<P> During Roman times, the Low Countries belonged to the outer provinces of the empire, situated near the Roman - Germanic border . Probably because of the (founded) fear of Germanic incursions, Roman settlements (such as Roman villas and colonies) were extremely sparse, and Roman presence was mainly limited to three Castra: (Noviomagus, near modern Nijmegen; Flevum, near Velsen; and a last one near Oudenburg, its name is unknown); and a set of Castellum . These together formed the only population centers which surpassed the native villages of the time in terms of architecture and, in some cases, population . The only possible exception was the city of Atuatuca Tungrorum, which later became one of the earliest centers of Christianity in the Low Countries . </P> <P> Unsurprisingly, it was on or around the (ruins) of these Castra and Castellum that the first large settlements arose . Very little is known about these settlements, apart from archeological material, as there was little literacy at the time . Based on archeological evidence, together with sparsely preserved written text it is thought that Dorestad (build near the former Roman fortifications) was the most populous and important settlement of the region; with an estimated 3,000 inhabitants, it was much larger than the remaining villages, which often had no more than 100--150 inhabitants . Dorestad seems to have been the principal trading center of the Low Countries from around 600 CE until it started to decline around the early 9th century, caused by frequent Viking raids, wars, silting of its river connection and the emerging of new centers favored by the Franks, such as Liège, Cambrai, Soissons, Herstal, Tournai and, most to the north, the neighboring site of Nijmegen . </P> <P> From around the 10th century, mainly due to population growth and improved infrastructure, more larger settlements begin to appear . Around the 11th century, some of these cities begin to form networks of urban centers . In the Low Countries these appeared in 3 regions; at first in the County of Flanders in the South, then followed by the County of Holland in the North and Northern Guelders / Oversticht in the East . The cities located in the center of the Low Countries were able to profit of both of the Flemish and Hollandic cities and no real urban network emerged there . In the North of the Low Countries, however, such as Frisia and Groningen; cities remained relatively isolated . Groningen is still nicknamed stad ("city") within its province; signaling its position as the only city in the region as well as its isolation . </P> <P> The principal urban center in the County of Flanders was focused on the cities of Bruges, Ghent and Ypres . The textile industry (using wool from England) in this area flourished which provided the region with enormous wealth, as well as attracting various other trades . The area was notorious for its civil uprisings . When the French King added the county to his crown lands in 1297, this sparked a popular revolt culminating in the defeat of the French knight army by the peasant militia of the cities at the Battle of the Golden Spurs . </P>

The emergence of urban centers in the uae