Lecture 3 - The Origins of Cities Flashcards
What were people before they lived in cities?
Nomads
Ur was what?
Modern Iraq 5000 years ago, one of the first signs of civilization
What was after Nomads?
They became settlers in specific geographical locations
What as applies to today’s cities?
The same preconditions as ancient cities
What are the preconditions to Urban Formation?
Ecology, Technology and Power
What is a civilization?
The process by which a society or place reaches an advanced stage of social and cultural development and organization.
What are the 4 key factors to the emergence of towns and cities?
Agricultural Surplus (tithing, taxation, core labour), Religion - theocracy, Defensive needs, Trading Requirements
What are the transformations stages of cities?
Ancient, Imperial, Trading/Capitalist, Industrial, Modern Cities
Example of an ancient city?
Ur - had technological advancement, had ports to transport goods
Example of imperial city?
Roman Empire - biggest most influential imperial city, cities were built for military needs and trade
Example of Trading/Capitalist city?
Venice - it became wealthy because it was able to trade with Europe, location was key to wealth, it was the capital city until the 15th century
Example of Industrial city?
England - 1750 - mid 18th century, new form of cities, working, productive city, brutal time for people, run on coal because it was cheap and accessible, cons - coal was dirty and polluted
What happened in Industrial cities?
Changes in the power supply (shift to coal), technical improvements in machinery (loom), shift in production to factory systems - more organized, systematic, efficient
What was the problem with industrial cities?
not sustainable, small pox, bad hygiene, poor water supply, malnutrition, 50% higher mortality rate compared to rural, 38 life expectancy in city, 52 life expectancy in rural, kids work 18/hour days
