City Historical Development

City Historical Development

City Historical Development

Cities began to evolve in prehistoric times when groups of nomadic hunters and foragers developed a settled agricultural life. In order to protect themselves and their food supplies from raids by predatory nomads, they built their dwellings within a walled area or in a naturally fortified place, such as the acropolis of ancient Greek cities. Because the availability of water was also an important consideration, these settlements were usually located along a river. Such settlements led to specialization and the division of labor. Markets developed in which artisans could exchange their specialities for other types of goods. A growing priesthood contributed to intellectual life. Thus, cities were responsible not only for the rise of commerce and industry but also of art and learning, and they played an essential role in the emergence of all great civilizations. Among the most notable cities of the ancient world were, in the order of their development, Thebes, Memphis, Babylon, Nineveh, S_sa, Tyre, Carthage, and Jerusalem. Alexandria is said to have contained more than 500,000 inhabitants, and Rome was still larger. As capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, Constantinople (present-day _stanbul) succeeded Rome as the principal city in Europe. In the Islamic East, during part of the Middle Ages, Baghd_d, Damascus, and Cairo led in population; Cordoba was the greatest city of the Islamic West and, for a time, of all Europe.

The development of cities in Europe was a feature of the breakup of feudalism. At the beginning of the 16th century Europe had 6 or 7 cities of 100,000 or more inhabitants; at the end of the century it had 13 or 14 such cities. During the 17th century, although the population of Europe remained stationary, that of the cities increased. (1)

Resources

Notes and References

  1. Encarta Online Encyclopedia

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