"Cities were of paramount importance in the Middle Ages. They were in manifold relationships with one another as well as with their surroundings. In doing so, they always developed in a field of tension between territorial, economic and social interests and in the interaction of different actors. The history of the city has always been one of the most intensively studied fields of the history of the Middle Ages and the history of the country. The Thuringian cities in particular have received far less attention than cities in other regions. The aim of this book is to close the gaps in this regard. The investigation is deliberately pursuing a new approach. So it is not the cities of one gentleman, but cities in a narrowly limited area that are comprehensively examined. These are considered according to their territorial-political significance for their respective masters, but also with regard to fundamental questions of urban history. The main focus of the study is on smaller cities. First, five cities are considered individually, then compared with one another and placed in relation to other cities in the region and beyond. "