The lesson introduces a series on villages, focusing on fortified cities and small settlements called hamlets during the medieval period. It highlights the strategic importance of fortified towns in Malta, including Mdina, the capital, and the Citadel in Gozo, as well as Maritima Birgu as the only fortified town before the arrival of the Knights. The lesson also discusses the layout of settlements, including the roles of churches, agriculture, and the administrative centers of these towns. There is emphasis on understanding what a capital city entails, alongside visual references to ancient maps.