Emergence_of_Cities

What were the most important factors in the emergence of cities' Identify factors in the emergence of cities and evaluate their relevant importance in order to answer the question. To look into the emergence of ancient cities I had to refer back to the development of agriculture as this in my opinion was the start of their development. As the majority of the human population began to change their behaviour and started to settle, they halted their hunter/gatherer behaviour and settlements grew in number as people reproduced and more joined the ever-growing groups. The populations of these settlements increased as a result of this; population was not the only reason for a city to emerge, but it was a major factor States and cities were created. These can be defined in different ways; a city is a large urban area that consists of living residential areas, commercial areas for shops and traders and industrial areas for manufacturing. A city has foundations of transport, schooling of some form, living areas, some form of power or resource to create it all and a supply of fresh water to provide an environment for a large amount of people to live. A state is also defined as a bigger area that contains a mixture of cities, villages and towns. By around 6000BC there were many farming areas and man developed the use of irrigation, this consistent and long-term way of feeding the land with water ensured the peoples’ roots were planted where consistent food was grown. In the Middle East, Mesopotamia began to emerge in 6000BC thanks to its well-developed farming, it developed into a city over the next three millennia. Cities emerged in the Indus Valley to the north west of present India. These were known as Mohenjo-dar, Ganeriwala and Harappa around 2600BC, and other areas of India such as the, east, the west and the south, appear to have had city areas. These places traded with Mesopotamia and the cities emerging in the Far East. The cities of what is now Pakistan and North India were specialists in the creation of bronze and stone ornaments, the weaving of fabric and wheel spun clay pottery. It is thought that the currency was, at this time copper. They were creating industries of their own that only served for the new cities to gow As food was farmed successfully, new skills were learnt and new produce was traded and riches created, any surplus created new jobs, some people had more than others and different classes developed. An upper class emerged and it was these that the majority of the political and financial power lay. These cities had a sewer and bathing system, this developed here to a sophisticated level. In what is now Lebanon another city emerged, this was Byblos; Byblos is thought to have been populated as early as 5000BC. It is classed as a city from 3000BC. The roots of this city are full of religion. There was a large temple and because of its religious and sacred links, it traded and received gifts form Egypt. It was a mix of Egyptian and Mesopotamian influence in its beliefs and its style. Over the next few thousand years it was invaded and the way of living changed, first by the Amorites and then by the Hyskos, who introduced domesticated horses and lance like weapons. As the egyptians were also invaded, they fought back and gained control of Egypt and Byblos. Byblos architecture became similar to that of Egypt. Another ancient old world city is Luxor. Originally part of Thebes. Luxor emerged as it became the place where the rich and royal were laid to rest. It’s place on the Nile and its less desert climate meant it established itself as a rich region of Egypt. The well off and the royal family used the region for relaxing activities such as boating. Thebes, as mentioned above, was a small city that was a rival of Athens. The city was circular shaped and surrounded itself with a massive seven gated wall; it protected itself well with this guard and was very powerful until conquered by the Romans in 150bc Orchomemnos was part of ancient Greece. It grew into a city arounnd 2500BC on the fertile farmland on high ground. Greek cities built walls for protection and because of this increased their power. Orchomemnos was one of the first to trade using coins for currency. These people used irrigation successfully by creating man-made waterways. Over time this city flourished less and was later inferior in power and political strength to nearby Thebes. Damascus in Syria is on of the cities that has been continually inhabited. The city was established around 2000bc but may have been around longer there is evidence to suggest that people were in the area as long ago as 7000bc. It has a pleasant climate a good supply of water. It was established by Arabs who moved northward to settle on more fertile grounds. The ancient city of Gaziantep in Turkey is known to be one of the oldest cities. It has Hittite roots. It’s major crop was pistachio nuts, olives and grapes in the form of vineyards. The city dates back to 3650bc. It had many schools, baths and places of worship. People of a varity of different origins inhabited this city, it saw rule of the Assyrians, Persian, Romans, the Byzantines and the Turks. Another ancient city is Kirkuk in Iraq, which dates back to 3000BC. It was location of strategy and saw the battle of many wars. It is located on the ancient Asyrrian capital, known as Arrafa. Jerusalem in what is now Israel developed as a holy city of worship from Judiasm, Christiantiy and Islam. It has many religious objects and associations and has been a place of religious and political contension and conflict right up until the present day. Now looking at New world cities I will firstly take London as an example. London dates back approximately 2000 years and was named Londinium circa year 121AD by the Romans settling there on the waterway of the modern river Thames, mostly because of its fishing and trading opportunites and access to the sea. The Romans originally invaded Britain in the year 43AD first by Julius Caeser and then more successfully by the emporer Claudius. They arrived at the Kent Coast and moved northwards and built a bridge downstream from Lambeth, to the east of where the London Bridge is presently. They built an excellent road system and word of the bridge spread, attracting more people to the area to settle. The city grew and gained many tradesmen and more military personnel. The Thames was ideal for the docking of ships with its depth and brickmaking became a fast growing industry. A newer city is Brussels, thought to have started development around 580AD with a chapel having been built on an island in the river Seine. It became a city in 979AD when a Duke brought saintly relics to the chapel. This had military protection and the city of Brussels grew around it. Originally a marshy area, this area was drained thus increasing its tradelinks. I have ascertained the factors that are most important in the emergence of old world cities are agriculture, the spread of religions, such as Christianity, Judaism and then Islam all of which contributed to the growth in population in one specific area. Also trade of locally based product played a part and military and political administration. In the new world, industry helped to create cities, population increase is still a key, and cities were created by the Romans and other such traveling settlers. Then you have, for example, American and Australian cities, created by migration.   Internet web page resources: -