Names:Daniela Peña

Analucía Veloso

THE CITY

• What is a City?- Urban Evolution- Urban Revolution

• Origins• Distinction between cities and towns• What is a good city?

Table of content

What is a City?

Urban Evolution

While the origin of cities dates back thousands of years, the city as we know it today dates back a few hundred years. Following industrialisation, large numbers of people moved to cities in search of jobs, mostly in factories, and since then there has been an unprecedented growth in the number and size of cities worldwide. This process is called "urbanization"

Urban Revolution

Cities are a fact of life for half of the world's population. For the first time in history, urban dwellers outnumber those living in traditionally rural areas. By the year 2025, the global urban population will have more than doubled from 2 billion in 1995 to 8 billion -- that means the equivalent of 57% of everyone alive on earth today will be packed into cities.

Origins 12.000 years ago

1. Size and density of the population should be above normal.2. Differentiation of the population. Not all residents grow their own food, leading to specialists.3. Payment of taxes to a deity or king.3. Monumental public buildings.4. Those not producing their own food are supported by the king.

5. Systems of recording and practical science.6. A system of writing.7. Development of symbolic art.8. Trade and import of raw materials.9. Specialist craftsmen from outside the kin-group.

Distinction between cities and towns

In England, city is reserved for very large settlements and smaller historic settlements with a Cathedral while smaller settlements without a Cathedral are called towns.

City can refer to an agglomeration including suburban and satellite areasThe word "town" (also "downtown") may mean the center of the city.

What is a good city?A great city is one where people want to go out of their homes. Public space is a magical good, and it never ceases to yield pleasure; we should give it a lot of attention. Public good prevails over private interest. A great city is where we all feel not excluded. The quality of the sidewalks in a city is the most telling thing. Just as a bird needs to fly, fish need to swim and deer need to run, we need to walk.”

References

• http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/08/what-is-a-good-city/

• http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/habitat/units/un01txt.asp

• http://www.angelfire.com/games2/zealgames/simcity2000/howtocty.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City