among the cities of the
North. As early as 1067 we find the town of Mans near Normandy
rebelling against its lord. Still earlier had Henry the City-builder
thought it wise to strengthen and fortify his peasantry, despite the
counsel of his barons. Indeed, through all the Middle Ages we find
kings and commons drawn often into union by their mutual antagonism to
the feudal nobility. Barbarossa, even while he quarrelled with the
Italian cities, encouraged those of Germany.