The City: A World History (New Oxford World History) - Softcover

Lees, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 019985954X ISBN 13: 9780199859542

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2015

Synopsis

The City: A World History tells the story of the rise and development of urban centers from ancient times to the twenty-first century. It begins with the establishment of the first cities in the Near East in the fourth millennium BCE, and goes on to examine urban growth in the Indus River Valley in India, as well as Egypt and areas that bordered the Mediterranean Sea. Athens, Alexandria, and Rome stand out both politically and culturally. With the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, European cities entered into a long period of waning and deterioration. But elsewhere, great cities-among them, Constantinople, Baghdad, Chang'an, and Tenochtitlán-thrived. In the late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, urban growth resumed in Europe, giving rise to cities like Florence, Paris, and London. This urban growth also accelerated in parts of the world that came under European control, such as Philadelphia in the nascent United States.
As the Industrial Revolution swept through in the nineteenth century, cities grew rapidly. Their expansion resulted in a slew of social problems and political disruptions, but it was accompanied by impressive measures designed to improve urban life. Meanwhile, colonial cities bore the imprint of European imperialism. Finally, the book turns to the years since 1914, guided by a few themes: the impact of war and revolution; urban reconstruction after 1945; migration out of many cities in the United States into growing suburbs; and the explosive growth of "megacities" in the developing world.

About this title

About the Author

Andrew Lees is Distinguished Professor of History at Rutgers University, Camden.

Review

"Lees has written a short and readable text on the city in world history, a task for which he is very well suited and expert."--CHOICE

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 019985954X
• ISBN 13: 9780199859542
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 160