This volume contains a study of the towns of Schmalkalden, Biberach, and Ravensburg, from the late Middle Ages to early modern times. Focusing on topics such as craft production, guilds, long-distance trade, publishing houses, the Peasants' Wars, the Reformation, social structure and hospital institutions, the book's comparative approach greatly enhances our knowledge in the field of urban history. German text. "Der Autorin ist es gelungen, Grundtendenzen der stadtischen Wirtschaftsentwicklung des Spatmittelalters und des 16. Jahrhunderts transparent zu machen und dabei Gemeinsamkeiten wie Unterschiede von Reichs- und landsassigen Stadten aufzuzeigen."