Unit VII: Cities and Urban Land Use

2 A. Introduction Basic Question: Why Cities? Cities exist for many reasons: – Collective need for defense – Sacred site – Humans are social animals The most compelling modern reason? – ECONOMICS

3 B. Markets & Cities Market is nothing but – Buyers – Sellers These 2 parties negotiate a price & buy/sell Cities provide physical space for transaction to occur

4 C. Definitions City – conglomeration of people & buildings clustered together to serve as center of politics, culture & economics Urban: buildup of central city & suburban realm – city & surrounding environments connected to city

5 D. 1 st Urban Revolution Enabled formation of cities: 1.agricultural surplus 2. social stratification (leadership class; upper, middle, lower classes)

6 Five Hearths of Urbanization In each of these hearths, agricultural surplus & social stratification created conditions necessary for cities to form and be maintained.

7 Cities = Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro intricately planned houses equal in size no palaces no monuments E. Indus River Valley

8 F. Huang He & Wei River Valleys purposefully planned cities centered on a vertical structure inner wall built around center temples & palaces for leadership class Terracotta Warriors guarding the tomb of the Chinese Emperor Qin

9 G. Mesoamerica Mayan & Aztec Civilizations Cities = theocratic centers; rulers had divine authority/were god-kings

10 Mesoamerica Btwn CE, Altun Ha, Belize served as a thriving trade & distribution center for Caribbean merchant canoe traffic

11 H. Diffusion of Urbanization By 500 BCE, Greeks highly urbanized –Network of > 500 cities & towns –On mainland & on islands –Each had acropolis & agora Athens, Greece On the acropolis In the agora

12 H. Diffusion of Urbanization Romans - system of cities & small towns, linked together w/100s of miles of roads & sea routes –Rome = 1 st city in the world w/a million people –Roman influence -- streets in grid-like pattern With identifiable center “All roads lead to Rome”

13 Roman Empire

14 The Roman Forum Aqueducts in Nimes, France

15 H. Diffusion of Urbanization Pre-Industrial Europe –New city centered around marketplace –Focus of activity on ports & waterways Venice  extremely influential city –Population separated based on occupations (guilds) or identity

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17 During mercantile era, cities that thrived were embellished by wealthy merchant families, who built ornate mansions, patronized arts, participated in city governments, and supported reconstruction of city centers. Genoa, Italy

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