SSanctuary, anctuary, VVillage & illage & SStrongholdtronghold

The Culture of CitiesThe Culture of Cities

Monday, September 12/2005Monday, September 12/2005

SOSC 2730SOSC 2730

TextbookTextbook

• start readingstart reading–Chapters 1 & 2Chapters 1 & 2

Front Street, TorontoFront Street, Toronto

• how did Front Street get its how did Front Street get its name?name?

Why Study Cities?Why Study Cities?

• we live in an urban culturewe live in an urban culture

• understand more about understand more about ourselvesourselves

Importance of History?Importance of History?

• understand contextunderstand context

• modern cities built on what modern cities built on what has preceded themhas preceded them

Selected CivilizationsSelected Civilizations

Selected CivilizationsSelected Civilizations

Selected CivilizationsSelected Civilizations

CivilizationCivilization

• city settlementcity settlement

• labour specializationlabour specialization

• concentration of surplusesconcentration of surpluses

• class structureclass structure

• state organizationstate organization

CivilizationCivilization

• monumental public worksmonumental public works• standardized monumental standardized monumental

artworkartwork• long-distance tradelong-distance trade• writingwriting• arithmetic, geometry, arithmetic, geometry,

astronomyastronomy

Agricultural RevolutionAgricultural Revolution

• domestication of plants & domestication of plants & livestocklivestock

• 10,000 years ago (8,000 BC)10,000 years ago (8,000 BC)

• surplusessurpluses

• where?where?

Storage & ProtectionStorage & Protection

• sheltersshelters

• wallswalls

MovementMovement

• settled lifestylesettled lifestyle

• tradetrade

Way of LifeWay of Life

• nomadic nomadic ––>––> settled settled

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

• ““between the rivers”between the rivers”

• cradle of civilizationcradle of civilization–or at least Modern (Western) or at least Modern (Western)

civilizationcivilization

Uruk Period:Uruk Period:4000-3100 BC4000-3100 BC

• first real citiesfirst real cities

• monumental architecturemonumental architecture

• economic specializationeconomic specialization

• writing writing ––>––> cuneiform cuneiform

Sumerian Civilization:Sumerian Civilization:3100-2350 BC3100-2350 BC

• 13 independent city-states13 independent city-states• monumental architecture such as monumental architecture such as

zigguratsziggurats• specialization –– potter's wheel, specialization –– potter's wheel,

metallurgymetallurgy• social hierarchysocial hierarchy• writing writing ––> ––> cuneiformcuneiform• intensive agriculture –– irrigation intensive agriculture –– irrigation

canalscanals

Indigenous Empire Period:Indigenous Empire Period:2350-323 BC2350-323 BC

• AkkadianAkkadian 2334-2112 BC2334-2112 BC

• UrUr 2112-1990 BC2112-1990 BC

• Old BabylonOld Babylon 1990-1350 BC1990-1350 BC

• AssyrianAssyrian 1350-600 BC1350-600 BC

• New BabylonNew Babylon 600-539 BC600-539 BC

• PersianPersian 539-323 BC539-323 BC

New OrleansNew Orleans

• Katrina’s aftermathKatrina’s aftermath

• rebuild New Orleans?rebuild New Orleans?