Origins and Growth of Cities. Introduction Chapter traces origin of cities 5,500 years ago through...

Origins and Growth Origins and Growth of Citiesof Cities

IntroductionIntroduction Chapter traces origin of cities Chapter traces origin of cities

5,500 years ago through the 5,500 years ago through the Industrial revolutionIndustrial revolution

5 regions credited with the origin 5 regions credited with the origin of cities:of cities:– MesopotamiaMesopotamia– EgyptEgypt– The Indus ValleyThe Indus Valley– Northern China andNorthern China and– MesoamericaMesoamerica

IntroductionIntroduction

From here – spread to other From here – spread to other areasareas

Early cities Early cities developed developed independentlyindependently in regions in regions where the transition to where the transition to agricultural food production agricultural food production had taken placehad taken place

Defining a CityDefining a City

A city is an urban area A city is an urban area with a large population with a large population and a particular and a particular administrative, legal, or administrative, legal, or historical status.historical status.

Haarlem Netherlands 1550Haarlem Netherlands 1550

Haarlem Haarlem Netherlands 1550Netherlands 1550

ChicagoChicago

CHICAGO AERIAL VIEWCHICAGO AERIAL VIEW

ChicagoChicago

SkyscrapersSkyscrapers

SKYSCRAPERS IN CHICAGOSKYSCRAPERS IN CHICAGO

SkyscrapersSkyscrapers

TokyoTokyo

CROWDED SIDEWALKS OF ONE CROWDED SIDEWALKS OF ONE OF MOST POPULATED CITIES IN OF MOST POPULATED CITIES IN THE WORLDTHE WORLD

TokyoTokyo

SEOUL AT NIGHTSEOUL AT NIGHT

GANGHAM SHOPPING GANGHAM SHOPPING DISTRICT IN SEOULDISTRICT IN SEOUL


Large industrialized cities generally Large industrialized cities generally have advanced systems for have advanced systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, sanitation, utilities, land usage, housing, and transportation and housing, and transportation and more. This close proximity greatly more. This close proximity greatly facilitates interaction between facilitates interaction between people and firms, benefiting both people and firms, benefiting both parties in the process.parties in the process.


However, there is debate now However, there is debate now whether the age of technology whether the age of technology and instantaneous and instantaneous communication with the use of communication with the use of the Internet are making cities the Internet are making cities obsoletEobsoletE

Defining a CityDefining a CityA big city, or metropolis, may have A big city, or metropolis, may have

suburbs. Such cities are usually suburbs. Such cities are usually associated with metropolitan associated with metropolitan areas and urban sprawl, creating areas and urban sprawl, creating large amounts of business large amounts of business commuters. Once a city sprawls commuters. Once a city sprawls far enough to reach another city, far enough to reach another city, this region can be deemed a this region can be deemed a conurbation or megalopolis.conurbation or megalopolis.

URBAN SPRAWL: URBAN SPRAWL: CALGARYCALGARY

URBAN SPRAWL: PARISURBAN SPRAWL: PARIS

RURAL AREAS NCRURAL AREAS NC

SINGLE FAMILY NCSINGLE FAMILY NC

Theories/Explanations Theories/Explanations why Cities originatedwhy Cities originated

1. Agricultural Surplus1. Agricultural Surplus 2. Hydrological factors2. Hydrological factors 3. Population pressures3. Population pressures 4. trading requirements4. trading requirements 5. Defense needs5. Defense needs 6. Religious causes6. Religious causes None of all 6 offers sufficient None of all 6 offers sufficient

explanation, but a combination of these explanation, but a combination of these factorsfactors


1. Agricultural Surplus1. Agricultural Surplus 2. Hydrological factors2. Hydrological factors 3. Population pressures3. Population pressures


4. trading requirements4. trading requirements 5. Defense needs5. Defense needs 6. Religious causes6. Religious causes


5. Defense needs5. Defense needs 6. Religious causes6. Religious causes None of all 6 offers sufficient None of all 6 offers sufficient

explanation, but a explanation, but a combination of these factorscombination of these factors

1. Agricultural Surplus1. Agricultural Surplus Roots in archaeology – Roots in archaeology – G. Childe, L. Woolley Production of more food than was Production of more food than was

needed, created necessity for needed, created necessity for centralized structures to administercentralized structures to administer– New social institutions needed to New social institutions needed to

assign rights over resourcesassign rights over resources– Created greater degree of Created greater degree of

occupational specialization in non-occupational specialization in non-agricultural activitiesagricultural activities

– Organization needed an urban Organization needed an urban settingsetting

1. Agricultural Surplus1. Agricultural Surplus

Critique: Critique: Too simplistic – agr. Surplus Too simplistic – agr. Surplus

not enough to trigger off all not enough to trigger off all these societal changesthese societal changes

Cause-and-effect – not straight Cause-and-effect – not straight forward – which preceded the forward – which preceded the other surplus or social org.other surplus or social org.

2. Hydrological factors2. Hydrological factors

Karl Wittfogel - Early cities emerged in - Early cities emerged in areas of irrigated agri.areas of irrigated agri.

Elaborate irrigation practices required Elaborate irrigation practices required new divisions of labor, large scale new divisions of labor, large scale cooperation, and more cultivationcooperation, and more cultivation

Led to occupational specialization, then Led to occupational specialization, then centralized social organizationcentralized social organization

Hence urban developmentHence urban development– Critique: A complex social organization Critique: A complex social organization

structure not necessary for irrigationstructure not necessary for irrigation– Not all early cities depended on massive Not all early cities depended on massive

irrigationirrigation

3. Population 3. Population PressuresPressures Esther Boserup – Attributes cities to – Attributes cities to

increasing population densities and increasing population densities and growing scarcity of wild foodgrowing scarcity of wild food

=transition to agricultural production, =transition to agricultural production, and urban lifeand urban life

Critique: Critique: Relationship unclear: Did food Relationship unclear: Did food

production and urban life cause or production and urban life cause or were a result of increased population were a result of increased population densities?densities?

4. Trading 4. Trading RequirementsRequirements Emergence of cities – a function of long-Emergence of cities – a function of long-

distance tradedistance trade Need for a system to administer large-Need for a system to administer large-

scale exchange of goods – promoted scale exchange of goods – promoted development of centralized structuresdevelopment of centralized structures

Increasing occupational specialization Increasing occupational specialization would encourage urban developmentwould encourage urban development

Theory supported by the many urban Theory supported by the many urban centers around marketplacescenters around marketplaces

Critique: Critique: – Again, cause-and-effect issue: between trade Again, cause-and-effect issue: between trade

and urban development!and urban development!

5. Defense needs5. Defense needs

Max Weber and others and others Cities a function of need for people to Cities a function of need for people to

gather together for protectiongather together for protection Cities located on strategic places (hills) Cities located on strategic places (hills)

where could spot enemy at distancewhere could spot enemy at distance Wittfogel – argued that valuable irrigation – argued that valuable irrigation

systems need protection from attacksystems need protection from attack Evidence: Most cities had walls (fortified)Evidence: Most cities had walls (fortified) Critique: Critique: Not all early cities had defensesNot all early cities had defenses

6. Religious Causes6. Religious Causes

Sjoberg and others and others Control of Alter offerings by the Control of Alter offerings by the

religious elite – gave them religious elite – gave them economic and political powereconomic and political power

Power was used to influence social Power was used to influence social organization – initiated urban dev.organization – initiated urban dev.

Critique:Critique:

Can the origin of cities be attributed Can the origin of cities be attributed solely to any one of the above 6 solely to any one of the above 6

factors?factors? Capital NO!Capital NO! Wheatley: No single autonomous : No single autonomous

causative factor has been (or will be) causative factor has been (or will be) identified.identified.

None of all 6 offers sufficient explanation, None of all 6 offers sufficient explanation, but a combination of these factors of these factors

Has seen a Has seen a gradual transformation involving caused involving caused incremental change over time rather than an abrupt urban rather than an abrupt urban evolutionevolution

URBAN ORIGINS: URBAN ORIGINS: REGIONSREGIONS

5 Regions credited with the 5 Regions credited with the earliest development of cities: earliest development of cities:

Mesopotamia, Egypt, The Indus Mesopotamia, Egypt, The Indus Valley, Northern China, and Valley, Northern China, and MesoamericaMesoamerica

1. Mesopotamia1. Mesopotamia

Urban OriginsUrban Origins

1. Mesopotamia1. Mesopotamia – – Land between the Land between the Rivers Tigris and Rivers Tigris and Euphrates – area of Euphrates – area of modern day Iraq!modern day Iraq!

Earliest evidence for Earliest evidence for urbanization – urbanization – approx. 3500BCapprox. 3500BC

The The Fertile Fertile CrescentCrescent

City StatesCity States

2. Egypt2. Egypt - Along Nile - Along Nile valleyvalley

Around 3100 BCAround 3100 BC Agriculture - IrrigationAgriculture - Irrigation Short lifespan for citiesShort lifespan for cities Cities usually abandoned Cities usually abandoned

after the death of a after the death of a Pharaoh – leaderPharaoh – leader

2000-1400BC – founding 2000-1400BC – founding of Capital Cities – of Capital Cities – Thebes, Tanis, etcThebes, Tanis, etc

Urban OriginsUrban Origins

1. Mesopotamia1. Mesopotamia – Land between – Land between the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates – area of modern day Iraq!– area of modern day Iraq!

Earliest evidence for Earliest evidence for urbanization – approx. 3500BCurbanization – approx. 3500BC

The The Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent City StatesCity States

Cont.Cont.

3. Indus Valley3. Indus Valley – – 2500BC2500BC

Modern day Modern day PakistanPakistan

Agriculture and Agriculture and tradetrade

4. Northern China4. Northern China – – Along the fertile Along the fertile plains of R. Huang plains of R. Huang He – 1800BCHe – 1800BC

Supported by Supported by irrigated agricultureirrigated agriculture

5. Mesoamerica5. Mesoamerica – – 500BC500BC

Based on agricultureBased on agriculture Mayan civilizationMayan civilization Modern day MexicoModern day Mexico

REGIONS OF URBAN ORIGIN

Internal Structure of Early CitiesInternal Structure of Early Cities Internal Structure=Lay out within the city – land use, Internal Structure=Lay out within the city – land use,

streets, transportation, etcstreets, transportation, etc Two ways to examine internal lay out:Two ways to examine internal lay out: 1. Organic growth –cities that evolved in an 1. Organic growth –cities that evolved in an

unplanned processunplanned process Eg. MesopotamiaEg. Mesopotamia 2. Planned – cities that were laid out in a 2. Planned – cities that were laid out in a

predetermined way based on some planned predetermined way based on some planned approach, eg – approach, eg – gridiron gridiron street pattern, eg London street pattern, eg London

Planned lay out of streets could signify the presence Planned lay out of streets could signify the presence of central controlof central control

Internal structure – never static – evolves – some Internal structure – never static – evolves – some cities – changed from organic to planned and vice cities – changed from organic to planned and vice versa eg. London - planned to organic versa eg. London - planned to organic

INTERNAL STRUCTURE (ORGANIC) OF UR, MESOPOTAMIA – Fig. 2.3

PLANNED CITY GROWTH OF MOHENJO-DARO, INDUS VALLEY (see gridiron plan)– Fig. 2.4

INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF EARLY INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF EARLY CITIES IN MESOPOTAMIACITIES IN MESOPOTAMIA

Were Were City statesCity states – means were political – means were political entities on their own with a sovereign govtentities on their own with a sovereign govt

Featured an organic growth processFeatured an organic growth process Prominent features (eg. Ur, Mesopotamia):Prominent features (eg. Ur, Mesopotamia): 1. Walled City, appr. 35,000 people1. Walled City, appr. 35,000 people 2. Religious and administrative core area – 2. Religious and administrative core area –

reserved for priests and royal householdreserved for priests and royal household 3. Outer city or suburbs – remainder of the 3. Outer city or suburbs – remainder of the

city state – houses, farms (200,000 peoplecity state – houses, farms (200,000 people

URBAN EXPANSION FROM THE URBAN EXPANSION FROM THE REGIONS OF ORIGINREGIONS OF ORIGIN

Spread of urbanization from areas of Spread of urbanization from areas of origin-involved uneven developmentorigin-involved uneven development

Some urbanized civilizations became rural Some urbanized civilizations became rural in the process, were later revived, and in the process, were later revived, and recolonizedrecolonized

Spread associated with long-distance Spread associated with long-distance tradetrade

Ex. Ex. the silk road – the silk road – an ancient trade an ancient trade network that extended across central Asianetwork that extended across central Asia

Produced an extensive system of citiesProduced an extensive system of cities

URBAN EXPANSION FROM THE REGIONS OF ORIGIN

THE SILK ROAD: LONG DISTANCE TRADE AND URBAN EXPANSION – Fig. 2.6

EUROPEAN URBAN EXPANSIONEUROPEAN URBAN EXPANSION THE GREEKSTHE GREEKS – idea of cities introduced – idea of cities introduced

from the Fertile Crescent from the Fertile Crescent Evolved as Evolved as City statesCity states - ex. Sparta, Athens - ex. Sparta, Athens Served 4 functions: religious, commerce, Served 4 functions: religious, commerce,

administrative, and defenseadministrative, and defense Street systems – Street systems – gridiron patterngridiron pattern Mainly along coastlines – reflecting the Mainly along coastlines – reflecting the

importance of long distance sea tradeimportance of long distance sea trade Pressure on farmland –etc – drove overseas Pressure on farmland –etc – drove overseas

colonization – developed cities elsewhere as colonization – developed cities elsewhere as far as Spain far as Spain

Democratic government – elections, etcDemocratic government – elections, etc

GENERAL PLAN OF A TYPICAL GREEK CITY STATE – Fig. 2.7

GREEK CITY STATES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN(Note cities Located along coastlines) – Fig. 2.8

ROMAN CITIESROMAN CITIES Greeks loose independence – 338BCGreeks loose independence – 338BC Greek civilization displaced by the expanding Greek civilization displaced by the expanding

Roman empireRoman empire By AD 200 – Romans had established towns By AD 200 – Romans had established towns

in Southern Europein Southern Europe Laid foundation for Western European urban Laid foundation for Western European urban

systemsystem Cities connected to one another and to Rome Cities connected to one another and to Rome

by a system or roadsby a system or roads Health improvementsHealth improvements Cities also fortresses – built around military Cities also fortresses – built around military

groundsgrounds

CITIES OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE AD 200 – Fig. 2.9(A well integrated urban system and transportation network)

GENERAL PLAN OF A TYPICAL ROMAN CITY – Fig. 2.10

THE DARK AGES and THE DARK AGES and the URBAN REVIVALthe URBAN REVIVAL

Rome falls in the 5Rome falls in the 5thth C – C – Dark ages a period of stagnation – saw a Dark ages a period of stagnation – saw a

decline in city lifedecline in city life Meanwhile, cities thrived elsewhere – Meanwhile, cities thrived elsewhere – Arab Arab

world – Mecca, Medina, Baghdadworld – Mecca, Medina, Baghdad, etc, etc Transition from feudalism – saw increased Transition from feudalism – saw increased

tradetrade Medieval period - 11Medieval period - 11thth C – a revival of cities C – a revival of cities

around tradearound trade 1414thth and 18 and 18thth C – Renaissance C – Renaissance – (protestant – (protestant

reformation and scientific revolution – saw reformation and scientific revolution – saw significant change in social, pol., and significant change in social, pol., and economic organizationeconomic organization

Urban Expansion and Consolidation Urban Expansion and Consolidation During the Renaissance and During the Renaissance and

Baroque PeriodsBaroque Periods 1414thth-18-18thth C – aggressive C – aggressive European European

colonizationcolonization Need to connect colonies to European urban Need to connect colonies to European urban

and economic systemsand economic systems Spanish and Portuguese started with Spanish and Portuguese started with

colonial citiescolonial cities – Latin America – Latin America Mainly Administrative and military centersMainly Administrative and military centers Extension of trading networks worldwide – Extension of trading networks worldwide –

required establishment of required establishment of gateway citiesgateway cities Gateway citiesGateway cities established as established as linkslinks and and

control centerscontrol centers eg. North America eg. North America

Urbanization and the Urbanization and the Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution

IndustrializationIndustrialization began in England began in England Industrialization and cities grew hand-in-Industrialization and cities grew hand-in-

hand. hand. Cities as production centersCities as production centers Manchester UKManchester UK – shock city of European – shock city of European

industrialization in the 19industrialization in the 19thth C C 15,000 (1750); 70,000 (1801); ½ a million 15,000 (1750); 70,000 (1801); ½ a million

(1961); and 2.3 million (1911).(1961); and 2.3 million (1911). Industrial CityIndustrial City; also a World city; also a World city Industrialization and urbanization spread to Industrialization and urbanization spread to

other parts of Europeother parts of Europe

ReviewReview

Origin of cities – theoriesOrigin of cities – theories Earliest cities and their internal Earliest cities and their internal

structurestructure The spread of urbanizationThe spread of urbanization

– Greek citiesGreek cities– Roman citiesRoman cities– European cities and spreadEuropean cities and spread– American citiesAmerican cities– Rest of the WorldRest of the World

Defining a City (orig Defining a City (orig slideslide No single definition for all citiesNo single definition for all cities Some agreed upon definitions:Some agreed upon definitions: WheatleyWheatley – captures – captures social and politicalsocial and political changes changes

surrounding the emergence of cities (see def. on surrounding the emergence of cities (see def. on Text pg. 22)Text pg. 22)

SjobergSjoberg – Definition highlights – Definition highlights physical and physical and economiceconomic highlights to define a city (ibid) highlights to define a city (ibid)

Childe Childe – Identifies distinctive features - size, – Identifies distinctive features - size, structure of pop., public capital, governance, structure of pop., public capital, governance, tradetrade– Uses Uses urban civilizationurban civilization to define the city – to define the city –

urbanization and civilization historically linked!urbanization and civilization historically linked!

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