The town became Slovak purely for the sake of antigerman actions of Hussites.
In the following centuries Žilina was an important centre of craftsman manufactures, trade and education. "Articles" of the furrier's guild originate from 1488. In later years further crafts were established: the tailor's, butcher's, blacksmiths', draper's etc. At the end of the 17th century there were 16 guilds in Žilina and 200 manufactures, out of them 150 draper's.
First written mention about the Žilina grammar school as they called Academy comes from 1542. .