Final answer:
In the High Middle Ages, advances in agriculture and trade, along with the rise of centralized governments and the effects of the Plague, allowed people in towns to enjoy more freedom and opportunities compared to their rural counterparts, who were generally more tied to the manorial system and feudal obligations.
Step-by-step explanation:
After 1000 CE, people living in medieval towns had more freedom than those on rural estates due to several significant societal changes. The fall of the Roman Empire led to a period where the central authority weakened, and people largely lived in the countryside. However, in the High Middle Ages, technological and agricultural innovations spurred an increase in trade and agricultural productivity, which drew people back to towns and led to the growth of urban areas.
The rise of centralized governments, especially in places like 12th-century France, resulted in a stronger monarchy that began to offer better living conditions to lure people into the cities. Cities started to represent opportunity, not just for trade but also for social and political advancement. The devastating impact of the Plague also played a role, as peasants who survived found themselves in higher demand, and thus had the leverage to negotiate for better wages and conditions, sometimes opting to move to towns where their labor was more valued.
The transition from a mostly rural, manorial system to a more urbanized society meant that townsfolk often had more opportunity to engage in local governance and were less directly subject to feudal obligations, unlike their rural counterparts. Hence, urban living started representing a path to greater social mobility and individual rights within the fabric of medieval life.