SO4029 Sociology of the City Urbanis(z)ation

Louis Wirth: For sociological purposes a city may be defined as a relatively large, dense, and permanent settlement of socially heterogeneous individuals Castells: 1. The spatial concentration of a population on the basis of certain limits of dimension and density 2. The diffusion of the system of values, attitudes and behaviour called urban culture. (See Castells, 2002 p. 21)

The Origin of Cities Homo Sapiens Sapiens emerged cc 130, ,000 years ago No cities for 99% of human history First Cities cc 10, years ago Now more than half of all human beings live in cities

Cities developed independently in different regions: The Indus Valley, along the Tigris- Euphrates rivers, Northern China, Meso- America (Mayas) and Egypt. see Sjoberg, The Origin and Evolution of Cities (1965) Ancient Cities

The Urban Revolution V.Gordon.Childe Evolutionary Model (Hunter/Gatherer – Pastoral – Urban Economy – Modernity) Early Urbanisation: Key stage in human civilisation and social basis of modern life. Demographic Shifts – population growth Technology, Metallurgy, Tools and Irrigation (Ecology) Agriculture (surplus), Trade, Specialisation Social Stratification, Religion, Warfare – leaders (lugals), palaces, fortresses – symbiotic relationship between military expansion and trade Writing, numbers, arts. See Childe The Urban Revolution (1950)

Early Western Citizens Knossos (pre-Hellenic Minoan Civilisation) - from around 2000BC - achieved writing, craftmanship and architecture comparable to Mesopotamia. Athens – settlement since cc5000bc- from cc750BC Central Hellenic city state – Greek city states formed the cradle of subsequent Western Civilization Notions of Citizenship conflate with religion and cosmology in the construction of Hellenic cities. Foundations of Western Art, Architecture, Philosophy, Astronomy, Politics (Democracy)

The Imperial City Rome – cc800BC to cc 500AD First Urban Civilisation cc270 BC Rome gains control of Italy and begins to build the global Empire which spanned Europe, the Mediterranean, the Aegean and North Africa Population of the city of Rome peaked at around 1 million Decline of Rome – self-indulgence, fragmentation & economic failure? Roman capitol moves to Constantinople cc 300AD

Decline of Classical Urbanism & The Rise of the Pre-Industrial City Fall of Rome 476AD Beginning of the Middle Ages Europes cities shrink – Imperial Urbanism to Agrarian Localism Elias – decivilising spurt? Revival of urban life begins with the bourgs, trade, charters and competition beginning in the 10 th century

The Renaissance City: 13thC onwards Trading Centres (many self governing) Banking and Business (see Webers The City) Recovery of Classical Influence Humanism Universities (see also the preservation of the classical city in the monasteries (Mumford,1961) Science

Towards the Industrial City Agricultural Change & Increased Production Technology Economic Developments Legal & Political Changes Secular Outlook Nation State & Imperialism Market Development, Uneven Development, Managed Cities & Collective Consumption (see Castells,1977)

Industrial/Capitalist Urbanisation The Expansion of Cities in the 19th Century London1,000,000 2,685,0006,500,000 Paris500,0001,000,0002,700,000 Vienna247,000444,0001,675,000 Berlin172,000419,0001,889,000 New York60,515515,0003,437,000 Chicago<100029,0001,689,000

The Modern Industrial City Mixed Economy Mass Consumerism Suburbia & Urban Sprawl Social Diversity Uneven Development Social Problems Public Welfare

The Post Industrial (Postmodern?) City De-industrialisation Service Economy Mass Consumerism Counter-urbanisation or Global Megalopolis Social Polarisation Social Problems Privatisation