Original scientific paper
Reasons and Conditions Under Which the Town of Koprivnica Emerged; Its Place Among Other Medieval Urban Settlements
Ranko Pavleš
; Koprivnica, Croatia
Abstract
The first part of this paper questions the emerging of the town Koprivnica. A conclusion is that political preconditions were finally put in place in the 12th century (Hungarians conquering western Slavonnia); it was followed by social preconditions in the 13th century (spatial organization, colonization) to establish a civic settlement that was urbanized in the 13th century. The paper emphasizes importance of archeology in research of the townís early development. Then it probes the reasons for late blooming and its delayed proclamation of a ëfree royal boroughí. The author has a hypothesis that this late development is due to special privileges and favoring of nearby town of Krizevci. The second part of the paper analyses the reasons to build the town right here and why the town developed into the largest one in this part of Podravina. The conclusion is that the most influential of all reasons was proximity of river crossings over Drava River nearby Zakany and lowlands of Lepavina. Koprivnicaís place in urban settlements hierarchy of these parts of Croatia is determined by use of Christallerís spatial hierarchy method; settlements in Koprivnicaís immediate zone of influence are marked, just as those on the outskirts towards the other towns. The fourth part of this paper questions Koprivnicaís influence over its surrounding area through its civic functions (trade, guilds, artisans, military- defense, religion etc.). The author concludes that this influence is mostly local, i.e. approximately half way to neighboring towns. Only some occasional acts and random strategic role of Koprivnica as a defense outpost go beyond this narrow role.
Keywords
Koprivnica; Middle Ages; emerging; position; development
Hrčak ID:
78181
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2007.
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