1. 1. Introduction to the course of urban history

2. Cities as tourist destinations
The importance of urban centres to global tourism, both business and leisure.
City destinations ranking (source: Euromonitor International). Over a third of the top hundred destinations are located in Asia. The top five are Hong Kong, London, Singapore, Bangkok, and Paris.
For cultural tourism, European cities remain probably world leaders.

3. Top ten cities Rank Region City 2013 2014 % Increase 2013/14 1 Asia
Hong Kong
25,661.1
27,770.0
8.2 2
Europe
London
16,784.0
17,383.9
3.6 3
Singapore
17,146.7
17,086.2
-0.4 4
Bangkok
17,467.8
16,245.0
-7.0 5
Paris
15,271.9
14,981.7
-1.9 6
Macau
13,935.3
14,966.5
7.4 7
Middle East
Dubai
12,180.0
13,200.0
8.4 8
Shenzhen
12,148.9
13,120.8
8.0 9
North America
New York City
11,850.4
12,230.0
3.2 10
Instanbul
10,486.3
11,871.2
13.2

5. The aims of the course
Build a patrimony of historic knowledge useful for the enhancement of urban tourism.
Experiencing the planning of tourist and cultural routes within the cities.
Discussing strategies and initiatives to promote the cities images.
Structure and contents of the course.

6. The city in European history
In 2008, for the first time, the majority of the world’s inhabitants lived in cities. Europe as one of the most urbanized continents since the Middle Ages.
The city as a pillar of European continuity and stability. Trade, culture, industrial specialization, service sector, political power, immigration.
The distinctiveness of the European urban system in the globalized world. A way of life?

7. The nature of urban history
An ambiguous definition.
The origins: city chronicles and early towns histories in the Middle Ages.
Urban history as an academic subject. Max Weber, Chicago School.
The impact of the social and cultural history. «Annales», social anthropologists, British school.
The urban history in Italy.

8. Spaces of the European urban development

9. Times of the European urban development
VIII-early XIV: slowly urban progress.
XIV-XV: widespread downturn.
XVI-early XVII: urban revival.
XVII-first half XVIII: stagnation and decline.
Second half XVIII-first half XIX: selective growth.
Second half XIX-1970s-80s: urban explosion.