Der contado in Nord- und Mittelitalien während des Mittelalters

The medieval “Contado” can be understood as the territorialization of the country by the cities at the expense of the neighboring manors, with the population of the “Contado” receiving citizenship. However, it was not limited to matters of jurisdiction and trades but rather represented the city's actual sphere of influence in administrative districts that were specifically administered by officials. To monitor roads, recruiting soldiers, collecting taxes, and most importantly, the food supply, the cities expanded into the surrounding areas.