This chapter examines one of the most prominent themes which recur in urban panegyric: the city’s ability to generate and apply commerce and resources. This was deemed a specifically urban phenomenon and, especially from the twelfth century onwards, received the most scathing critique. But commerce stands equally as the prime example to show how alternative positive discourses could operate effectively and develop as a source of pride and identity within urban communities. This chapter then explores urban panegyric which focuses on commerce and which was linked to the so-called medieval commercial revolution. It also fits this analysis into demographic change and examines broader representations of the city as a paradise of abundant resources, enriched by trade, a fertile hinterland, and a plentiful population.