Primary Engine of change in cities
Economic
Why is the economy the primary engine of change/development in cities?
cities developed as central points within economic systems
agrarian, merchant, capital, industrial
Preconditions to urban formation
ECOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
POWER (and social organization)
Civilisation
A complex socio-cultural organization that contains formal instrituions and that organizes strangers in a cohesive community under centralized authority
ECOLOGICAL settings crucial in for the development of early cities (5)
- fertile land
- fixed source of water
- proximity other resources (minerals/building materials)
- natural transportation
- often with defensive attributes (elevated, surrounded by water)
TECHNOLOGICAL advances crucial for the development of early cities (3)
- agricultural technology (to produce a surplus) (irrigation, wheels, tools)
- transportation and storage of food
- building technology
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION and POWER crucial for the development of early cities (5)
- social organization to tie people together
- organization to get food
- organization to construct and maintain physical aspects
- organization/power for control over resources
- marshal the activities of the population
Early cities functioned economically as centers of…
extraction and/or redistribution
Main reason for the development of written language
for cities to keep track of trade/economic transactions
Primary factors to the emergence of cities (4)
AGRICULTURAL SURPLUS
RELIGION
DEFENSIVE NEEDS
TRADING REQUIREMENTS
3 pillars of sustainability
ECONOMY
ENVIRONMENT
SOCIAL
World city example
London, Tokyo, New York
Along which river did the Sumerian city of Ur lie?
Euphrates
Example of a trading/capitalist city
Venice
Example of an industrial city
England
Earliest cities were located in…
Sumeria - 4750 BC (southern Mesopotamia)
Egypt - 3000 BC (Indus Valley)
Northern China - 1500 BC
Transformation of cities
Ancient
Imperial
Trading/Capitalist
Industrial
Modern
Characteristics of ancient cities
- size limited by surplus gathered from hinterland
- elite compound within the city
- poor sanitation
- neighborhoods organized around occupation
Characteristics of imperial cities
- larger population (million or more)
- cities quickly built on acquired land
- surplus from further away
- Better materials
Industrial cities were the result of
Power Supply
Technology
Factory systems
in 1842 the average age of a professional living in industrial England was ___ years old
25
according to the UN, the world’s population is expected to peak at …
11.2 billion in 2100
95% of urban growth is happening in…
The developing world.
Sustainability
The capacity for human health and well being, economic vitality, prosperity and environmental abundance.
The capacity to the needs of today’s population without compromising the needs of future generations.
