Town privileges was an important feature of European towns during most of the 2nd millenium. World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... A street in Ynysybwl, Wales, relatively stereotypical of a small town A town is usually an urban area which is not considered to rank as a city. ...

Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined the town's privileges and laws. Alternate use, see charter airline or bare-boat charter. ... A monarch is a type of ruler or head of state. ... A privilege is an honour, or permissive activity granted by another person or even a government. ... Law (a loanword from Danish- Norwegian lov), in politics and jurisprudence, is a set of rules or norms of conduct which mandate, proscribe or permit specified relationships among people and organizations, provide methods for ensuring the impartial treatment of such people, and provide punishments for those who do not follow...

The most common privileges was that of trade and the establishment of guilds. Some degree of self-government, representation in a Diet, and tax-relief could also be granted. A guild is an association of persons of the same trade or pursuits, formed to protect mutual interests and maintain standards of morality or conduct. ... Self-governance is an abstract concept that refers to several scales of organization. ... In politics, a Diet is a formal deliberative assembly. ...