How was a town able to become independent of a feudal lord ?

When merchants became richer due to increased trade fostered by town life, they started to negotiate with their lords for the payment of a fixed amount (as opposed to a cut of their profits) to be paid annualy to the lord, thus gaining independence to govern themselves.

herodotus taught this. herodotus was an ancient greek historian who was born in halicarnassus in the persian empire. he is known for having written the book the histories, a detailed record of his "inquiry" on the origins of the greco-persian wars.