Theproblemofpovertyanditsreliefinthemedievalcitieshasbeenthesubjectofaseriesofstudiessince1970s.Intheabsenceofcentralcontrollingorganizationengagedintheprovisionandsupervisionofassistancetothepoor,medievalcharitableinstitutionsseemtoprovidesomescopeforaclosestudyoftheexperienceofpovertyanditsrelief.Fromthecharitableactivityonecandiscoverafieldofsocialinteractionandsocialrelationsinlatemedievalcities.Inthelastthirtyyearsespecially,socialhistoriansofEuropehavecarriedoutvaluableprimaryresearchinthefieldofpovertyandpoorrelief.Somehaveconcentratedononeurbansociety,andothershavedealtwith